Hospice RN Case Manager Talent Pool

Optimal Care is building a talent pipeline of compassionate Registered Nurses for future Hospice RN Case Manager opportunities serving West Michigan. In this role, you will provide skilled nursing care and compassionate support to hospice patients and families while coordinating care alongside an interdisciplinary team to ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life. This position is ideal for an RN who values autonomy, meaningful patient relationships, and holistic end-of-life care.

Service areas may include:

• Kent
• Muskegon / Ottawa
• Newaygo / North Kent
• Ionia / Montcalm / Mecosta
• Oceana

Flexibility to work across adjacent counties within the service area is required.

Home Office

770 Kenmoor Ave, Suite 100

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Schedule

Full Time: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, with weekend rotation

What You'll Do

Provide Expert Hospice Nursing Care

• Conduct initial evaluations and ongoing assessments of patients' nursing needs
• Deliver skilled nursing services requiring specialized expertise
• Demonstrate proficiency in medication administration across all routes (IM, SQ, SL, TD, PO, enteral tube, IV)
• Manage complex symptoms and provide comfort-focused interventions
• Safely and effectively use durable medical equipment and medical devices

Coordinate Comprehensive Care

• Assume primary responsibility for your caseload, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Develop and maintain individualized plans of care in collaboration with physicians and the interdisciplinary team
• Coordinate services required for hospital discharges to home or facility settings
• Supervise and document home health aide and LPN care delivery
• Facilitate smooth transitions and ensure continuity of care across all settings

Collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Team

• Participate actively in IDG meetings, offering clinical insights and recommendations
• Attend and contribute to nursing facility care conferences
• Communicate regularly with physicians, facilities, team members, and the Hospice Medical Director
• Coordinate with social workers, chaplains, aides, and other team members to address holistic patient needs

Support Patients and Families

• Build rapport and communicate effectively with patients, families, and caregivers
• Assess home safety, environment appropriateness, and support system capacity
• Provide education about symptom management, medications, and end-of-life care
• Offer appropriate support at time of death and conduct bereavement assessments when requested
• Respond with sensitivity to family emotional stress and respect diverse lifestyles

Maintain Excellence in Documentation and Compliance

• Complete all documentation within 24 hours of visits
• Document medication regimens and update profiles according to procedures
• Ensure clinical notes reflect ongoing communication and care coordination
• Maintain compliance with Conditions of Participation and third-party payor requirements
• Identify and report potential payment or coverage issues promptly

Work Environment

This position requires extensive daily travel to patient homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes within your service area. You'll work independently in varied environments and must be comfortable adapting to different settings and situations. The role has a high degree of schedule variability due to patient needs, admissions, and end-of-life situations. Flexibility and availability (including potential on-call duties) are essential. Physical demands include standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 50 lbs with assistance.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Diploma, Associate, or Baccalaureate School of Nursing
• Current State License as a Registered Nurse
• Minimum 1 year of nursing experience in a clinical care setting
• Reliable transportation with valid automobile insurance
• Willingness to travel extensively within service area daily

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Experience in hospice or home health environment

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Advanced nursing assessment and clinical judgment skills
• Proficiency in phlebotomy with proper implementation of universal precautions
• Ability to assess patients in varied home and facility environments
• Strong time management skills with ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines
• Excellent communication and rapport-building abilities
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diverse lifestyles and belief systems
• Ability to cope with family emotional stress and end-of-life situations
• Self-directed with strong organizational skills
• Knowledge of hospice philosophy and palliative care principles

What Makes You Successful

You're a skilled nurse who sees hospice care as a calling, not just a job. You understand that end-of-life care is about more than managing symptoms—it's about honoring each patient's wishes, supporting families through grief, and ensuring dignity during life's most vulnerable moments. You're comfortable with the autonomy of managing your own caseload while knowing when to collaborate with your interdisciplinary team. You can handle the emotional intensity of hospice work while maintaining professional boundaries and your own emotional wellbeing. You're adaptable and resilient, able to work effectively in diverse home and facility environments. You bring calm, compassion, and clinical expertise to every patient interaction, recognizing that your presence can provide immeasurable comfort to patients and families during their most difficult times.

Why Join Us?

Hospice nursing offers unparalleled professional fulfillment. You'll have time to truly know your patients and families, practicing nursing the way you always envisioned - with autonomy, comprehensive care coordination, and meaningful relationships. We provide comprehensive orientation, ongoing clinical support, and opportunities for professional development in palliative care. You'll work with a collaborative interdisciplinary team that values your expertise and supports you in providing the highest quality end-of-life care.

Ready to Make a Profound Impact?

If you're a registered nurse ready to provide compassionate, expert care during life's most meaningful moments, we encourage you to apply and join our Hospice RN Case Manager pipeline for the West Michigan Market.