Hospice After Hours Registered Nurse

About the Role

Imagine working only 26 weeks per year while earning a full-time salary. As a Hospice After Hours Registered Nurse, you'll work 7 consecutive nights (5pm-8am, Monday-Sunday), then enjoy 7 full days off - giving you half the year to spend with family, pursue passions, or simply recharge. No additional on-call requirements, no schedule surprises - just a predictable rotation that lets you plan your life with confidence.  During your working weeks, you'll be the compassionate presence that patients and families need during their most vulnerable hours, providing critical skilled nursing care and emotional support to terminally ill patients. This specialized role is perfect for an experienced RN who thrives in autonomous settings, thinks critically under pressure, and finds deep fulfillment in hospice care while valuing an exceptional work-life balance.

Here's what makes this role exceptional:

• Predictable 7-on / 7-off rotation: Work Monday-Sunday nights (5pm-8am), then enjoy a full week completely off
• Half the year off with full-time pay: Work only 26 weeks per year while earning a full-time salary
• Start and finish at home: No commuting to an office - begin and end your on-call shifts from home
• No additional on-call: Unlike many nursing roles, your schedule is set with no surprise call-ins or extended shifts
• Optimized territories: Manageable drive times between patients ensure you can provide quality care without excessive travel
• Work-life balance: Seven consecutive days off means genuine time to recharge, travel, pursue hobbies, or be fully present with family

This schedule is designed for nurses who want to make a meaningful impact in hospice care while having dedicated, uninterrupted time for their personal lives.

What You'll Do

Provide Urgent Hospice Care

• Respond promptly to after-hours patient and family needs with clinical expertise and compassion
• Conduct admissions, routine visits, respite care, or continuous care as required
• Assess and manage urgent symptoms including pain, anxiety, respiratory distress, and other comfort needs
• Make critical clinical decisions independently while collaborating with on-call physicians and team members

Deliver Expert Clinical Nursing

• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments and continuously re-evaluate patient needs
• Demonstrate proficiency in medication administration across all routes (IM, SQ, SL, TD, PO, enteral tube, IV)
• Use durable medical equipment and devices safely and effectively
• Provide skilled interventions requiring specialized nursing expertise
• Perform phlebotomy with proper implementation of universal precautions

Support Families Through Crisis

• Provide appropriate support and guidance at time of death
• Conduct bereavement assessments when requested
• Offer reassurance and education to anxious families during nighttime hours
• Help families navigate difficult decisions with empathy and clinical expertise

Coordinate After-Hours Care

• Verify and follow plans of care according to physician orders and IDG assessments
• Communicate significant findings and changes to physicians, supervisors, and facility staff
• Assist with hospital discharges to home or facility settings during evening/overnight hours
• Supervise home health aide and LPN care delivery per organizational policy
• Report unsafe conditions promptly to appropriate parties

Maintain Clinical Excellence

• 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
• Demonstrate knowledge of Conditions of Participation and payor requirements
• Maintain compliance with hospice regulatory standards

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Diploma, Associate, or Baccalaureate School of Nursing
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in state of practice
• Minimum 1 year of nursing experience in a clinical care setting
• Reliable transportation with valid driver's license and automobile insurance
• Ability to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Experience in hospice or home health environment
• Previous after-hours or on-call experience

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Strong clinical assessment and critical thinking abilities
• Excellent autonomous decision-making skills with good judgment
• Emotional resilience and ability to support families facing end-of-life issues
• Outstanding communication and crisis management skills
• Comfort working independently during non-business hours
• Ability to remain calm and focused in urgent or emotionally intense situations
• Strong time management with ability to prioritize multiple urgent needs
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diverse beliefs about death and dying

What Makes You Successful

You're a confident, experienced RN who thrives working independently and making sound clinical decisions without immediate supervision. You understand that after-hours nursing requires a special combination of clinical expertise, emotional intelligence, and the ability to think on your feet.  You're comfortable being the primary clinical resource for families during nights and weekends, providing not just skilled interventions but also reassurance and guidance. You can manage the emotional intensity of hospice work - including being present at time of death - while maintaining your own emotional wellbeing and professional boundaries.  You're adaptable and unflappable, able to respond to urgent situations with calm competence. You understand that families remember the nurse who came in the middle of the night to help their loved one—your presence during these critical hours provides immeasurable comfort and peace of mind.

Why Join Us?

Exceptional Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base salary up to $90K (based on experience)
• Full-time pay for 26 weeks of work - only work half the year
• Comprehensive health benefits package
• 401(k) retirement plan to secure your future
• Predictable schedule with no surprise on-call requirements

Work-Life Balance

After-hours hospice nursing with our 7-on / 7-off schedule offers something rare in healthcare: work-life balance. You'll have seven full days off in a row every other week - enough time to truly disconnect, travel, manage personal commitments, or simply be present with loved ones without work interruptions.  We provide comprehensive orientation including shadowing experienced after-hours nurses, 24/7 clinical support through our on-call system, and optimized territories that respect your time. You'll be part of a team that values your expertise and recognizes the critical nature of after-hours coverage.

Professional Growth

You'll practice nursing with autonomy, using the full scope of your clinical skills while making decisions that immediately impact patient comfort and family peace of mind. We support your continued development with ongoing education and clinical resources.

Work Environment and Schedule

The 7-on / 7-off Rotation

You'll work seven consecutive nights (5pm-8am, Monday-Sunday), starting and finishing each shift from your home. During your on-call week, you'll travel to patient homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes within your optimized service area as needs arise. Our territories are designed with manageable drive times to ensure you can respond effectively without excessive travel burden.  Then you'll enjoy seven full days completely off—no on-call, no interruptions, just dedicated personal time.  The role requires flexibility during your working week to respond to emergent situations and changing patient needs. Physical demands include standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 50 lbs with assistance. You may work independently for extended periods with 24/7 clinical support available via phone.

Ready to Provide Critical After-Hours Care?

If you're an experienced RN who excels at autonomous practice and wants to make a profound difference during patients' most vulnerable hours, we'd love to hear from you.

Location 

• Office Location: 4760 Fashion Square Blvd, Saginaw, MI 48604
• Main Service Area:  Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Clare. Outskirts: Gladwin, Tawas, Grayling

Hours 

• On call for 7 days, then off for the next 7 days 
• 5:00 pm - 8:00 am Monday through Sunday
• Training takes place 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday for the first 2-4 weeks

Background Screening

Optimal Care conducts a background screening upon acceptance of a contingent job offer. Background screening is completed by a third-party administrator, the Michigan Long-Term Care Partnership, and is performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act.

Reasonable Accommodations

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Optimal Care is an equal-opportunity employer.