MercyOne Hospice Admissions RN - Des Moines, Iowa

Basic Job Function Summary

$10k sign on bonus

The Hospice Admissions Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for coordinating and completing hospice admissions for patients throughout the Des Moines market, utilizing clinical expertise and critical thinking skills to assess patient eligibility, establish individualized plans of care, and facilitate a smooth transition into hospice services. Working collaboratively with patients, families, physicians, referral sources, and the interdisciplinary hospice team, the Admissions RN evaluates physical, emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual needs to ensure appropriate hospice care delivery. This role serves as a key liaison between referral sources and the hospice team while promoting patient comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive hospice admission assessments to determine patient needs and eligibility for hospice services.
• Educate patients and families regarding hospice philosophy, benefits, services, and care expectations.
• Obtain informed consent and complete admission documentation in accordance with organizational and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and initiate the individualized Plan of Care (POC) in collaboration with the patient, family, physician, and interdisciplinary team.
• Communicate assessment findings and care recommendations to the hospice interdisciplinary group (IDG) to ensure continuity of care.
• Coordinate with referral sources, physicians, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and community partners to facilitate timely admissions.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation and synchronize records following each patient visit.
• Provide nursing assessments, symptom management recommendations, and caregiver education.
• Participate in admissions rotation, on-call activities, and support routine patient visits as operational needs require.
• Collaborate with hospice leadership and provider relations teams to support referral development and outstanding customer service.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, peer reviews, team meetings, and ongoing educational opportunities.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in Iowa.
• Minimum one year of acute care nursing experience required.
• Hospice, palliative care, home health, oncology, critical care, or medical-surgical experience preferred.
• Current driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Strong assessment, communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to support patients and families through end-of-life conversations and transitions in care.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a compassionate, relationship-focused RN who excels in patient assessments, hospice admissions, and care coordination. This nurse is comfortable educating patients and families about hospice services, working independently in the field, and collaborating with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to ensure a seamless admission experience while upholding MercyOne Hospice's mission of compassionate, patient-centered care