Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•DeFuniak Springs, FL

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) / RN Case Manager provides personalized skilled nursing care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The RN serves as a primary contact for patients and families, assessing needs, managing symptoms, coordinating care, and helping patients and caregivers understand hospice services and end-of-life care. The RN works with an interdisciplinary team to develop and update individualized plans of care, provide education and emotional support, document care, and communicate changes in patient condition. The role also includes participation in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The position involves working in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position and requires a Florida Level 2 background screening through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and current license to practice nursing in the state of requested 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.
Valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, hospice patient and family needs, and the roles of disciplines providing hospice services.
Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of community resources.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program management knowledge.
Knowledge of general nursing practice and managed care principles, regulatory guidelines (including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC), and human resource management principles.
Sensitivity to the impact of life-and-death issues and ability to support patients and families during crises.
Flexibility, tact, maturity, cooperation, and ability to perform varied tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to meet the Florida Level 2 background screening requirement through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.
Must meet applicable state-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments or screenings.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, based on patient needs and identified risks.
Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary team, including physicians and nurse practitioners, and involve the team when the care plan warrants participation.
Provide education to patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice philosophy and services, and symptom and pain management.
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 care, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
Document clinical records promptly, including screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and other care team members.
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 comfort and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and confidently.
Follow infection-control, compliance, and regulatory standards and support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives.
Maintain timely patient visits and accurate, complete clinical records.
Use nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper effectively.
Maintain transportation for work and current automobile insurance.

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, 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, for full-time associates.