RN - PRN

HOSPICE AUSTIN•Austin, TX

47d•Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse delivers specialized nursing care to patients in an inpatient setting, focusing on symptom management, comfort, and quality of life. The RN performs comprehensive assessments of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs, implements individualized care plans, and provides expert clinical interventions. Responsibilities include educating patients and families on disease progression and end-of-life care, while offering emotional support throughout the stay. The nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to coordinate services, communicates changes in patient status, and ensures accurate documentation. Additional duties include supervising support staff, managing medications and equipment, and preparing patients and families for transitions or end-of-life events. This role requires strong clinical judgment, compassionate communication, and commitment to maintaining patient dignity in a residential care environment.

Requirements

Graduation from an approved school of professional nursing as determined by the Board of Nurse Examiners.
Licensed as a Registered Nurse by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
CPR certification.

Nice To Haves

1 year previous Hospice nursing experience.

Responsibilities

Provides nursing care.
Performs initial and ongoing assessment of the impact of the terminal diagnosis on the patient's physical, functional, psychosocial, and environmental needs, activities of daily living, risk for pathological grief, cultural and spiritual implications, and verbal and non-verbal communication patterns.
Performs nursing assessments, i.e. Vital signs, pain assessment, breath sounds, etc.
Triages patient care problems
Manages discomfort and provides symptom relief
Performs specialized nursing skills related to palliative and end-of-life care
Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures
Consults with and educates the patient and caregivers (including home health staff) re: disease process, self-care techniques, end of life care, death and dying, comfort measures, medication use and side effects, etc. process for dealing with ethical issues
Implements the individualized plan of care and recommends revisions to the plan as necessary
Performs on-going evaluation of patient/family response to care
Assesses the ability of the caregiver to meet the patient's immediate needs upon admission and throughout care
Provides psychosocial support to patients and families
Coordinates nursing, personal and homemaker care.
Attends IDTs: coordinates care with team members
Informs the physician and other personnel of changes in the patient's needs and outcomes of intervention
Determines scope and frequency of services needed based on acuity and patient/family needs
Coordinates personal care, DME, and obtaining medications and medical supplies
Coordinates all patient/family services and prioritizes needs with the members of the IDT
Uses case management approach, referring to other services as needed
Provides supervision of care provided by CNAs and LVN and paraprofessionals providing services to the patient according to regulatory guidelines
Documents in a timely manner patient assessments, patient contacts, physician orders and progress notes that demonstrate progress towards established goals.
Acts as a liaison between patient and physicians, hospital staff, home health staff, and other care team members to facilitate ongoing clinical care.
Works with Hospice Austin and hospital staff, when applicable, regarding discharge planning, ordering DME, meds, etc.
Evaluates own needs for support (self-care and using identified system(s) to meet the need
Recognizes and maintains professional boundaries in relationships with patient/family/caregiver
Provides preparation and support for patient’s death; pronounces deaths in accordance with state regulation, provides postmortem care, handles body and death event with respect and dignity and in accordance with patient/family/caregiver wishes
Other duties as assigned.