Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare • Mobile, AL

1d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse serves as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, providing skilled, individualized nursing care and guidance throughout the hospice journey. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings, and is based on each patient’s Plan of Care and goals of care.

The role includes comprehensive initial and ongoing assessments, symptom management, care planning, caregiver and patient education, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team. The nurse supports patients and loved ones emotionally, physically, and spiritually, helps caregivers provide safe care, communicates changes in condition to appropriate providers, and contributes to continuity and quality of care. Responsibilities also include timely clinical documentation, compliance with infection-control and regulatory standards, team collaboration, and participation in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable.

The position works in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. Potential exposures include infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The role requires use of nursing assessment tools, computers, fax and copier equipment, and a cell phone or beeper, as well as maintaining transportation for work.

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 employment.
• CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and of hospice care 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.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of documentation and program management, general nursing practice, managed care principles, and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and to support patients and families during crises.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure; maturity, cooperation, and tact in dealing with patients, families, coworkers, and the hospice team.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Must meet applicable state-specific requirements and minimum requirements for benefits eligibility.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for hospice patients and families and guide them through the hospice journey.
• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic assessments or screenings.
• Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in accordance with patient goals of care and individualized plans.
• 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, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
• Provide patients, families, and caregivers with education about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe and confident care, offering practical instruction and emotional reassurance.
• Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care by recognizing appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and supporting transitions between levels of care.
• Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, care plans, and other clinical records accurately and promptly.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when patient care plans warrant participation.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, policy, and compliance standards.
• Participate in quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives to support consistent, compassionate, and efficient care.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• National and local recognition programs.
• Teammate Assistance Fund.
• 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 for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs for full-time associates.
• Free continuing education units 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, for full-time associates.

What This Job Offers

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