Registered Nurse Hospice

Heartland Hospice•Moline, IL

11d

About The Position

Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, is hiring a Registered Nurse to provide personalized hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The RN serves as a primary contact throughout the hospice journey and delivers skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The role includes assessment, symptom management, individualized care planning, patient and caregiver education, interdisciplinary coordination, and timely clinical documentation. The RN also supports patients and families with the emotional, physical, and spiritual challenges of end-of-life care, provides education and bereavement guidance, and helps caregivers provide safe and confident care. The position involves communication with providers and the care team, participation in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, and adherence to infection-control, regulatory, and organizational standards. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, as well as in an automobile; the role may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and qualification.
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.
Strong patient assessment, oral and written communication, documentation, and program-management skills.
Knowledge of general nursing practice and managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Sensitivity and tact when supporting patients and families facing life-and-death issues and crises.
Ability to adapt to varied tasks without losing efficiency or composure and to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working with coworkers and the hospice team.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management consistent with patients’ goals of care.
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.
Educate patients 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 by recognizing and supporting home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions in 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 warranted by the patient’s care plan.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable and provide clinically competent, responsive on-call services.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers to safely care for their loved ones and help families understand medication administration, hospice services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational standards and 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.
For full-time associates: 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 programs.
For full-time associates: free continuing education units (CEUs).
For full-time associates: company-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage.