Intake Nurse - RN or LPN

Schedule: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM or 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM, with weekend and holiday rotation.

About the Role

The Intake Nurse plays a key role in coordinating and executing the admission process for Hospice services. This position requires excellent customer service skills when interacting with patients, families, customers, and co-workers. The Intake Nurse must be resourceful in overcoming hospice barriers with patients and caregivers, and able to handle human suffering while maintaining professional boundaries. Flexibility to change schedules at short notice to meet patient needs is essential.

Responsibilities

• Obtain referral orders and patient records.
• Demonstrate excellent clinical skills to identify and solve problems, consult with physicians, and execute orders to meet patient needs.
• Communicate the Hospice philosophy effectively to families and patients at their pace.
• Facilitate timely conversion of referrals to admissions through coordination with team members and other departments.
• Work in multiple computer programs simultaneously, including data entry and documentation in EMR and tracking systems.
• Collect and document data regarding the referral process accurately.
• Copy and paste notes from Referral Manager for pre-admission and NTUC patients.
• Send consents for home-based and General Inpatient Care (GIP) admissions.
• Contact home-based admits to walk through consent forms, ensuring understanding and timely signatures.
• Coordinate scheduling of APRN or Physician face-to-face (F2F) appointments.
• Follow up with referral sources, including clinics, SNF/ALF facilities, and Account Executives (AEs).
• Close pending lists in Referral Manager (RM) and Wellsky for patients no longer being followed or admitted.
• Request and obtain medical records for home-based admissions from clinics, hospitals, and other sources as needed.
• Enter and document Care Navigation (Care Nav) referrals, including task notes, contact information, and service details.
• Enter Palliative Care referrals, track consult times, ensure consult notes are signed, email billing information, and monitor patient discharges.
• Support the entry and update of new referral accounts and physicians in Referral Manager (RM) for Arkansas and SmartMD for Arkansas and Oklahoma.
• Provide phone support for patients, families, referral sources, admission nurses, and other team members.
• Update daily scheduled admissions and status.
• Ensure timely determination and documentation of Attending MD for each admission.
• Assist with Care Navigation calls, in-person informational visits, and admissions as needed.
• May be cross-trained in Admissions and/or Liaison work, covering visits and other areas when necessary.
• Assist in developing care plans and effectively communicate patient/family care needs to the interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrate compassion, empathy, and patience in all interactions.
• Represent Circle of Life positively in the community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Unrestricted LPN or RN license.
• Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience in home health or a healthcare facility.
• Ability to multi-task in a high-stress environment with frequent interruptions (phone calls, data entry, family communications, etc.).
• Strong sense of urgency in bringing patients onto service.
• Flexibility and positive attitude toward additional duties and flexible scheduling, including weekends and after-hours availability.