ADMISSION NURSE JOB DESCRIPTION

A patient's first encounter with home health service sets the clinical and relational tone for everything that follows. The Admission Nurse owns that encounter - completing the initial assessment, initiating the plan of care, and ensuring every clinical and regulatory requirement is met before ongoing services begin. Medicare certification standards and OASIS documentation requirements govern how this work is recorded and billed, making accuracy as consequential as clinical skill. Independent judgment matters here. Most visits happen without a supervisor present.

As the Admission Nurse, you deliver start-of-care assessments for home health patients, translating clinical findings into compliant care plans that guide the full nursing and interdisciplinary team. You manage a high-autonomy caseload spanning community settings, working within state RN licensure requirements and reporting through the branch office to location leadership.

Career Impact: Mastery of OASIS documentation and Medicare certification processes positions Admission Nurses as sought-after clinicians in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the US healthcare system.

Business Impact: When the start-of-care assessment is accurate and complete, patients receive appropriately matched services and payers reimburse without dispute - gaps in that first visit create downstream clinical and financial problems the whole team absorbs.

Growth Opportunity: The breadth of clinical exposure in home health - wound care, IV therapy, disease management education, and care plan development - builds the assessment and case management depth that leads to supervisory and clinical coordinator roles.

• Complete initial patient and family assessments to identify home care needs and establish baseline clinical status.
• Initiate and develop individualized care plans based on assessment findings and physician orders.
• Deliver direct patient care, including wound care, IV medication administration, foley management, and lab draws.
• Document all assessments, interventions, and clinical notes in accordance with Medicare and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with the Interdisciplinary Team and Intake Departments to manage referrals and align care delivery.
• Communicate assessment findings and significant changes to the attending physician in a timely manner.
• Monitor client conditions at each visit and report symptom changes to the branch office immediately.
• Maintain current client authorizations and ensure all admission and financial forms are completed accurately.

Candidates often list wound care and IV therapy but skip quantifying their caseload size, which the resume examples for admission nurses make concrete.

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing or Associate Degree in Nursing, or equivalent accredited nursing program completion.
• 2 or more years of clinical nursing experience, with at least 1 year in a home health or community care setting.
• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the state of practice, without suspension or restriction.
• Current CPR certification maintained throughout employment.
• OASIS training and working knowledge of Medicare certification requirements for home health.
• Strong physical capability to perform medium-level patient care, including lifting to 50 pounds and prolonged standing and walking.
• Valid driver's license, current automobile insurance, and access to reliable personal transportation for daily home visits.
• Demonstrated clinical judgment, written and verbal communication skills, and organizational ability to manage an independent caseload.

• Experience in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, or ICU settings, supporting complex patient assessment in high-acuity situations.
• Familiarity with Medicare OASIS documentation and care plan development at the start-of-care level.
• Bilingual language proficiency to support communication with non-English-speaking patients and families.
• Knowledge of community resources and payer structures, including Medicaid and managed care authorization processes.

• OASIS accuracy rate, measured against Medicare compliance audits of submitted start-of-care assessments.
• Documentation turnaround time, targeting submission of clinical notes within 24 hours of each patient visit.
• Care plan initiation rate, tracking the percentage of admissions with a complete plan of care on the day of assessment.
• Physician communication timeliness, measured by the interval between identified clinical changes and documented physician contact.
• Referral-to-admission conversion rate, reflecting how effectively the nurse qualifies and onboards referred patients.
• Typical tools: electronic health record platforms (commonly Homecare Homebase or Kinnser) and OASIS assessment documentation systems.

Documentation turnaround targets vary by care setting, and the admission nurse career overview maps the pay and certification baseline beyond this template.

• Base Salary Range: $70,000 to $88,000 per year, depending on experience and state market.
• Bonus: Per-visit or productivity-based incentives are common in home health settings.
• Equity: Not typically offered at this level in home health organizations.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage is standard across most employers.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus paid holidays.
• Common Perks: Mileage reimbursement, flexible scheduling, and continuing education allowance for OASIS or specialty certifications.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background checks, including criminal history review and applicable drug screening, are a condition of employment for all candidates. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process upon request. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

Match your OASIS documentation experience to a resume that reaches the people who decide.

