Registered Nurse Hospice

Heartland Hospice • Moline, IL

11d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) / RN Case Manager provides personalized hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illness and supports their families. The nurse is the primary point of contact for patients and families, delivering skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The role includes comprehensive assessments, symptom management, individualized care planning, patient and caregiver education, coordination with an interdisciplinary team, and timely clinical documentation. The nurse also provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support, participates in on-call activities as applicable, and supports continuity of care, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance.

The position may involve work in patients’ homes, institutional settings, and an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The nurse must maintain transportation for work and be able to use nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education.
• 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 and understanding of hospice and the special needs of hospice patients and families.
• Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
• Excellent patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program management knowledge.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Sensitivity and tact when dealing with life-and-death issues and patients’ families, and ability to support others during a crisis.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks without loss of efficiency or composure; ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working with coworkers and hospice team members.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic assessments and screenings.
• Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in line with each patient’s goals of care and individualized Plan of Care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
• Provide education to patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
• Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and provide emotional reassurance and bereavement guidance.
• Communicate changes in patient condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider and care team.
• Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between 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 appropriate to achieve desired outcomes.
• Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call services.
• Follow infection control, regulatory, and organizational compliance standards.
• Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives to promote consistent, compassionate, and efficient care.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• National and local recognition programs.
• Teammate Assistance Fund.
• Full-time associates: medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Full-time associates: mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program.
• Full-time associates: generous paid time off and seven paid holidays.
• Full-time associates: wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care.
• Full-time associates: education support and tuition assistance for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs.
• Full-time associates: free continuing education units (CEUs).
• Full-time associates: company-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
• Full-time associates: voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed