Monday- Thursday, 4 days per week, 5p-8:30a, for after-hours coverage of patient needs, visits, admissions, etc. On-call, salaried position.

Pay Range:

Hospice After-Hours / On-Call Registered Nurse

Location: Floyd, Chattooga, Gordon, Polk, Bartow Counites

Schedule / Coverage:

• Weeknight position: Monday through Thursday, 5:00 PM–8:30 AM.
• The assigned nurse is responsible for after-hours calls and admissions during the coverage period. 

Position Summary

The Hospice After-Hours/On-Call Registered Nurse provides skilled nursing care and clinical support to hospice patients and families during evenings, nights, weekends, and other designated after-hours periods. The RN responds to patient and caregiver concerns, evaluates changes in condition, provides symptom-management interventions, makes home or facility visits when clinically indicated, and facilitates after-hours hospice admissions.

This position plays an important role in maintaining continuity of care and helping patients remain comfortable and supported during times when the primary hospice team is not routinely available.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Respond promptly and professionally to after-hours calls from hospice patients, families, caregivers, facilities, and other members of the healthcare team.
• Perform nursing assessment and triage to determine the appropriate clinical response to patient or caregiver needs.
• Make in-person visits when clinically indicated based on the patient's condition and care needs.
• Assess and manage symptoms commonly encountered in hospice care, including pain, dyspnea, agitation, nausea/vomiting, secretions, anxiety, and other changes in condition.
• Provide education, reassurance, and emotional support to patients and caregivers during changes in condition and end-of-life situations.
• Communicate with the hospice physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacy, DME provider, facility staff, or other appropriate members of the interdisciplinary team when necessary to coordinate care.
• Complete after-hours hospice admissions as assigned, including nursing assessment and required admission documentation.
• Respond to patient deaths and complete appropriate hospice nursing responsibilities and notifications in accordance with organizational policy.
• Ensure medications, supplies, and durable medical equipment needs identified after hours are communicated and coordinated appropriately.
• Document telephone encounters, assessments, visits, interventions, patient response, physician communication, and changes in the plan of care accurately and timely in the electronic medical record.
• Provide appropriate handoff to the daytime hospice team regarding patient changes, visits, new orders, admissions, deaths, caregiver concerns, and issues requiring follow-up.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, families, facilities, and hospice interdisciplinary team members.
• Follow applicable Medicare Conditions of Participation, state nursing requirements, organizational policies, infection-prevention practices, and patient-safety standards.
• Participate in required education, competencies, meetings, and quality-improvement activities.
• Perform other duties consistent with the RN scope of practice and hospice program needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing.
• Current unrestricted Registered Nurse license appropriate to the state(s) of practice.
• Current driver's license, automobile insurance, and reliable transportation when the position requires patient visits.
• Current BLS certification, if required by organizational policy.
• Clinical nursing experience with demonstrated assessment and critical-thinking skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hospice, palliative care, home health, oncology, acute care, emergency, or other relevant clinical nursing experience.
• Experience caring for patients at end of life.
• Experience with symptom management and family/caregiver education.
• Experience working independently in home or community-based settings.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong independent nursing assessment and clinical judgment.
• Ability to prioritize multiple patient needs appropriately.
• Knowledge of end-of-life symptom management.
• Strong communication and caregiver-education skills.
• Ability to remain calm and supportive during emotionally difficult situations.
• Effective time management and organization.
• Ability to work independently while communicating effectively with the interdisciplinary hospice team.
• Accurate and timely clinical documentation.
• Professionalism, compassion, reliability, and respect for patient and family preferences.

Physical / Working Requirements

The RN must be able to travel to patient residences and care facilities during assigned coverage periods and perform the physical functions necessary to provide direct nursing care, consistent with organizational requirements and approved job-demand standards.

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training

• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job

• Incentive pay for select positions

• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs

• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability

• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses

• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave

• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs

• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.