Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Livingston, TN

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides hospice nursing care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. This is a less-than-full-time role assisting with visits as needed; applicants may share their availability for consideration. 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, delivers skilled care in accordance with individualized plans, assesses and monitors patient needs, and coordinates services with an interdisciplinary team. The position also includes patient and caregiver education, emotional and spiritual support, clinical documentation, and participation in on-call and quality-improvement activities as applicable. The RN helps patients and families understand medication administration, hospice services and philosophy, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes. The role requires sensitivity to end-of-life concerns, flexibility, effective communication with people from varied backgrounds, and the ability to support patients and families during crises. The work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, as well as in an automobile. Potential exposures include infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The RN must have and maintain transportation for work and be able to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

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 employment.
CPR certification.
Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and understanding of hospice care.
Ability to apply knowledge of the special needs of hospice patients and families and of the roles of hospice disciplines.
Strong patient-assessment skills and knowledge of community resources.
Good oral and written communication, documentation, and program-management skills.
Knowledge of general nursing practice and managed-care principles and applicable 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.
Ability to support patients and families facing end-of-life issues and crisis, communicate effectively across socioeconomic backgrounds, and work flexibly and cooperatively with coworkers and the hospice team.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative-care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in line with patients’ goals of care and individualized plans.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and 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, including appropriate referrals and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and 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 the care plan warrants participation.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and confidently.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational standards.
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
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 for full-time associates
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage, for full-time associates