Job Description

Awarded Best Quality of Care — Once Again!

Behind every award is a story, and ours is written every day by more than 900 dedicated employees and hundreds of compassionate volunteers who walk alongside patients and families when they need us most.

At Community Hospice & Palliative Care, we’re honored to be recognized with the Hospice Honors Elite award, a testament not just to our clinical excellence, but to the compassion we bring to every bedside, every home, every conversation. Every day, we serve approximately 1,500 patients living with advanced illness, wherever they call home, be it a private residence, a long-term care or assisted living facility, a hospital, or in one of our nine inpatient care centers.

We’re here to improve quality of life, to ease pain and lift burdens, and to be the Compassionate Guide that families need when time matters most. And most importantly, as the only non-profit hospice provider in the region, we never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay.

Position Summary

The RN Inpatient plays a vital role in delivering compassionate, high-quality care to patients facing life-limiting illnesses in a supportive inpatient setting. This role is responsible for providing comprehensive nursing assessments, expert symptom management, and emotional support to patients and their families during one of life’s most vulnerable stages. Working collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team, the nurse ensures that care is patient- and family-centered, aligned with hospice philosophy, and responsive to the evolving physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of each individual.

The ideal candidate brings clinical expertise, strong communication skills, and a deep sense of empathy to their work. They thrive in a fast-paced environment, are committed to excellence in care, and are motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families each day

RN Inpatient: All employees hired to this position must be willing and able to flex their work location within and between the various Community Hospice inpatient centers at any time.

Primary Location: Community Hospice Bailey Center located in UF Health in St. Augustine, FL 32086

Shift: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m./Days, three twelve hour shifts a week

$3500 Sign on Bonus Offered

Essential Functions

• Conducts comprehensive and ongoing nursing assessments of patients, identifying physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual needs to inform individualized care planning.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to develop, implement, and regularly update patient- and family-centered plans of care that align with the patient's goals, condition, and hospice philosophy.
• Provides direct nursing care, including medication administration, symptom management, wound care, and other treatments in accordance with physician orders, hospice protocols, and established standards of practice.
• Educates patients, families, and caregivers about disease progression, symptom control, medication usage, nutrition, hydration, and the hospice approach to end-of-life care.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and complete documentation of patient assessments, interventions, communications, and outcomes in accordance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.
• Communicates effectively and compassionately with patients, families, caregivers, and members of the interdisciplinary team to ensure continuity and quality of care.
• Provides emotional support and anticipatory guidance to patients and families throughout the dying process and offers appropriate closure following the death of a patient.
• Oversees the care provided by hospice aides and other support staff, ensuring that delegated tasks are performed in alignment with the patient’s plan of care and quality standards.
• Participates in care conferences, shift hand-offs, and team meetings to ensure shared understanding of patient needs and progress.
• Implements and adheres to infection prevention and control practices, including standard precautions and proper handling of equipment and bodily fluids; educates others as needed.
• Responds promptly and effectively to urgent or emergent changes in patient condition, initiating appropriate interventions and communicating with providers to obtain necessary orders.
• Applies clinical judgment and critical thinking skills in planning and prioritizing care in a fast-paced inpatient environment.
• Demonstrates proficiency in using clinical technology, including electronic medical records, medication dispensing systems, and monitoring equipment.
• Maintains required certifications, demonstrates clinical competency, and actively participates in training and development opportunities.
• Upholds professional standards and maintains therapeutic boundaries in all interactions with patients, families, and colleagues.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to support the efficient and compassionate delivery of inpatient hospice care.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Critical Skills

• Demonstrates clinical judgment, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making in the delivery of hospice care.
• Applies hospice philosophy and standards to provide holistic, patient- and family-centered care.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members to support end-of-life goals.
• Facilitates discussions around goals of care, advance directives, and symptom management.
• Respects cultural, spiritual, and individual diversity in all aspects of care.
• Coordinates and delivers education to patients, families, and caregivers related to illness progression, hospice services, and the grieving process.

Experience

• Minimum one (1) year of nursing experience required; hospice, palliative, or acute care experience preferred.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams and providing care to patients with complex medical needs is strongly preferred.

License / Certification

• Current and active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Florida (or state of practice).
• Current CPR certification.
• Certification in Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN) preferred or willingness to obtain within a specified time frame.

Education

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing

Other Requirements

• Maintains timely and accurate clinical documentation in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards.
• Complies with state and federal hospice regulations, including medication handling and infection control procedures.
• Participates in quality improvement activities and organizational initiatives.
• Adheres to organizational policies related to professional conduct, attendance, and appearance.
• Maintains clinical competencies and participates in ongoing professional development.
• Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values in all interactions.

The knowledge, skills and abilities listed above are typically acquired through the levels of education and experience listed. However, any equivalent combination of education and/or experience, which provide an applicant with the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job, is acceptable.

This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions required of employees in this position. The organization reserves the right to modify or amend the duties of the position or to require that additional tasks be performed as organizational needs change. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and employment with the organization is at-will, meaning either the employee or the organization may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care, including all of its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, is committed to complying with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to ensure equal access to employment opportunities and the ability to perform the essential functions of a position. If you require an accommodation to complete the application process, interview, or perform the essential functions of a role, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@aliviacare.com.

We participate in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Where applicable, and as required by law, employment with Community Hospice & Palliative Care may be contingent upon successful completion of a background screening initiated by the organization through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Background Screening Clearinghouse. More information about the Clearinghouse, including positions that require screening, can be found here: https://info.flclearinghouse.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer