Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Marion, OH

5d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) / RN Case Manager provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. The RN is a primary point of contact throughout the hospice journey, delivering skilled hands-on care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, and other settings where they reside. The role includes comprehensive assessments, symptom management, individualized care planning, caregiver education, emotional support, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team.

The RN documents clinical care and assessments, communicates changes in patient condition to appropriate providers, supports continuity of care and transitions between levels of care, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The position requires sensitivity to end-of-life concerns, sound clinical judgment, flexibility, and effective communication with patients, families, and team members. Work takes place in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse.
• 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.
• Ability to apply 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.
• Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program-management knowledge.
• Knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Sensitivity to end-of-life issues and the ability to support patients and families during a crisis.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and to work cooperatively and tactfully with coworkers and hospice team members.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephone RN assessments and 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, based on patient needs and identified risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
• Provide education to patients, family members, and caregivers on disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
• Teach caregivers how to provide safe care and offer practical guidance and emotional reassurance.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
• Communicate changes in patient condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals, and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and other levels of care.
• Maintain timely, accurate clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when needed to achieve desired outcomes.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and policy standards.
• Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives and participate in team collaboration and interdisciplinary group activities.
• 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, 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 programs, 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.

What This Job Offers

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