Hospice Registered Nurse, RN - Full Time

Heartland Hospice • Pittsburgh, PA

3d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) provides personalized skilled nursing and support to patients facing life-limiting illness and to their families. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The RN serves as a primary contact, assesses and monitors patient needs, provides symptom management and education, and coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team. The role also includes supporting continuity of care, maintaining clinical records, and participating in on-call activities as applicable.

The position requires sensitivity to end-of-life concerns, sound clinical judgment, flexibility, and effective communication with patients, families, caregivers, and colleagues. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. Potential exposures include infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The RN must maintain transportation for work and be able to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education and current license to practice nursing in the state of employment.
• 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 CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Maintain transportation for work.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, hospice disciplines, community resources, and general nursing practice.
• Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Good oral and written communication, documentation, and program-management skills.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Sensitivity to end-of-life concerns; tact and ability to support patients and families during crises.
• Ability to adapt to changing tasks without loss of efficiency or composure and communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact when working with coworkers and hospice team members.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephone assessments and screenings.
• Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in accordance with each patient’s individualized plan of care and goals.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners as needed.
• Educate patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
• Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care, including appropriate referrals and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and levels of care.
• Maintain timely and 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 the care plan warrants participation.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers safe and confident caregiving practices and provide practical training and emotional reassurance.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational 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.
• Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays.
• 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 programs.
• Free continuing education units (CEUs).
• Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
• 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