Hospice RN– PRN Weekends

Goodwin Living•Alexandria, VA

About The Position

The Hospice RN provides end-of-life care and hospice services to patients in their homes or community settings after regular business hours, on weekends, and/or holidays. The role assesses patient needs and provides support by phone or in person, based on acuity, using hospice standards of practice and evidence-based knowledge. The nurse implements care to promote comfort and safety, self-determined life closure, and effective grieving for patients and families, while considering physical, psychological, social, spiritual, cultural, and individual needs. The nurse collaborates with the attending physician, hospice medical director, and on-call manager to assess whether changes in the level of care are needed. The role includes arranging after-hours medications and supplies, supporting patients and families at the time of death, triaging referrals, and completing admission processes when needed. The nurse documents clinical services and care-plan changes in the electronic record within 24 hours and reports on-call activities to the hospice team at the end of the shift. The Hospice RN also teaches or supervises household members, facility staff, and volunteers who assist with nursing or personal care; participates in goals-of-care conversations; communicates unusual or potentially problematic issues to the Director of Clinical Services or Administrator; and works in partnership with skilled nursing facility staff. The role requires calm, tactful responses in stressful medical and psychosocial situations and participation in quality improvement and orientation activities as requested.

Requirements

Current registered nurse license to work in Virginia.
At least 5 years of professional nursing experience; hospice, acute care, or long-term care experience is preferred.
Ability to assess and respond to the needs of terminally ill residents and families in varied settings.
Positive and professional image and attitude in relationships with patients, families, peers, and the community.
Demonstrated nursing practice skills, ability to cope with family emotional stress, and tolerance of individual lifestyles.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and ability to learn documentation software well enough to assist others in its use.
Ability to work independently, with demonstrated patient-care planning and patient-teaching skills and strong written and verbal communication skills.
Current CPR certification.
Valid driver's license and daily access to a reliable, insured vehicle.
Belief in the hospice concept.

Nice To Haves

Certified Hospice and Palliative Care certification.
Experience in hospice, acute care, or long-term care.

Responsibilities

Assess patient needs and provide support by phone or visit according to acuity and hospice standards of practice.
Implement care to promote comfortable and safe dying, self-determined life closure, and effective grieving for patients and families.
Gather physical, psychological, social, and spiritual information relevant to patient health and incorporate it into the plan of care.
Collaborate with the attending physician, hospice medical director, and manager on-call to determine whether a change in level of care is needed.
Provide or arrange delivery of medications and supplies after business hours, on weekends, or on holidays.
Support patients and families at the time of death in accordance with agency policy and their spiritual and cultural beliefs.
Report on-call activity to the hospice team by email at the end of each shift, including calls, communications, visits, changes in condition, and other pertinent clinical information.
Document clinical nursing visits, medication additions and changes, care plans, and other required information in the electronic record within 24 hours of service.
Teach or supervise teaching for household members, facility staff, and volunteers responsible for nursing or personal care.
Conduct evidence-based goals-of-care conversations with residents and families.
Triage referral calls, assess whether immediate admission is needed, and complete the admission process, including obtaining physician certification when needed.
Inform the Director of Clinical Services or Administrator of unusual or potentially problematic resident or family issues during each shift.
Respond calmly and tactfully in stressful and emergency medical and psychosocial situations.
Partner with skilled nursing facility staff, solicit feedback, respond appropriately, and provide tactful education.
Participate in the Quality Assessment Performance Improvement Program when requested.
Participate in orientation of new employees or volunteers when requested.