The Admission Nurse owns the full start-of-care process for home health patients, completing head-to-toe physical assessments, initiating care plans, and delivering direct care including wound care, IV medication administration, and disease management education. Working alongside the Interdisciplinary Team and Intake Departments, this role ensures coordinated, high-quality care that enables patients and families to safely transition into and remain supported within the home care setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete initial assessment of patient and family to determine home care needs.
• Provide a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illnesses.
• Initiate and develop the plan of care based on assessment findings.
• Provide direct patient care, including head-to-toe assessments, wound care, IV medication administration, foley care, lab draws, and disease management education.
• Document initial patient and family assessments, interventions, and clinical notes.
• Perform initial and ongoing communication with the physician regarding patient needs.
• Collaborate with Interdisciplinary Team, Intake Departments, and clinical staff to coordinate care and manage referrals.
• Participate in on-call duties as defined by policy.

Required Qualifications

• Current state of Illinois RN license required.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing and ADN required.
• Current CPR certification required.
• Home care experience preferred, and Medical Surgical, Telemetry, and/or ICU experience preferred.
• OASIS training required.
• Strong assessment, verbal, and written communication skills required.
• Valid driver's license, current automobile insurance, and dependable personal transportation required.
• Ability to perform medium work, exerting up to 50 pounds, with prolonged standing, walking, and reaching.

Embedded within a subacute care facility, the Admission Nurse delivers and coordinates patient services in collaboration with physicians and the subacute team, completing all unit admissions while upholding resident rights, confidentiality, and infection control standards. Working closely with nurses at all levels and other healthcare providers, this role strengthens advanced clinical practice and ensures that care delivery consistently meets OSHA, OBRA, and facility policy requirements.

Core Functions

• Perform duties ensuring the safety of employees, residents, and family members at all times.
• Ensure all resident rights and dignity are upheld throughout care delivery.
• Maintain confidentiality of all information learned through employment in the facility.
• Observe and practice Infection Control and Universal Precautions per OSHA and OBRA regulations.
• Perform job duties in compliance with facility policies and procedures.
• Work in conjunction with physicians and the subacute team to coordinate and deliver patient services.
• Complete all admissions to the unit and manage assigned space professionally.
• Serve as a clinical resource for nurses and other healthcare providers in areas of advanced practice.

Qualifications and Experience

• A graduate of a non-accredited Master's Degree in Nursing Program is required.
• Licensed Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Massachusetts required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in acute care nursing required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in staff development or nursing education required.
• Awareness of current nursing trends, standards of care, and legal issues is required.
• Ability to sit, walk, push, pull, twist, turn, grasp, and bend as required by the role.

Reporting to branch leadership, the Admission Nurse delivers total client care in the home health setting, performing initial and periodic assessments, developing individualized care plans, and coordinating services with families, caregivers, and community resources. Partnering with physicians and the interdisciplinary team, this role shapes continuity of care and ensures that clinical documentation, financial authorizations, and regulatory compliance are consistently maintained to support optimal client outcomes.

Primary Duties

• Perform initial and periodic assessments to determine client needs and evaluate the effectiveness of care.
• Use interview and physical assessment skills to evaluate client needs and develop nursing diagnoses.
• Develop, implement, and update individualized care plans as the client's condition indicates.
• Provide total client care, including medications, treatments, physical and psychological care, and family education.
• Assess and interpret symptoms, institute remedial measures within legal nursing practice limits, and report significant changes immediately.
• Coordinate client care with family, caregivers, community resources, and other disciplines to foster continuity.
• Maintain confidentiality, ensure client safety, and report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.
• Participate in case conferences, team meetings, the on-call process, and employee orientation per company policy.
• Ensure client authorization for services is current and all admission and financial forms are completed accurately.
• Assume responsibility for professional growth through continuing education and in-service participation.

