Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Colorado Springs, CO

11d

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides skilled, compassionate hospice nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and caregivers. The RN serves as a primary point of contact throughout the hospice journey, delivering care in patients’ homes, assisted-living settings, or other institutional settings. The role includes comprehensive assessments, symptom management, individualized care planning, education, coordination with an interdisciplinary team, and timely clinical documentation. The RN also supports patients and families with emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, hospice-related education, and transitions in levels of care. The position requires at least one year of RN experience, a current nursing license in the state of employment, CPR certification, current automobile insurance, and a valid driver’s license. Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred. The role involves travel between care settings and may include on-call and patient-support activities. Work environments may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The position is safety-sensitive and requires reliable transportation for work.

Requirements

Current license to practice nursing in the state of employment.
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 CPR certification.
Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and understanding of hospice care 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 knowledge of general nursing practice.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program-management abilities.
Knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.
Sensitivity to end-of-life issues; tact and ability to support patients and families during a crisis.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks and communicate effectively with people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, and tact in working 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 telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management consistent with patients’ goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identified patient risks.
Coordinate patient care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians and nurse practitioners.
Educate patients, family members, 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 between home health, palliative care, hospice, and levels of care.
Document clinical records promptly, 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 collaboration.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Teach caregivers safe and confident caregiving practices and provide emotional reassurance.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational standards.
Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
Provide patients and families with guidance about medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.