[Hiring] Palliative Care Nurse @Hospice of Michigan

Role Description

The Palliative Care Nurse is a vital member of the interdisciplinary team, working collaboratively with the Nurse Practitioner and Medical Assistant to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care. This role involves active engagement with patients, families, caregivers, referral sources, facilities, and other healthcare providers to ensure coordinated and responsive care. Strong clinical assessment and therapeutic communication skills are essential to identify patient and family needs, establish goals of care, and determine eligibility for palliative and hospice services. The Palliative Care Nurse must be skilled in guiding end-of-life conversations with empathy and professionalism.

• Manages the intake of all palliative care patients.
• Processes hospice referrals.
• Responds to urgent triage needs.
• Assists with symptom management.
• Provides routine wellness calls as indicated.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing with possession of a current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the State of Michigan.
• Two (2) to five (5) years of experience required including clinical nursing experience in an acute care setting.
• At minimum of at least one (1) year's general nursing experience is required with current hospice, medical, surgical, or critical care experience.
• Hospice certification (CHPN) is preferred.
• A solid understanding of hospice eligibility criteria and the palliative care model is required.
• Familiarity with end-of-life care, including sensitivity to the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of terminally ill patients and their families, is preferred.
• Working knowledge of disease progression, anticipated symptoms, and common approaches to symptom management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and other digital tools; experience with electronic medical records (EMR) systems required.
• Proof of current tuberculin testing required.
• Must be able to read, write and speak English fluently.
• Must possess sound judgment and demonstrate strong critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize and manage multiple, competing priorities.
• The physical demands of the position include: vision, effective speech and hearing for extensive telephone contact; repetitive motion; traveling; driving or riding in motor vehicle for extended periods; standing, sitting, walking, bending, reaching, and stretching; lifting up to forty-five (45) pounds unassisted.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must have the ability to occasionally work extended days, as necessary.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Requirements

• Completes comprehensive intake assessments for all palliative care referrals.
• Processes admission information to ensure appropriate clinical documentation.
• Establishes patient profile in the electronic prescribing system.
• Educates patients and families during intake and wellness calls.
• Provides ongoing education related to symptom management and available services.
• Ensures all intake and admission components are completed.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the EMR.
• Actively obtains and tracks relevant clinical records and updates.
• Works closely with the Nurse Practitioner and Medical Assistant.
• Participates in monthly Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings.
• Responds to triage calls to assess symptoms.
• Addresses patient and caregiver needs with a therapeutic approach.
• Completes routine wellness calls for all palliative care patients.
• Provides psychosocial support and reinforce individualized self-care strategies.
• Delivers patient and caregiver education via phone.
• Maintains and enhances professional skills through ongoing education.
• Remains current on developments in palliative care.
• Complies with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Assists with MA or nursing coverage as needed.
• Demonstrates understanding of the Medical Assistant role.
• Promotes positive community relations through professional service.
• Represents the agency's mission and vision in all interactions.
• Completes special projects, chart audits, and workflow improvements.
• Actively participates in organization-wide performance improvement initiatives.
• Adheres to the organizational Code of conduct and all policies.
• Adheres to the NorthStar standards to care for every person, every time, 100% of the time.