Hospice Triage Nurse

Goodwin Living•Alexandria, VA

1d•Remote

About The Position

This position is responsible for providing skilled nursing assessment, guidance, and support to patients and families during after-hours periods. This includes addressing urgent symptom needs, coordinating care, and supporting the clinical team by triaging phone calls and determining appropriate interventions.

Requirements

Current RN License
Minimum of 2 years of recent hospice or palliative care experience required.
Proficiency with EMR software.
Strong clinical judgment and ability to work independently.
Strong demonstration of use of medication for symptom management.
Ability to determine when death is near and advise family appropriately.
Exceptional communication, time management, and organizational skills.
Ability to remain calm and focused in high-stress situations.

Nice To Haves

Prior telephone triage or after-hours hospice experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Answer incoming calls from patients, caregivers, and facilities during assigned shift.
Provide clinical assessment and guidance based on symptoms reported.
Triage the level of urgency and determine the appropriate response (e.g., home visit, medication adjustment, reassurance).
Use critical thinking to make decisions with limited information.
Provide emotional and clinical support to patients and families during the terminal phase of illness.
Serve as a resource and positive role model for team members and new staff.
Communicate and collaborate with on-call staff, physicians, pharmacies, and DME vendors as needed.
Dispatch appropriate field staff when in-person visits are required.
Collaborate and support field staff as needed by providing guidance during assigned shift.
Document all calls and interventions in the EMR in real-time.
Ensure all clinical interactions are documented accurately and timely in accordance with regulatory standards.
Communicate clearly and effectively with physicians, caregivers, team members and community partners.
Communicate significant changes or needs to the patient’s primary care team (RNCM, SW, Chaplain) by the next business day.
Participate in hand-offs and shift reports to ensure continuity of care.
Document visits and all patient interaction within 24 hours as required.
Provide empathetic and clear education regarding disease process, medications, and hospice philosophy.
Support families emotionally and guide them through end-of-life expectations and decision-making.
Adhere to all hospice policies, procedures, and protocols.
Maintain compliance with federal and state regulations (e.g., Medicare Conditions of Participation).
Participate in quality improvement initiatives and triage audits.
Complete all Relias assignments assigned within the required time frame.
Maintain knowledge of hospice nursing best practice and pursue continued professional development offered through Relias and ELNEC.