Visit Nurse PRN Day Shift - South Austin Area (51367)

JOB TITLE: Visit Nurse

DEPARTMENT: Clinical Services

POSITION SUMMARY

The Visit Nurse provides timely, compassionate, and clinically sound nursing support to hospice patients and families during daytime business hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm). This role responds to urgent needs, performs focused and comprehensive assessments within scope, performs initial admission visits with provider collaboration on admission approvals, accurately completes consents and hospice election documentation, and completes assigned visits off a task list maintained by the Team Leads. The nurse delivers symptom‑focused care, supports families through changes in condition, and upholds hospice philosophy, regulatory standards, and organizational values.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPSREPORTS TO: Team Leader

SUPERVISES: None

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: All comments, actions and behaviors have a direct effect on the public’s perception of Hospice Austin. Interactions with patients, family members, physicians, referral sources, visitors, co-workers, etc. must be in a manner that is courteous, respectful, cooperative and professional. This behavior should promote an atmosphere of teamwork and positive relations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSNursing Care & Symptom Management

• Performs focused, clinically indicated assessments during patient visits, including vital signs, pain assessment, respiratory evaluation, and other symptom‑specific evaluations.

• Provides immediate comfort‑focused interventions to manage symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, agitation, nausea, fever, and other distressing conditions.

• Initiates appropriate nursing procedures and implements standing orders, symptom management orders (SMOs), and PRN protocols as allowed.

• Evaluates patient and caregiver response to interventions and adjusts the plan as needed to ensure comfort and safety.

• Educates patients, families, and facility staff on symptom management, medication use, expected changes at end of life, and when to seek additional support.

• Assesses caregiver capacity to meet immediate patient needs and escalates concerns appropriately.

• Completes initial assessment and obtains approval to admit from providers for new admissions to hospice service. Ensures accuracy and completion of legal documentation.

• Completes visits within the Hospice Austin service area (Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, and Burnet counties) as assigned by the Team Lead.

End‑of‑Life Support & Death Events

• Provides preparation, guidance, and emotional support to families during active dying and imminent changes.

• Pronounces death in accordance with state regulations and agency policy.

• Provides respectful, dignified postmortem care and supports families through the immediate post‑death period.

• Ensures timely communication with funeral homes, facilities, and internal teams as required.

Communication & Collaboration

• Communicates changes in patient condition, urgent needs, and interventions to the appropriate care team members.

• Collaborates with pharmacies, DME vendors, and facility staff to resolve urgent needs such as medication access, equipment failure, or safety concerns.

• Escalates safety issues, abuse/neglect concerns, or complex clinical situations to leadership immediately.

• Maintains professional boundaries and demonstrates calm, supportive communication in high‑stress situations.

Documentation & Compliance

• Completes all documentation in the EMR promptly, accurately, and in accordance with agency protocol.

• Reports adverse events, falls, medication variances, or safety concerns to the appropriate department within required timeframes.

• Utilizes proper infection control and bag technique during all in‑person visits.

• Ensures all visit notes, communications, and clinical documentation meet regulatory and agency standards.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provides psychosocial support to patients and families throughout the course of care.

• May provide nursing care to pediatric patients depending on training and organizational needs.

• Performs other duties as assigned to support safe, high‑quality hospice care.