Skills and Qualifications

• Currently licensed as an RN without revocation, suspension, or restrictions required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a healthcare facility or home care field required.
• Understanding of Medicare certification and OASIS documentation experience preferred.
• Basic computer skills required, knowledge of Word and Excel a plus.
• Strong organizational, clinical judgment, interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills required.
• Valid driver's license, proof of car insurance, and access to dependable transportation required.
• Current CPR certification recommended, proof of negative Mantoux or chest X-ray required.

Sitting at the intersection of clinical assessment and community outreach, the Admission Nurse leads comprehensive start-of-care evaluations for hospice patients, covering physical, psychosocial, spiritual, financial, environmental, and cultural needs while educating patients and families about available services. Operating across the Interdisciplinary Team, physician offices, and community referral networks, this role ensures that individualized plans of care are initiated accurately and that new admissions are presented effectively at IDT meetings to support optimal end-of-life outcomes.

Duties

• Visit patients to assess and confirm compliance with admission criteria.
• Perform comprehensive initial nursing assessments covering physical, psychosocial, safety, spiritual, financial, environmental, and cultural needs.
• Communicate findings to Medical Director and Attending Physician to complete Start of Care.
• Educate patients and families about hospice services, assessing needs, preferences, and referring for required services.
• Coordinate development of the initial Plan of Care with the Interdisciplinary Team and present new admissions at IDT meetings.
• Review Plan of Care with assigned nurses, Chaplains, Social Workers, and Hospice Aides.
• Complete all documentation accurately, completely, and timely in accordance with policy and regulations.
• Create opportunities for new referrals and present programs and services to the community as part of the agency marketing team.

Experience and Qualifications

• Graduate of approved school of nursing, BSN preferred.
• Current licensure to practice professional nursing in the State of Texas required.
• One or more years of clinical nursing experience required, one year as case manager for Hope Hospice preferred.
• Pain and symptom management, crisis intervention, and family and patient teaching and counseling skills required.
• Critical thinking, problem solving, priority setting, and accurate record-keeping skills required.
• Computer knowledge required, effective verbal and written communication skills required.
• Valid Texas driver's license, reliable transportation, and automobile insurance required.

A key member of the surgical care team, the Admission Nurse leads preoperative assessment and coordination for patients across the region, completing physical, cognitive, spiritual, and psychosocial evaluations and ensuring all pre-op testing, orders, and patient education are finalized before surgery. Collaborating across physician offices, anesthesia, and the Surgery Center, this role ensures that every patient is clinically prepared and that surgical appropriateness is confirmed in accordance with established criteria.

Functions

• Complete preoperative physical, cognitive, spiritual, and psychosocial assessments of patients awaiting surgery in collaboration with the healthcare team.
• Initiate contact with patient and family upon completion of surgery scheduling.
• Perform thorough assessment of patient medical history, current health status, and complete medication accounting, documenting all information in SIS and Next Gen.
• Ensure completion of all pre-op testing, history and physical, pre-op orders, and patient education.
• Obtain pertinent reports including H&P, lab, and EKG from physician offices.
• Serve as liaison between the primary physician, anesthesia, and the Surgery Center.
• Review information and consult with anesthesia and/or surgeon for concerns related to surgical appropriateness per established criteria.

Position Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with current state RN license required.
• Current CPR certification required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in an acute hospital setting required, pediatric experience preferred.
• Experience in a perioperative clinical setting with knowledge of surgical procedures and anesthesia types required.
• Experience in surgery scheduling, admissions department, or operating room preferred.

Smooth placement of residents into skilled nursing care depends on the Admission Nurse, who coordinates admissions from inpatient and community settings, assesses appropriateness of potential residents, and markets the facility to hospitals and healthcare professionals to develop current and future referrals. Based within a long-term care facility and serving as a liaison to acute care facilities and community partners, this role builds the referral relationships and interdisciplinary communication that sustain high occupancy and quality resident outcomes.

