Inpatient Hospice Nurse - RN

Job Description

Job Description

Full-time day shift and night shift opportunities available.

St. Anthony’s is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Registered Nurse to join our inpatient hospice care team in providing exceptional end-of-life care. This role requires a balance of clinical expertise, emotional intelligence and critical thinking to ensure patients receive comfort, dignity and support during one of life’s most difficult journeys.

At St. Anthony’s, we focus on the person, not the diagnosis. Our interdisciplinary team works together to provide individualized care that supports the physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and families facing serious illness.

Working at St. Anthony’s means more time with your patients, meaningful relationships with families, teammates you can count on and a mission-driven culture centered around compassionate care.

Position Summary:

The Inpatient Hospice Nurse - RN is responsible for planning, coordinating, providing and documenting care for hospice patients within the inpatient care setting from admission through discharge. Utilizing physician orders, clinical judgment and interdisciplinary collaboration, the RN develops and implements individualized Plans of Care that meet each patient’s unique needs while ensuring compliance with organizational standards, state and federal regulations and Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation.

The RN serves as a primary clinical support for patients and families by providing skilled nursing care, symptom management, education and emotional support throughout the hospice journey.

Character Qualifications:

• Compassion - Demonstrates empathy, kindness and sensitivity toward patients and families facing terminal illness.
• Patience - Understands that every patient and family experiences the end-of-life journey differently.
• Resilience - Maintains professionalism, emotional strength and composure during difficult situations.
• Strong Communication Skills - Communicates clearly, listens actively and provides reassurance to patients, families and team members.
• Integrity - Demonstrates honesty, ethical decision-making, accountability and respect for patient dignity and choices.
• Teamwork - Collaborates effectively within an interdisciplinary team environment.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provides comprehensive physical, psychosocial and nursing assessments for assigned hospice patients.
• Develops, implements, evaluates and updates individualized Plans of Care based on patient needs and physician orders.
• Provides hospice nursing care in accordance with hospice regulations, standards and Medicare Conditions of Participation.
• Collaborates with physicians, nursing staff and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate patient care and symptom management.
• Provides treatments and nursing interventions including but not limited to wound care, catheter care, colostomy care, respiratory care, enteral feedings, central venous access device care, pain management and post-mortem care.
• Administers medications and treatments safely in accordance with physician orders, patient condition and nursing standards.
• Orders medications, supplies and durable medical equipment necessary to support patient comfort and safety.
• Assesses and manages pain and other symptoms to maximize patient comfort and quality of life.
• Educates patients and caregivers regarding medications, disease progression, safety, end-of-life expectations and hospice services.
• Responds appropriately to the physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and families.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, staff meetings and educational opportunities as assigned.
• Completes accurate and timely clinical documentation within the electronic medical record system.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, physicians and interdisciplinary team members regarding patient care and changes in condition.
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently while adapting to changing patient needs and unit priorities.
• Maintains confidentiality and complies with all organizational, state, federal and Medicare regulatory requirements.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Professional Qualifications:

• Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
• Previous nursing experience required.
• Hospice, oncology, medical/surgical, critical care, long-term care or geriatric nursing experience preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to the hospice philosophy of care.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Basic computer proficiency including EMR documentation, email and internet navigation required.
• Must meet all legal and regulatory requirements of both federal and state governments as well as Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation.

Physical Qualifications:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position while completing clinical documentation.
• Must be able to frequently move throughout patient rooms and the inpatient care environment to provide patient care.
• Must be able to communicate verbally, electronically and in writing with patients, families, physicians and team members.
• Must be able to lift, transfer, push and pull up to 50 pounds as necessary to assist with patient care activities.
• Regularly exposed to blood, body fluids, cleaning chemicals and other potentially hazardous substances while providing patient care.
• Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
• Must be able to operate medical equipment, computers and standard office equipment.