Serious Illness RN

Founded in 1982 as Joliet Area Community Hospice, Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care is an independent, nonprofit healthcare provider licensed in 11 counties in northwest Illinois. We provide exceptional serious illness care, hospice care and grief support for adults and children.

The majority of our direct patient care is in the field with Lightways team members providing care in the home, nursing facility, or assisted living facility. We also have a 24-bed inpatient unit in Joliet. Non-clinical staff are based out of our Joliet administrative offices.

We currently have an opening for a full time Serious Illness RN.  The Serious Illness RN serves as a critical member of the interdisciplinary palliative care team, working closely with the Nurse Practitioner/providers, to support patients living with serious illness in the community. This role is responsible for care coordination, patient and family communication, timely follow-up, and ensuring seamless transitions across settings of care. The Serious Illness RN acts as a liaison among patients, caregivers, primary care providers, specialists and community resources.

The Serious Illness RN will also:

• Collaborate with the Serious Illness team to identify patients appropriate for palliative services and support their ongoing management.


• Conduct telephonic or in-person follow-ups with patients and families to assess symptoms, needs, and changes in condition.


• Provide education to patients and families on disease processes and collaborate with the Nurse Practitioner on how to proactively manage symptoms, as well as how to respond appropriately in times of crisis, and emphasize how we as an organization can support them.


• Ensure timely communication between the palliative care team and other providers involved in the patient’s care.


• Track and document patient/family interactions, and outcomes in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR).


• Monitor any barriers to care, and work to resolve them, escalating issues to the Nurse Practitioner, Social Worker, or leadership when appropriate.


• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and case reviews.

The successful candidate will be a Registered Nurse with a minimum two years of experience, at least one of which is in public health, home care, or hospice nursing is preferred.

Lightways Hospice offers a generous benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401k with a company match, 6 paid holidays and 17 days PTO the first year! Lightways Hospice is an equal opportunity employer.

For additional information on Lightways benefit package, please visit Lightways.org and click on Careers.