RN - HOME HOSPICE | UM HEALTH-SPARROW

Hospice Registered Nurse

The Hospice Registered Nurse provides compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals with life-limiting illnesses in their homes or facilities. This role focuses on symptom management, emotional support, patient advocacy, and guiding families through the end-of-life process. The RN collaborates closely with the interdisciplinary team to ensure high-quality, holistic hospice care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver skilled nursing care including assessment, symptom management, medication administration, and patient/family education.
• Develop, implement, and update individualized plans of care in collaboration with the hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT).
• Delegate, direct and supervise implementation of care plans to LPN, Home Health Aides/PCTs or other members of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT).
• Provide emotional support to patients and families, helping them understand disease progression and hospice philosophy.
• Advocate for patient comfort and dignity, ensuring needs are met promptly and respectfully.
• Educate caregivers on safe care techniques, medications, and what to expect as conditions change.
• Ensure compliance with hospice regulations, documentation standards, and organizational policies.
• Accept responsibility for the supervision, orientation and direction of new hire caregivers.
• Participate in planning, implementation and evaluation of departmental quality improvement program.
• Maintain knowledge of current trends in hospice nursing and provides evidence of clinical competency.
• Coordinate care transitions between levels of care, home, hospital and hospice facility settings.
• Participate in bereavement assessment and bereavement activities as appropriate.
• Collaborate with referral sources (Skilled nursing facilities, assisted livings, adult homes, etc.) to provide hospice services to patients/families and the highest quality of care.

Required Responsibilities of the Clinical Registered Nurse:

• Demonstrate knowledge and maintain and respects patient's right to privacy by following the HIPAA Privacy and Security policies and procedures.
• Adhere to ICARE values and standards of behavior (Innovation, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence).
• Role models behaviors that value the diversity of our caregivers, patients and customers and supports creating an environment that is inclusive, welcoming and respectful.
• Participate in the on-call rotation as scheduled to ensure 24/7 patient coverage.
• Provide coverage for open shifts when needed to maintain continuity of care.
• Communicate with patients, families and customers using AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation and Thanks).
• Work in a safe manner and promptly reports any hazards identified in the work environment or related to assigned responsibilities.
• Adhere to policies and procedures designed to avoid, prevent and reduce the spread of communicable disease.

Job Requirements

General Requirements:

• Current Michigan license to practice as Registered Nurse
• Basic Life Support from the American heart Association
• Valid Driver's License
• Current Proof of Auto Insurance
• Preferred: Hospice certification

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 1 year of nursing experience in hospice, home health or palliative care; if no hospice experience, will consider ICU and/or critical care experience

Education:

• Associate degree in nursing
• Preferred: BSN from an accredited institution

Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong clinical assessment and critical-thinking skills
• Ability to work independently in home settings
• Interpersonal skills to effectively and appropriately communicate with patients, families, physicians, other University of Michigan Health associates and external agencies

University of Michigan Health-Sparrow is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.