Registered Nurse (RN) - Hospice Case Manager - Southeast City/Suburbs

Advocate Health•Hazel Crest, IL

1d•$38 - $57

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) – Hospice Case Manager identifies and coordinates care for terminally ill patients and their families across hospice settings. The case manager determines the frequency of patient and family contacts based on assessed needs, with contact at least every 15 days. The role uses teaching, assessment, and intervention skills to provide comfort care at the end of life and maximize patients’ and families’ quality of life. The nurse educates patients and families about disease processes and progression, disease management, hospice philosophy, and signs and symptoms of decline and end of life. The nurse coordinates care with physicians and an interdisciplinary care group (IDG), develops and updates patient plans of care, administers prescribed medications and treatments, arranges needed equipment and supplies, and maintains required electronic health record documentation. The role includes ongoing assessment of patient responses and condition, communicating changes to the care team, supervising home health aides and licensed practical nurses, and supporting discharge planning and continuity of care. The position serves Blue Team territories including, but not limited to, Worth, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Crestwood, Orland Park, Orland Hills, and Alsip, Illinois. The schedule is weekdays, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with on-call coverage for one winter holiday and one summer holiday, each for 12 hours from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. External candidates may be eligible for a $3,000 sign-on bonus. The listed pay range is $38.20–$57.30.

Requirements

Current Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the team member practices.
Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association, to be obtained upon hire unless the department leader determines it is not required.
Valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Completion of an accredited or approved nursing program.
Typically requires 1–2 years of nursing experience, including experience in home health, hospice, medical/surgical, long-term care, emergency care/ICU, oncology, or similar related experience.
Competence in deformity prevention, normal range of motion, body mechanics, body alignment, fundamental principles of human behavior, and the effects of stress on individuals and groups.
Awareness and perception skills to assess patient needs and concerns and recognize changes in health condition.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Decision-making and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to work independently and make sound judgments.
Prioritization and organizational skills.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds from floor to waist and up to 20 pounds overhead; carry up to 40 pounds a reasonable distance; push or pull with 30 pounds of force; and perform a sliding transfer of 150 pounds with a second person present.
Ability to work safely with people of varied sizes and weights and with diverse, complex medical conditions and physical limitations.
Physical agility and stamina to move in confined spaces, bend, kneel, squat, and occasionally reach one or both arms overhead for extended periods.
Functional speech, vision, hearing, and touch, and ability to use fine-hand manipulation skills.
Ability to work around frequent mechanical, electrical, chemical, blood, and body-fluid hazards and wear protective clothing and equipment as needed.
Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.

Responsibilities

Identify and coordinate patient and family care to support terminally ill patients in hospice settings, with patient and family contacts at least every 15 days.
Teach patients and families about disease processes and trajectory, disease management, hospice philosophy, and signs and symptoms of decline and end of life.
Update the primary physician as indicated and as required by agency, accreditation, state, and federal requirements.
Continuously review each caseload patient’s care, service utilization, and eligibility for the appropriate hospice level of care; refer to other team members as appropriate.
Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician.
Lead the interdisciplinary care group for each patient and family on the caseload and collaborate with the team to develop, revise, and implement the plan of care.
Coordinate services and arrange or recommend equipment, medical supplies, and other necessary items and services.
Enter, complete, and update electronic health record documentation according to agency and department standards, policies, and applicable accreditation, state, and federal guidelines.
Assess patient responses to treatments, medications, and teaching; adjust interventions and follow-up, and revise the plan of care with supporting documentation as indicated.
Communicate problems and changes in patient condition to physicians, the supervisor, and other interdisciplinary team members; enter verbal orders from physicians or APNs into the electronic health record.
Supervise and perform home health aide and licensed practical nurse supervisory visits in accordance with agency standards; provide timely instruction to paraprofessional staff as required.
Facilitate discharge planning and use interagency, system, and community resources to support continuity of care after discharge.
Where applicable in Wisconsin, conduct OASIS assessments for palliative care patients and hospice initial and comprehensive assessments; establish and update plans of care, ensure skilled nursing and homebound criteria are met, and initiate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.
Use proper body mechanics, assistive devices, and safety techniques for patient positioning, repositioning, and transport, including lifting and pushing or pulling duties.
Orient and mentor new staff when requested.
Provide age-appropriate care using knowledge of growth and development across the life span and patient-specific assessment needs.

Benefits

Potential $3,000 sign-on bonus for eligible external candidates.
Paid time off programs.
Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
Educational Assistance Program.
Premium pay such as shift and on-call pay, based on the teammate’s job.
Incentive pay for select positions.
Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.
Career development programs.