Non-Profit Hospice Admissions Nurse at Iowa Care Community Inc, Iowa City Hospice, Visiting Nurse Association – Iowa City, Coralville, Cedar Rapids, Solon, North Liberty, Hills, Lone Tree, Tiffin, Swisher, Iowa

Iowa City Hospice nurses prioritize meaningful living and view the end-of-life journey as an extension of life, worthy of purpose and quality.

Do you have a "hospice heart"—a blend of expert clinical skills, profound empathy, and the ability to bring calm to a storm?

At Iowa City Hospice, we are looking for a dedicated Hospice Admission Nurse (RN) to be the first face of comfort, guiding patients and their families through a difficult, sacred transition with dignity, respect, and grace.

As our Admission Nurse, you are not just checking boxes; you are opening the door to peace. You will meet patients and families at their most vulnerable, helping them turn fear into understanding and confusion into a plan of care. You have the unique privilege of setting the tone for their entire hospice journey.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Conduct thorough and compassionate health assessments for new admissions in patient homes, hospitals, or skilled nursing facilities.
• Determine clinical eligibility and care needs through accurate medical, functional, and psychosocial assessment.
• Monitor patients’ health status throughout the admission process and respond promptly to changes or urgent needs.

• Collaborate with physicians, interdisciplinary team members, and families to develop and implement highly individualized, comfort-focused care plans.
• Ensure care plans prioritize symptom management, safety, and patient-directed goals.
• Coordinate necessary referrals, services, and follow-up care to support seamless transitions and continuity.

• Clearly explain hospice philosophy, services, and benefits to patients and families in a supportive, compassionate manner.
• Provide education regarding diagnoses, symptom management, treatment options, and expectations for hospice care.
• Offer emotional support and guidance, helping families make informed decisions during stressful and sensitive times.

• Ensure all admission procedures comply with organizational policies, Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs), state regulations, and accreditation standards.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed clinical documentation in accordance with HIPAA and agency privacy guidelines.
• Complete all required admission paperwork, orders, and assessments with precision to support eligibility, regulatory compliance, and timely care initiation.

• Utilize expert clinical judgment to identify urgent needs and escalate care appropriately.
• Document assessments, care plans, interventions, and patient/family communication with accuracy, clarity, and completeness.
• Support quality initiatives by ensuring documentation aligns with hospice standards, regulatory requirements, and agency best practices.

Successful Candidates Demonstrate:

• Compassion First: An empathetic, patient-centered approach with a true desire to support families.
• Experienced RN: Active RN license in [State] with at least 1+ year of nursing experience (hospice/home health experience preferred).
• Passionate Communicator: Ability to listen deeply, educate clearly, and connect with people from all walks of life.
• Self-Directed: Ability to work independently in the field.

Why Join Iowa City Hospice?

• Purpose-Driven Work: Make a tangible difference in the lives of patients, families and other care takers every day.
• Supportive Team Culture: Work with a team that gets it—a supportive environment that values you.
• Time to provide meaningful, one-on-one care.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits:
  • Wellmark medical & dental, Avesis vision, Unum STD, accident and critical illness voluntary policies, & FSA / HSA
  • Employer-paid life & disability insurance
  • Paid vacation and sick leave
  • Thorough orientation and ongoing professional development
  • Free parking, company car or mileage reimbursement, iPhone & iPad for work

If you are seeking meaningful work, committed to serving others and possess strong clinical skills, we encourage you to apply online today: www.iowacityhospice.org or contact Karen at 319-325-0319.

Iowa Care Community is committed to diversity and inclusion and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:

• A graduate of an approved school of nursing (LPN/RN/BSN/ARNP) with a current Iowa Nursing License.
• Two years of home health or hospice or work-related experience preferred. General medical knowledge related to home health and hospice services with end-of-life issues is desirable.
• Car, driver's license and adequate insurance as outlined in the personnel policies is required.
• Strong clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and evidence-based practice expertise.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Proficient computer skills, including electronic health records (EHR) and Microsoft Office applications.
• Advanced Certifications in Hospice and Palliative Nurse certification by the 3rd year of employment.
• All offers of employment are conditioned upon the result of a criminal background check conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, as required by law and a negative finding on the Office of Inspector General’s Excluded Provider List.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Overall, the role requires strong interpersonal skills, negotiation abilities, and a deep understanding of healthcare operations, regulations and cultural differences.
• Demonstrates competence in professional decision-making skills within the parameters of the Nurse Practice Act, including the ability to make appropriate assessments, problem-solve, prioritize, complete Plans of Care and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Demonstrates initiative in recognizing unmet needs and assuring a timely and appropriate response, skills and knowledge in providing education and treatment of acute and chronic symptom management.
• Maintains confidentiality in all matters, including employee information, client information and agency matters.
• Knowledge of computer operating systems, data sourcing, project management with outcomes analysis proficiency required.
• Demonstrates organizational skills necessary to manage workload and productivity expectations while working independently and managing several projects simultaneously.
• Exhibits professionalism in all workday interactions, follows through on commitments and maintains composure under stress.
• Recognizing new referral opportunities and ensuring that the organization responds appropriately to them.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/EQUIPMENT:

• Perform the duties in both inside and outside environmental conditions.
• Visits are conducted in a variety of settings including family home, group home, LTC and assisted care facilities and requires employee to drive from location to location during the work period in good and inclement weather, within the service territory including city and small towns and rural areas.
• Atmospheric conditions – fumes, odors, dust, poor ventilation, animal presence, and/or smoking.
• The ambient noise level in this environment can flex, is generally low.
• Duties include frequent use of electronic devices: iPad, I Phone, desktop computer, copier and occasionally other office machinery.
• The driving requirements include in-town and highway driving in good and inclement weather.
• All professional staff will use PC and iPad to document work in client home and/or hospital settings.

PHYSICAL/COGNITIVE DEMANDS:

• Gross Motor Skills: Sit for long periods in office car or patient home settings, maintain balance in multiple positions, reach above shoulders / head, reach below waist, reach/extend arms in front, sustain repetitive motions (CPR), and physical demands of climbing up/down stairs, walking, kneeling, standing, twisting, squatting, stooping, pushing/pulling 35+ lbs, grasping, lifting 35 lbs+.
• Fine Motor Skills: Use of hands to operate motor vehicle, provide physical cares for patients, pinch/squeeze fingers together, type, grasp small objects, twist at wrist.
• Visual & Hearing Acuity: includes up close, distance and peripheral vision with ability to adjust focus to inspect patient, operate a motor vehicle, view electronic devices (I-phone, I-Pad, computer terminal) and read data; with or without corrective aids. Able to hear normal speaking levels, faint voices, faint body sounds with or without corrective aids. Able to speak.
• Cognitive Ability: focused attention on task at hand, to solve practical problems with a variety of variables and limited standardization, interpret instructions, document visits and effectively communicate with team and patient(s). Able to manage information, build report with patients & families, collaborate with healthcare team; respect and value cultural differences, provide emotional support to patients & families, cope with strong emotions in others, maintains appropriate personal boundaries, appropriately responds to the unexpected.