Registered Nurse, RN

Gentiva Hospice • Branford, CT

5d

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) provides skilled hospice nursing and case management for patients with life-limiting illnesses in their homes, assisted living facilities, or other care settings. The RN serves as a primary contact for patients and families, delivering individualized, compassionate care and helping them understand hospice services, medications, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes.

The role includes comprehensive assessments, care planning, symptom management, patient and caregiver education, coordination with an interdisciplinary team, and accurate clinical documentation. The RN supports patients and loved ones emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and contributes to continuity, quality, and compliance in care. The position is listed as full-time, Monday through Friday, day shift; participation in on-call and patient support activities may apply.

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.
• Current CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver's license.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and an understanding of hospice and the specialized 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 ability, and program management knowledge.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and applicable regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to support people facing end-of-life issues and crises with sensitivity, tact, flexibility, and composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and cooperate with patients, families, coworkers, and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
• Ability to meet the physical and safety requirements of work in patient homes or institutional settings, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and families throughout their care journey.
• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic assessments or screenings.
• Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with individualized plans of care and goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized care plans, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
• Provide patients, families, and caregivers with education about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
• Offer emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe and confident care for their loved ones.
• Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider and care team.
• Support continuity of care, referrals, and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and levels of care as appropriate.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical records, including assessments, screening 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.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, policy, and compliance standards.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Support quality improvement, scheduling, and team collaboration initiatives.
• Maintain patient transportation for work and use required clinical and office equipment.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) with company match
• Career advancement opportunities
• National and local recognition programs
• Teammate Assistance Fund
• Medical insurance for full-time associates
• Dental insurance for full-time associates
• Vision insurance for full-time associates
• Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program
• Generous paid time off
• Seven paid holidays
• Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
• Education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN pathways
• Free continuing education units (CEUs)
• Company-paid life insurance
• Company-paid long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed