RN

Hillcrest Health & Living; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Interdisciplinary team

Health insurance options

Vision, dental, and life insurance

Professional development

Dayforce Wallet

Gym membership reimbursement

One-on-one patient care

Career growth

Job summary

Hillcrest Home Care Hospice in Iowa seeks a compassionate Hospice Nurse (RN) to provide skilled, patient-centered end‑of‑life care in patients' homes and care settings. You will assess, plan, and implement symptom management, educate families, and coordinate with an interdisciplinary team.

The role emphasizes autonomy with close collaboration, prioritizing comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and families across diverse environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelors preferred but not required depending on experience.
• Experience in hospice or home care nursing is preferred.
• Strong clinical judgment with compassionate care.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments and plan care.
• Develop and manage individualized care plans.
• Provide skilled nursing visits focused on comfort.
• Educate patients and families on disease, self-care, and end-of-life care.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary hospice team and physicians.
• Document progress notes and clinical data accurately.
• Participate in on-call rotations and quality initiatives.
• Travel to patient homes and facilities to deliver care.

Skills

Nursing assessment

Clinical decision-making

Hospice/home care experience

Symptom management

Education skills

Communication

Documentation

Caseload management

Travel to patient homes

Education

Accredited nursing program

Bachelor’s in Nursing preferred

RN license Iowa or compact

BLS certification

Driver’s license & insurance

3+ years nursing experience

Hospice/Home Care experience preferred

Job description

Hospice Nurse (RN) – Hillcrest Home Care

Service Line: Hillcrest Home Care – Hospice - Iowa

Hillcrest Home Care is looking for a compassionate, experienced, and patient-focused Hospice Nurse (RN) to join our hospice care team.

Hillcrest Home Care provides personalized hospice services to patients wherever they call home, including private residences and senior living or care communities. Our hospice team focuses on comfort, dignity, quality of life, and supporting both the patient and their family throughout the end-of-life journey.

Our mission is simple: Inspiring people to live their best lives.

As a Hospice Nurse (RN), you will provide direct patient care while managing an individualized caseload with a strong focus on symptom management, bedside care, crisis intervention, and family support. You will build meaningful relationships with patients and families while collaborating closely with an interdisciplinary hospice team to provide coordinated, compassionate end-of-life care.

What You’ll Do

As a Hospice Nurse (RN), you will coordinate and provide skilled nursing care to hospice patients wherever they call home, helping manage symptoms, promote comfort, and support patients and families throughout the end-of-life journey.

You Will

• Complete comprehensive nursing assessments of each patient’s physical, functional, psychosocial, spiritual, cultural, environmental, and nutritional needs.
• Develop and manage individualized plans of care based on patient needs, goals, and preferences.
• Provide skilled nursing visits focused on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life.
• Continually evaluate patient needs and adjust the plan of care as conditions change.
• Educate patients and families about the disease process, self‑care techniques, symptom management, and end‑of‑life care.
• Provide support and education to help patients and families navigate difficult decisions and changes in condition.
• Communicate professionally with physicians, patients, families, caregivers, facility teams, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Coordinate services being provided by all disciplines involved in the patient’s care.
• Communicate changes in patient condition promptly to the appropriate physician and hospice team members.
• Keep patients and caregivers informed of visit schedules and changes.
• Help patients and families understand their rights, responsibilities, and options related to care.
• Provide nursing services according to the established plan of care and nursing process.
• Complete clinical assessments, progress notes, and other required documentation at the point of care.
• Develop, document, and revise Hospice Assistant care plans based on changes in the patient’s condition.
• Prepare clinical information for interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Communicate patient‑status changes and recommended interventions to physicians and interdisciplinary team members.
• Participate in team conferences to ensure patient and family needs are coordinated and prioritized.
• Participate in quality improvement activities and programs.
• Provide specialized hospice education to team members, patients, families, and informal caregivers.
• Communicate professionally with referral sources and community partners regarding patient‑care needs and expectations.
• Participate in on‑call and backup call rotations as needed to support patient care.
• Assist with additional hospice nursing responsibilities as assigned.

