Hospice Registered Nurse
About The Position
SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice, part of Gentiva, is seeking a Registered Nurse to provide compassionate hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The nurse serves as a primary point of contact, delivering skilled nursing care based on individualized plans of care in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other locations where they receive care. The role includes assessing patient needs, managing symptoms, coordinating with interdisciplinary teams, educating patients and caregivers, and maintaining timely, accurate clinical documentation. The position supports continuity and quality of care through communication with providers and team members, participation in care planning and quality initiatives, and responsive on-call and patient support activities as applicable. Care may include helping patients and families understand medication administration, hospice services and philosophy, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes. The work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, as well as in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.
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, hospice, hospice disciplines, community resources, general nursing practice, managed care principles, and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
- Excellent patient assessment skills and oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to document and manage programs effectively.
- Sensitivity and tact in dealing with terminally ill patients and their families, and ability to support others during a crisis.
- Ability to adapt to varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure, communicate effectively with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, and work cooperatively 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 preferred.
Responsibilities
- Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
- Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care.
- Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, to meet patient needs and identify risks.
- Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians and nurse practitioners.
- Provide education to patients and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
- Communicate changes in condition or signs and symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
- Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
- Document timely clinical records, including screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
- Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the care plan warrants collaboration.
- Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call services.
- Teach caregivers practical care techniques and provide emotional reassurance.
- Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
- Follow infection control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
- Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
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 & 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 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
