Hospice RN Case Manager; South Suburbs

Major Responsibilities

• Identify and coordinate patient and family care to support terminally ill patients and families in all hospice settings.
• Maintain regular patient/family contacts (minimum every 15 days, at the discretion of the Case Manager).
• Use teaching, assessment and intervention skills to provide comfort care at end of life and maximize quality of life.
• Educate patients and families about disease processes, trajectory, management, hospice philosophies, signs and symptoms of decline and end of life.
• Update the primary physician as indicated and in accordance with agency, accreditation, state and federal requirements.
• Continuously review all aspects of every patient in the caseload to ensure appropriate utilization of services and that hospice level‑of‑care criteria are met.
• Make referrals to appropriate team members.
• Administer medication and treatments as prescribed by the physician.
• Lead the interdisciplinary care group (IDG) for each patient, developing, revising and implementing the patient’s Plan of Care.
• Coordinate all services and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to provide consistent patient care.
• Arrange equipment, medical supplies and other necessary items/services as indicated.
• Enter, complete and update documentation in the electronic health record according to agency standards and policies.
• Provide ongoing assessment of patient response to treatments, medications and teaching, and make appropriate changes in interventions.
• Communicate problems and changes in condition to physicians, the supervisor and IDG members.
• Enter verbal orders from the physician or APN into the Electronic Health Record.
• Supervise Home Health Aide and licensed practical nurse visits, instructing paraprofessional staff as required.
• Facilitate the discharge planning process and utilize interagency/system resources for continuity of care after discharge.
• WI‑only:
  Conduct OASIS assessments for palliative care patients and hospice initial and comprehensive assessments; ensure skilled nursing/home‑bound criteria are met and initiate appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.
• Use proper body mechanics, assistive devices and safety techniques for patient positioning, repositioning and transporting duties.
• Mentor new staff members as requested.
• Demonstrate knowledge of principles of growth and development over the lifespan and assess data reflecting a patient’s age‑specific needs.

• Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the team member practices.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) (unless determined otherwise by the department leader).
• Valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Completion of an accredited or approved program in Nursing.

Typically 1–2 years of nursing experience, including experience in home health, hospice, medical/surgical, long‑term care, emergency care/ICU, oncology or similar related experience.

• Competent in principles of deformity prevention, normal range of motion, body mechanics, and body alignment.
• Fundamental principles of human behavior and an understanding of the effects of stress on individuals and groups.
• Excellent awareness and perception skills for assessing a patient’s needs, concerns and changes in health condition.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent decision‑making and critical‑thinking skills; ability to work independently and make sound judgments.
• Excellent prioritization and organizational skills.

• Lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• Lift up to 20 lbs. over the head.
• Carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance.
• Push or pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• Perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Work with people of various sizes and weights, including those with complex medical conditions and physical limitations.
• Move safely in confined spaces, including bending, kneeling, squatting and occasionally reaching arms over the head for long periods.
• Operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Protective clothing and equipment will be required for exposure to mechanical, electrical, chemical, blood and body‑fluid hazards.
• Functional speech, vision, hearing, and touch with the ability to use fine‑hand manipulation skills.