POSITION SUMMARY The Registered Nurse (RN) Runner is an experienced registered professional nurse who is designated to provide coordination of care, ensure continuous assessment of each patient's and family's needs and implementation of the interdisciplinary plan of care. In this position, the RN is expected to perform scheduled and emergent visits as needed. The RN will guide patients and families through the assessment and admissions processes and play a pivotal role in the educational process for patients, families, and caregivers alike. The RN works cooperatively with the attending physician, Medical Director, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. REPORTS TO: Director of Patient Care Services SUPERVISES: None QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. BSN preferred. Credentials: Current RN License within the State or valid compact. Current Basic Life Support license (BLS). Experience: 1 years’ experience as a professional nurse within the last 3 years or have a Baccalaureate in Nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing. Experience in Hospice, Palliative, or Home health, or similar field is preferred. Core Competencies: Demonstrated competency in performance of professional nursing functions. Requires excellent oral and written communication skills. Other: Valid driver's license and auto insurance. FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Completes initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments including physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement. 2. Develops and initiates the plan of care. 3. Communicates and coordinates the appropriate needs of the patient to the interdisciplinary team. 4. Provides education to patients, families, caregivers. 5. Initiates communication with attending physicians and/or Medical Director to report changes in patient/family and coordinate optimal hospice care for the patient and family. 6. Delivers care in different settings, in accordance with patient’s approved plan of care. 7. Completes admission process and required documentation in an accurate and timely manner, in the electronic medical record, as needed. This can include, but is not limited to, OASIS documentation. 8. Demonstrates flexibility in scheduling, and readily accepts new admissions and emergency assignments as requested. 9. Maintains knowledge of state and federal regulations and accreditation practices (if applicable). 10. Maintains strict confidentiality at all times. 11. Accepts direction and follows instructions from supervisor; seeks additional information as needed; works with minimal supervision. 12. Participates in Quality Assurance Performance Improvement program. 13. Observes for safety hazards in the patient’s and organization’s environments and takes appropriate steps to reduce or eliminate them. 14. Maintains continuing education through academic studies, seminars, and workshops. 15. Attends and participates in in-services, staff meetings, and patient care conferences. 16. Completes all documentation in an accurately and timely. 17. Complies with company policies and standards and practices within the scope of RN license. 18. Continually meets organizational standards for attendance and punctuality. 19. Performs triage with the caregiver/family regarding patient needs, pain crisis, end-of-life issues and death. 20. All other duties and tasks deemed necessary and appropriate. View all jobs at this company
This is a preview of the job listing. The full posting includes complete compensation details, benefits package, qualification requirements, and application instructions.
General overview for this role type — specific duties and requirements vary by employer.
Nursing roles in senior living are fundamentally different from hospital nursing. Most positions involve building long-term relationships with the same residents over months or years rather than cycling through new patients every shift. Facilities in the DFW area typically require an active Texas RN or LVN license, current CPR/BLS certification, and many prefer at least one year of geriatric or long-term care experience.
Shift patterns vary widely — some facilities run traditional 8-hour shifts (day, evening, night), while others use 12-hour rotations. Weekend and holiday coverage is almost always part of the schedule. The nurse-to-resident ratio in assisted living is generally more favorable than in hospitals, but you will likely be the highest-level clinical staff on the floor during your shift, which means more autonomy and more responsibility for clinical judgment calls.
What to Expect in This Role Day-to-Day
Based on typical senior living facilities in the DFW area.
A typical shift starts with medication pass and resident assessments. You will review overnight notes from the previous shift, check vitals for residents on your watch list, and coordinate with CNAs on any changes in condition. Mid-shift usually involves documentation, family communication, and working with physicians on care plan updates — often by phone or telehealth rather than in-person rounds.
Depending on the facility, you may also handle admissions paperwork, manage wound care, supervise medication techs, and respond to emergencies. The documentation load in senior living is significant — state surveys and compliance requirements mean thorough charting is non-negotiable. Many nurses in this setting say the most rewarding part is knowing their residents personally and being able to notice subtle changes that a rotating hospital nurse might miss.
DFW Area Salary Data
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurse positions in the DFW metroplex area earn a median wage of
$48.76/hr ($101,421/yr).
The typical range is $39.25 – $53.19/hr
(25th–75th percentile).
Entry Level (10th)$73,403/yr
DFW Median$101,421/yr
Experienced (90th)$129,709/yr
vs. National Median+4.0%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metro Area).
Salary data provided by DFW Senior Living Guide.