Accountabilities

• Coordinate admissions and assess the appropriateness of potential residents for nursing home placement from inpatient or community settings.
• Act as liaison to the community, acute care facilities, and healthcare providers seeking nursing home placement.
• Market the facility to hospitals and healthcare professionals to develop current and future referrals.
• Maintain ongoing communication with hospital discharge planners and social workers to enhance placement referrals.
• Use assessment skills to determine the required level of care and communicate needs to appropriate departments and the interdisciplinary team.
• Serve as a resource for residents, responsible parties, and healthcare providers on nursing home care and services.
• Receive, monitor, and assess all potential admissions to determine appropriateness of placement.

Background and Experience

• BS in Nursing or related field required.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance required.
• 3-5 years of experience, preferably in a Long-Term Care setting, required, 1-2 years of marketing experience preferred.
• Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, HMO, Managed Care, and private insurance reimbursement for skilled nursing facilities is required.
• Knowledge of Medicare RUGS IV, Georgia Medicaid Case Mix Index, MDS 2.0 and 3.0, ICD-9 Codes, and CMS and Joint Commission regulations required.
• Strong verbal, written, and relationship-building skills required.
• Ability to work independently and travel within a 50-mile radius of the facility is required.
• Bilingual language proficiency preferred.

As the Admission Nurse, this role delivers skilled nursing treatments and comprehensive evaluations in a home health setting, coordinating care plans with physicians and therapists while administering medications, ordering diagnostic tests, and educating clients and families on proper home health care procedures. The home health team relies on this work to ensure that every patient visit is accurately assessed, documented, and reported, enabling consistent quality of care and continuity across the care team.

Role Responsibilities

• Provide skilled nursing treatments as ordered by the client's physician.
• Complete evaluation tasks including vital signs, medication reviews, and comprehensive patient assessments.
• Coordinate with physicians, therapists, and other care team members on the client's care plan.
• Assess, chart, and document observations of client condition accurately at each visit.
• Provide education to clients and families on proper home health care procedures and strategies.
• Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patient condition to appropriate personnel.
• Administer medications, including local, inhalation, intravenous, or other anesthetics as directed.
• Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient condition.

Education and Experience

• Associate's degree required, Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of nursing preferred.
• Current and valid Connecticut Registered Nurse license required.
• Current CPR certification required.
• Minimum 2 years of nursing experience required, minimum 1 year in home health care preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills required.
• Computer literacy required.
• Valid driver's license, car insurance, and car registration required.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and meet the physical demands of the role required.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Admission Nurse leads newborn care from birth through the first two hours of life in a labor and delivery setting, attending deliveries, performing head-to-toe neonatal assessments, assigning Apgar scores, and administering admission medications in accordance with established clinical protocols. The work directly supports safe newborn transitions by ensuring accurate identification banding, cord blood collection, and timely report handoff to the MBU nurse or nursery charge RN.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Attend deliveries and function as the primary NRP-certified nurse for infant care from birth through the first 2 hours of life.
• Obtain the infant's initial vital signs, footprints, and place identification bands on the infant, mother, and support individual.
• Ensure cord blood and cord segment are collected and labeled appropriately.
• Report and assign Apgar scores at 1 minute and 5 minutes of life.
• Perform a head-to-toe newborn assessment beginning no earlier than 45 minutes and no later than 1 hour and 30 minutes of life.
• Scan and administer admission medications to the infant.
• Call report to the MBU nurse or nursery charge RN assuming care of the infant.
• Ensure all infant paperwork, cord clamp, and ID stickers are placed correctly in the infant's folder.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, BSN preferred.
• A current Registered Nurse license in Virginia or a compact license is required.
• Basic Cardiac Life Support required within 30 days of employment start date.
• Neonate Resuscitation certification required within 30 days of employment start date.
• Minimum 1 year of Nursery and/or NICU experience required.

