Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Knoxville, TN

About The Position

Gentiva Hospice is hiring a Registered Nurse to provide personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The RN serves as a primary contact for patients and families, delivering skilled care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The role includes assessment, symptom management, caregiver education, care coordination, clinical documentation, and participation in on-call and team activities. The position requires sensitivity, sound clinical judgment, flexibility, and effective communication with patients, families, providers, and interdisciplinary colleagues.

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, hospice services, 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 skills and general nursing practice knowledge.
Knowledge of documentation and program management, managed care principles, and applicable regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Good oral and written communication skills.
Sensitivity to end-of-life issues and ability to support patients and families during crises.
Ability to adapt, manage changing tasks, communicate with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds, and work cooperatively with the hospice team.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a 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 and telephonic RN assessments or screenings, and educate patients, families, and caregivers as appropriate.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with each patient’s goals of care and individualized plan of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, based on patient needs and identified 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, hospice, and other 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 patient care warrants participation.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Teach caregivers safe care techniques and provide practical and emotional support.
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.
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 pathways.
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 pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits.