Hospice Nurse Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Registered Nurse.
• 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 requested employment.
• CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and understanding of hospice and the special needs of hospice patients and families.
• Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
• Excellent patient assessment skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program management knowledge.
• Knowledge of general nursing practice, managed care principles, regulatory guidelines including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC, and human resource management principles.
• Sensitivity to end-of-life issues and ability to support patients and families during a crisis.
• Ability to adapt and perform varied tasks without losing efficiency or composure, communicate effectively with people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and work cooperatively and tactfully with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments and screenings, and educate patients, family members, and caregivers.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including patient visit frequency, to meet individual needs and identify risks.
• Coordinate care across interdisciplinary teams, including consultation with physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Provide patient and caregiver education regarding disease processes, self-care techniques, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
• Communicate changes in condition or signs and symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider, such as an NP, PCP, or hospice physician.
• Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
• Document timely clinical records, including screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the patient’s care plan warrants participation.
• Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call services.
• Deliver and document hands-on nursing care according to each patient’s individualized plan of care.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and confidently.
• Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives and follow infection-control, compliance, and regulatory standards.
• Help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.

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 seven 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, for full-time associates.
• Free continuing education units 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.