The Admission Nurse owns the start-of-care process for home care patients, conducting initial nursing assessments, developing care plans, and completing all clinical documentation within 24 hours while ensuring full compliance with the Nurse Practice Act, OSHA infection control standards, and applicable regulations. Working alongside location leadership and traveling throughout the designated coverage area, this role enables consistent, accountable delivery of home-based nursing care that supports safe and effective patient outcomes.

Key Deliverables

• Conduct the initial Start of Care and develop the nursing care plan for each patient.
• Take appropriate nursing action based on assessment findings to achieve expected outcomes.
• Complete and submit all necessary documentation within 24 hours of the patient visit.
• Complete a case conference on each admission with location leadership.
• Provide care utilizing infection control measures that protect both staff and patient per OSHA standards.
• Accept responsibility for personal and professional accountability in compliance with policies, regulations, and the Nurse Practice Act.
• Travel throughout the specified coverage area to conduct home visits.

Technical Qualifications

• A graduate of an accredited Diploma, Associate, or Baccalaureate School of Nursing is required.
• Current unrestricted Registered Nurse state license required.
• Current CPR certification required.
• Minimum 1 year of hands-on home care experience within the last 2 years required.
• Prior OASIS experience and care plan development experience of at least 1 year required.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds, climb stairs, and perform prolonged walking, standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, and twisting required.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to adult patients' homes required.

Embedded within a hospice care team, the Admission Nurse delivers individualized end-of-life assessments covering physical, psychosocial, emotional, safety, and spiritual needs, initiating timely plans of care with demonstrated expertise in pain protocol adherence, equianalgesic dosing, and disease progression across cancer, cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, and dementia diagnoses. Working closely with the interdisciplinary team, this role advances patient safety and symptom control by ensuring care plans are initiated accurately and documentation is completed within required time parameters.

Operational Focus

• Present hospice services to patients and families in an individualized and sensitive manner, addressing fears, needs, and goals.
• Perform comprehensive assessments identifying all physical, psychosocial, environmental, safety, emotional, and spiritual needs related to the terminal illness.
• Perform pain assessments adhering to pain protocols with knowledge of equianalgesic dosing and optimal interdisciplinary pain relief.
• Articulate clinical course and disease progression for cancer, lung, heart, liver, dementia, and neurologic disease states.
• Initiate the plan of care in a timely manner with demonstrated skill in anticipating threats to patient safety or symptom control.
• Organize workload consistently to meet productivity standards and complete documentation within required time parameters.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A graduate of an accredited School of Nursing is required.
• Current NYS Registered Nurse licensure required, Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing preferred.
• Minimum 1 year of nursing experience required and 2 or more years preferred.
• Solid assessment, clinical, and documentation skills required.
• Excellent Electronic Medical Records knowledge and Microsoft Office Suite proficiency required.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal communication, and organizational skills with close attention to detail required.

Reporting to facility leadership, the Admission Nurse evaluates patient referrals, manages admissions and bed assignments, and completes preliminary paperwork for new residents while developing community partnerships with hospitals and discharge planners to strengthen referral volume. Partnering with Social Workers, Unit Managers, and hospital discharge planners, this role ensures smooth patient transfers and supports the facility's compliance with local, state, and federal long-term care guidelines.

Job Functions

• Evaluate all patient referrals, manage admissions and bed assignments, and complete preliminary paperwork for new residents.
• Work in conjunction with Social Workers, Unit Managers, and hospital discharge planners to ensure smooth patient transfers.
• Maintain positive relationships with current referral sources and develop community partnerships.
• Anticipate and order equipment needed for each patient's stay.
• Document and maintain paperwork, referral records, and reports accurately.

Professional Experience

• Licensed nurse in the State of Minnesota required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in skilled nursing, admissions, discharge planning, or management required.
• Strong knowledge of local, state, and federal guidelines related to long-term care and resident rights required.
• Prior discharge planning experience a plus.
• Strong leadership, written and verbal communication, and clinical data comprehension skills required.