Hospice Registered Nurse

Job Description

Overview: \n

Lead with Heart. Be the Difference. Transform End-of-Life Care.

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Join our company, where every day is an opportunity to deliver personalized, meaningful hospice and palliative care to patients facing life-limiting illness. We support patients and their families with dignity, comfort, and love.

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What You'll Do as a Hospice RN / RN Case Manager:

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  Be the primary point of contact for patients and families, guiding them through every step of their hospice journey.

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  Deliver and document skilled, hands-on nursing care based on each patient’s individualized Plan of Care—in their home, assisted living, or wherever they call home.

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  Perform initial and ongoing assessments to monitor patient condition and adjust care as needed.

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  Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team—including physicians, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and others—to build and refine personalized care plans.

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  Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support not just to the patient, but to their loved ones as well—offering education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.

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  Teach caregivers how to care for their loved one safely and confidently, offering both practical training and emotional reassurance.

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  Communicate important updates in patient condition to the care team, ensuring timely and appropriate interventions.

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  Maintain accurate, up-to-date clinical documentation and follow infection control and compliance standards.

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  Support the organization's quality improvement and scheduling initiatives to ensure care is consistent, compassionate, and efficient.

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  Help patients and families understand and navigate topics such as:
  \n   • Medication administration
  \n   • Hospice philosophy and services
  \n   • Symptom and pain management
  \n   • End-of-life processes and expectations

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Essential Functions: \n

Job Responsibilities

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• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments including in-person/telephonic RN assessments/screenings and provide education to patients, family members and caregivers as appropriate.
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• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with goals of care.
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• Develop and update individualized plans of care including patient visit frequency to meet individual needs and risk identification.
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• Coordinate care across interdisciplinary teams including consultation with physicians and nurse partitioners.
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• Provide patient and caregiver education regarding disease process, self-care techniques, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition and dietary needs.
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• Communicate change in condition, or signs and symptoms of decline to appropriate provider (e.g., NP, PCP, Hospice Physician).
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• Support the continuity of care by recognizing and supporting home health, palliative and hospice referrals as appropriate and recognizing and supporting transitions in levels of care.
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• Document timely clinical records on all patients including screening/assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
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• Maintain effective working relationships with IDG, and involve team when patient's care plan warrants team participation to achieve desired outcome.
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• Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, conducting on-call services in a clinically competent and responsive manner.
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Core Competencies

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• Clinical excellence and sound judgment
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• Patient-centered communication and empathy
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• Interdisciplinary collaboration
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• Accountability and regulatory compliance
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• Adaptability and critical thinking
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• Timeliness of patient visits and documentation
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• Accuracy and completeness of clinical records
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• Patient and caregiver satisfaction
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• Compliance with regulatory and policy standards
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• Participation in team collaboration and IDG activities
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About You: \n

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

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Education:

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• Registered Nurse
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Experience:

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• A minimum of one (1) year experience as an RN, either in acute care hospital, oncology, long-term care, hospice or home health. School internships and clinical hours may be considered as experience in individual cases.
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• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred
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Licenses, Certifications and/or Registration:

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• Current license to practice nursing in the state of requested employment
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• CPR Certification
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• Current automobile insurance and valid driver’s license
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Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

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• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families along with understanding of hospice; ability to apply knowledge of the special needs of hospice patient and families; knowledge of roles of all disciplines providing hospice services; excellent patient assessment skills; knowledge of community resources; good oral and written communication skills; documentation and program management; knowledge of general nursing practice; thorough knowledge of managed care principles, regulatory guidelines (i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, ACHC, and human resource management principles).
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Working Conditions:

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• Patient’s homes and/or institutional setting and automobile. Potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta and hazardous materials.
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Personal Traits, Qualities and Aptitudes:

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• Sensitivity to the impact of life and death issues faced by individuals with terminal illness; tact in dealing with these patients and their families; ability to support others at a time of crisis. Must be able to demonstrate flexibility by performing a variety of tasks, often changing from one to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure. Communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Responsible functioning in the work place, maturity, cooperation, flexibility, tact in dealing with co-workers and all members of the hospice team.
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Equipment/Tools/Work -Aids:

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• Must be able to effectively operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier and cell phone/beeper. Must have and maintain transportation to be used for work.
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We Offer: \n

Benefits for All Associates (Full-Time, Part-Time & Per Diem):

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• Competitive Pay
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• 401(k) with Company Match
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• Career Advancement Opportunities
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• National & Local Recognition Programs
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• Teammate Assistance Fund
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Additional Full-Time Benefits:

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• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
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• Mileage Reimbursement or Fleet Vehicle Program
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• Generous Paid Time Off + 7 Paid Holidays
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• Wellness Programs (Telemedicine, Diabetes Management, Joint & Spine Concierge Care)
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• Education Support & Tuition Assistance (ASN to BSN, BSN to MSN)
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• Free Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
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• Company-paid Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
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• Voluntary Benefits (Pet, Critical Illness, Accident, LTC)
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Ready to Join a Team That Cares?

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Apply now to become part of our Hospice Nursing team and help make every moment count for our patients and their loved ones.

Legalese: \n

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• This is a safety-sensitive position
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• Employee must meet minimum requirements to be eligible for benefits
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• Where applicable, employee must meet state specific requirements
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• We are proud to be an EEO employer
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• We maintain a drug-free workplace
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Location: Heartland Hospice Our Company: \n

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At Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, it is our privilege to offer compassionate care in the comfort of wherever our patients call home. We are a national leader in hospice care, palliative care, home health care, and advanced illness management, with nearly 600 locations and thousands of dedicated clinicians across 38 states.

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Our place is by the side of those who need us – from helping people recover from illness, injury, or surgery in the comfort of their homes to guiding patients and their families through the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects of a serious illness or terminal diagnosis.

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Our nationwide reach is powered by a family of trusted brands that include:

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• Hospice care: Gentiva Hospice, Emerald Coast Hospice Care, Heartland Hospice, Hospice Plus, New Century Hospice, Regency SouthernCare, SouthernCare Hospice Services, SouthernCare New Beacon
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• Palliative care: Empatia Palliative Care, Emerald Coast Palliative Care
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• Home health care: Heartland Home Health
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• Advanced illness management: Illumia Health
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With corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and providers delivering care across the U.S., we are proud to offer rewarding careers in a collaborative environment where inspiring achievements are recognized – and kindness is celebrated.