The role combines skilled nursing care, hospice case management, symptom management, patient and family education, clinical documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and end‑of‑life support.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for an RN who understands that excellent hospice nursing requires both strong clinical judgment and genuine compassion.

The right candidate will be comfortable managing complex patient needs while maintaining a calm, reassuring presence for patients and families. You should be someone who listens well, communicates clearly, notices subtle changes in condition, and understands that the goals of hospice care are centered on comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

Ideal Candidates Will Have

• Strong nursing assessment and clinical decision‑making skills.
• Previous hospice or home care nursing experience preferred.
• Experience with symptom management and end‑of‑life care.
• A compassionate, patient, and respectful approach to hospice nursing.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with patients and families.
• Comfort supporting patients and families during emotional, difficult, or rapidly changing situations.
• Strong patient and family education skills.
• Ability to recognize changes in condition and respond appropriately.
• Strong communication skills with physicians, caregivers, facility teams, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Experience coordinating care across multiple disciplines.
• Strong documentation, organization, and time‑management skills.
• Ability to independently manage a patient caseload and schedule.
• Strong problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills.
• Comfort traveling between patient homes and facility settings.
• Ability to work independently while remaining closely connected to the interdisciplinary hospice team.
• A commitment to providing care that respects each patient’s individual goals, choices, and wishes.

Education & Credentials

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing preferred.
• At least three years of nursing experience required.
• At least two years of Hospice or Home Care nursing experience preferred.
• Active Registered Nurse license in Iowa or a compact state required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association required.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Reliable transportation required.
• Current automobile insurance required.

Why Hillcrest Home Care Hospice?

Hospice nursing is about caring for the whole person—not just managing a diagnosis.

As a Hospice Nurse with Hillcrest Home Care, you will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with patients and families while helping them navigate one of life’s most personal journeys.

Your clinical expertise will help manage symptoms and promote comfort, but your impact goes beyond the clinical side of care. You may be educating a family about what to expect, helping a patient remain comfortable at home, coordinating with a physician when symptoms change, or simply providing reassurance during an uncertain moment.

You will also work closely with an interdisciplinary team that brings together nursing, social services, Hospice Assistants, and other professionals to support the needs of both patients and families.

For an RN who values autonomy, relationships, and care focused on the individual rather than simply the diagnosis, hospice nursing offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day.

What Hillcrest Home Care Offers

• Competitive compensation.
• Supportive hospice leadership and an experienced interdisciplinary care team.
• Multiple health insurance plan options for eligible team members.
• Vision, dental, and life insurance.
• Professional development support, including continuing education, certifications, and career-growth opportunities.
• Dayforce Wallet, allowing you to choose when you get paid.
• Gym membership reimbursement and partner discounts.
• Meaningful one-on-one work with hospice patients and families.
• Opportunities to grow within Hillcrest Home Care.

Physical & Other Requirements

• Must be able to speak, read, and write English.
• Must be able to independently lift up to 35 pounds.
• Must be able to perform repetitive sitting, bending, standing, walking, reaching, lifting, and movement as needed.
• Must be flexible and calm when supporting patients and families during emotional, stressful, or changing situations.
• Must be comfortable providing hospice nursing care in private homes and facility environments.
• Must be able to travel to multiple patient locations.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance within established requirements.
• Must be able to work independently while remaining connected to the interdisciplinary hospice team.
• Must be able to utilize clinical technology and available resources efficiently and effectively.
• Must participate in on‑call and backup call responsibilities as required.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.
• Other duties as assigned.

Ready to Provide Nursing Care That Truly Matters?

Join Hillcrest Home Care Hospice and help us continue inspiring people to live their best lives through skilled hospice nursing, compassionate symptom management, and meaningful support for patients and families.