Registered Nurse On Call

Gentiva Hospice•Cullman, AL

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides hospice care after normal business hours, responding to patient needs during evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. The nurse delivers direct care, evaluates patient and family needs, manages symptoms, and serves as the primary liaison among patients, families, physicians, and the hospice team. The role works independently while coordinating with the daytime team and collaborating with an interdisciplinary group to maintain continuity of care. The nurse performs initial and ongoing patient assessments, helps develop and implement the physician-prescribed Hospice Plan of Care, educates patients and caregivers, reports changes in condition to physicians, and maintains accurate clinical records. Responsibilities also include reviewing records for quality and compliance, practicing infection control, making monthly supervisory visits with team members, monitoring staff scheduling, and participating in quality improvement activities. This is a safety-sensitive position.

Requirements

Current RN license in the state of requested employment, or eligibility to obtain one.
At least 1 year of nursing experience.
Compassionate, calm, and dependable approach in urgent care situations.
Excellent clinical judgment and ability to provide support in emotionally intense settings.
Comfort providing care in patients’ homes, facilities, or wherever they reside.
Valid driver’s license, automobile insurance, and reliable transportation.
Current CPR certification.

Nice To Haves

At least 1 year of hospice, home health, oncology, or palliative care experience.
Familiarity with symptom management, triage, and after-hours home-based care.
Prior experience in on-call or overnight nursing roles.
Strong documentation and electronic medical records (EMR) skills.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care and support after normal business hours, including responding to urgent calls, patient visits, and symptom-management needs.
Serve as the primary liaison between patients, families, physicians, and the hospice team during the shift.
Evaluate patient and family needs to guide clinical decisions and implement the plan of care.
Perform initial and ongoing patient assessments.
Help develop and implement the Hospice Plan of Care as prescribed by the physician and in coordination with the Interdisciplinary Group.
Educate patients, families, and caregivers about identified care needs, including medication administration, dressing changes, oxygen administration, hospice philosophy, and care of terminally ill patients.
Collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Group to provide physical, psychosocial, educational, emotional, and spiritual services, including bereavement support.
Report changes in a patient’s condition to the Attending Physician and Hospice Physician.
Maintain contact with patients’ families or significant others to provide information, support, and continuity of care.
Maintain accurate and updated medical records, including assessments, plans of care, interdisciplinary notes, and other pertinent information.
Maintain continuous access to the TeleMed mobile application on a cellular device and/or tablet during scheduled shifts for prompt communication and task execution.
Review and follow up on assigned patient clinical records to ensure quality care, standards of practice, and compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Practice infection control measures and standard precautions.
Make routine supervisory visits of and with other team members at least monthly.
Monitor staff scheduling.
Maintain knowledge of pain and symptom management during the dying process.
Participate in the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program and attend staff meetings.
Work independently and coordinate with the daytime care team to ensure continuity of care.
May perform routine visits during normal business hours and other activities as assigned.
Complete required annual company training and promote the company’s core values.

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 7 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.