Hospice Admissions Nurse

Overview

The Hospice Admissions Nurse is responsible for clinically evaluating hospice referrals, guiding patients and families through the hospice decision-making process, and ensuring timely, compliant, and high-quality admissions. This role sits at the intersection of clinical excellence, customer experience, and growth execution.

The Admissions Nurse is accountable for accurate eligibility determination, exceptional patient and family education, and efficient conversion of referrals to admissions, while maintaining strong, trust-based relationships with hospital partners and referral sources. This role requires strong clinical judgment, emotional intelligence, urgency, and professionalism. Admissions Nurses are expected to operate with autonomy, accountability, and a deep sense of ownership over outcomes.

Flexible (Full-time, part-time, or PRN available)

Starting compensation of $50.00 - $60.00 hourly. Exact compensation will be based on job-related factors including experience, education, licensure, certifications, and location, in accordance with applicable laws.

• Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments to determine hospice eligibility in accordance with Medicare hospice regulations and organizational standards.
• Review referral documentation, medical records, physician notes, and diagnostics to support eligibility decisions.
• Collaborate with attending physicians, hospice medical directors, and interdisciplinary team members to confirm prognosis and appropriateness for hospice.
• Clearly document eligibility determinations, including supporting clinical rationale, in the EMR.

• Serve as the primary clinical educator for patients and families regarding hospice philosophy, services, benefits, and expectations.
• Provide compassionate, clear, and culturally sensitive communication during emotionally complex conversations.
• Address patient and family questions, concerns, and barriers to hospice acceptance with empathy and professionalism.
• Ensure informed consent and alignment between patient goals of care and hospice services.

• Complete hospice admissions efficiently and accurately, ensuring all required consents, documentation, and physician orders are obtained.
• Coordinate admission logistics with intake, case management, clinical operations, and on-call teams.
• Support same-day and rapid admissions to meet patient needs and organizational speed-to-admission targets.
• Ensure smooth handoff to the assigned interdisciplinary care team following admission.
• Act as a trusted clinical partner to hospital case managers, social workers, physicians, and nursing teams.
• Represent Kara Health professionally within hospital and community settings.
• Provide timely, accurate feedback to referral sources regarding admission decisions, next steps, or barriers.
• Strengthen hospital and referral relationships through responsiveness, credibility, and consistent follow-through.

• Ensure all admission documentation meets Medicare, state, and organizational compliance standards.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and thorough clinical documentation in the EMR.
• Adhere to all hospice Conditions of Participation (CoPs), organizational policies, and SOPs.
• Participate in audits, chart reviews, and quality improvement initiatives as needed.

• Actively manage assigned referral pipelines with accountability for outcomes.
• Participate in ongoing training, skills development, and performance feedback.
• Identify patterns in referral deferrals, non-admits, or delays and collaborate on process improvements.
• Contribute to a culture of transparency, urgency, and continuous improvement.

• Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the applicable state
• Minimum of 2 years of hospice, palliative care, home health, or acute care experience (hospice admissions experience strongly preferred)
• Strong knowledge of hospice eligibility criteria and Medicare hospice regulations
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and clinical judgment skills
• Ability to…