Hospice After-Hours/Weekend Nurse

Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) – After-Hours / Weekend

Position Summary:

The Hospice After-Hours/Weekend Registered Nurse (RN) provides skilled nursing care, assessment, and support to hospice patients and their families during evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. This role ensures continuity of care outside of regular business hours, addressing urgent patient needs, completing hospice admissions, managing symptoms, and offering compassionate end-of-life support in alignment with hospice philosophy and interdisciplinary care plans.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide on-call nursing care to hospice patients during after-hours, weekends, and holidays
• Respond promptly to patient and caregiver calls, triaging needs via phone and making in-person visits as required
• Complete hospice patient admissions during after-hours/weekends, including conducting initial comprehensive nursing assessments and developing the plan of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team
• Obtain and review admission documentation, physician orders, and eligibility criteria in compliance with hospice regulations and organizational policies
• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments and reassessments related to pain, symptoms, and overall patient status
• Administer medications, treatments, and comfort measures as ordered
• Manage symptom crises (pain, dyspnea, anxiety, nausea, agitation, etc.)
• Educate patients and caregivers on disease progression, medications, symptom management, hospice services, and end-of-life expectations
• Collaborate with physicians, hospice medical directors, and interdisciplinary team members to implement and update care plans
• Accurately document all patient care, assessments, admissions, and interventions in the electronic medical record in a timely manner
• Provide emotional support to patients and families, including during active dying and post-death care
• Pronounce death when appropriate and complete required documentation
• Ensure compliance with hospice policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements (Medicare/Medicaid, state, and accrediting bodies)
• Participate in handoff communication with case managers and weekday clinical staff

Schedule & Availability

• After-hours shifts, weekends, evenings, overnight, and/or holidays as scheduled.
• On-call availability required (Beeper Pay included).
• Flexible scheduling based on organizational needs.

Qualifications

• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice
• Minimum of one (1) year of nursing experience; hospice, home health, or acute care experience preferred
• Strong assessment, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making skills
• Ability to work independently and manage urgent situations calmly and effectively
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Compassionate approach to end-of-life care
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance
• Ability to travel to patient homes, facilities, or inpatient units as needed

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, reposition, and assist patients as needed.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and drive for extended periods.
• Ability to work in various home and facility environments.