Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Franklin, TN

7d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illness in their homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The RN serves as a primary point of contact for patients and families, delivering skilled nursing care, assessing patient needs, coordinating care, and providing education and emotional support to patients, caregivers, and loved ones.

The role works closely with an interdisciplinary team to develop and update individualized plans of care, manage symptoms, communicate changes in patient condition, and support continuity of care and transitions between service levels. The RN maintains accurate clinical records and follows applicable infection-control, regulatory, and organizational requirements. The role also participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable.

Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. Conditions may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education.
• 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.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, and the special needs of hospice patients and families.
• Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
• Excellent 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.
• Ability to support patients and families facing life-and-death issues and to communicate effectively with people of varied socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Flexibility, maturity, cooperation, tact, and ability to perform varied tasks without losing efficiency or composure.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments or screenings.
• Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with the 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 the interdisciplinary team, including physicians and nurse practitioners, and involve team members when appropriate.
• Provide education to patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
• Offer emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe and confident care, including practical training and emotional reassurance.
• Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation, including screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational policy standards.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• 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
• Medical insurance for full-time associates
• Dental insurance for full-time associates
• 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
• Education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN pathways
• Free continuing education units (CEUs)
• Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
• Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed