Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Batesville, AR

About The Position

Gentiva Hospice is seeking a Registered Nurse to provide personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The RN serves as a primary contact for patients and families, delivering skilled care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they reside. The role includes assessment, symptom management, individualized care planning, caregiver education, emotional support, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team. The RN also maintains clinical records and follows applicable infection-control, regulatory, and organizational standards. This safety-sensitive position involves work in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile. It may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The employee must maintain transportation for work.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and qualification.
At least one year of RN experience in acute care hospital, oncology, long-term care, hospice, or home health; school internships and clinical hours may be considered in individual cases.
Current license to practice nursing in the state of requested employment.
CPR certification.
Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and an understanding of hospice and the special needs of hospice patients and families.
Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program management knowledge.
Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Sensitivity to life-and-death issues faced by people with terminal illness and tact in supporting patients and families during crises.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds and to work cooperatively and maturely with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with each patient’s goals of care and individualized Plan of Care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians and nurse practitioners, and involve the team when needed to achieve desired outcomes.
Educate patients, family members, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and confidently, providing practical guidance and emotional reassurance.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
Maintain timely and accurate clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational standards.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and participate in team collaboration and IDG activities.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives to help ensure consistent, compassionate, and efficient care.
Help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.

Benefits

Competitive pay.
401(k) with company match.
Career advancement opportunities.
National and local recognition programs.
Teammate Assistance Fund.
For full-time associates: medical, dental, and vision insurance.
For full-time associates: mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program.
For full-time associates: generous paid time off and seven paid holidays.
For full-time associates: wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care.
For full-time associates: education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN support.
For full-time associates: free continuing education units (CEUs).
For full-time associates: company-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
For full-time associates: voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage.