Clinical Nurse Specialist- Palliative Care Program

UHN Research; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 69,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP pension

Transit access

Remote work option

Development opportunities

Corporate discounts

Job summary

UHN is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Palliative Care Program at Toronto General site. You will work with interprofessional teams to assess in-patients and determine coordinated care plans in collaboration with palliative care physicians.

The role includes leading education initiatives, advancing palliative care competencies, and participating in research activities within a dynamic academic healthcare environment.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree (Masters in Nursing) required; last-semester candidates encouraged.
• 3–5 years of relevant palliative care experience
• Completion of a Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) program
• Current College of Nurses of Ontario registration
• Certification in Hospice Palliative Care preferred
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Strong decision making and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work independently in a fast-changing environment and manage high patient volumes

Responsibilities

• Participate in research activities
• Deliver, coordinate and participate in education and professional development activities/programs
• Advance palliative care competencies with interprofessional teams
• Engage in unit leadership to advance nursing practice at Toronto General site

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Decision making

Problem solving

Negotiation

Conflict resolution

Organization

Independence

Education

Master's in Nursing

Ontario nursing registration

Hospice Palliative Care certification (preferred)

Tools

Job description

Clinical Nurse Specialist- Palliative Care Program

• Contract
• Department: Health Professions
• Compensation: CAD 49.86 - CAD 62.32 - hourly

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

Union: Non-Union
New or Replacement: Replacement
Site: Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Department: Collaborative Academic Practice
Reports to: Senior Director Professional Practice and Policy
Wage Range: $49.86 - $62.32 per hour
Hours: 37.5 Hours per Week
Status: Temporary Full-Time (approximately 14 months - January 2027 to March 2028)
Closing Date: October 26, 2026

Job Summary:

We are currently seeking aClinical Nurse Specialist-Palliative Care Program

As an integral member of the interprofessional Palliative Care team at the Toronto General site, and reporting to the Senior Director of Professional Practice, the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will work collaboratively with the team(s) involved in the plan of care of in-patients referred to the Palliative Care Consult Service. In this role, you will complete patient consultations in collaboration with the attending palliative care physician to determine a plan of care. You will foster an environment where the palliative care team works collaboratively with the attending team(s) to meet the needs of the patient and family.

Duties:

• Participating in research activities
• Delivering, coordinating and participating in education and professional development activities/programs
• Performing activities to further advance and strengthen palliative care competencies with the interprofessional team and particularly nursing professionals.
• You will engage in unit leadership activities to advance the practice of nursing at Toronto General and contribute to the program goals that will align with the strategic priorities of UHN.

The emphasis on each of these separate domains of the role may vary over time in response to the evolving priorities.

• Completion of a graduate degree (Masters in Nursing required) Candidates in last semester of Masters completion are encouraged to apply)
• A minimum of 3- 5 years relevant palliative care experience
• Completion of a Basic Cardiac Life Support (B.C.L.S.) program
• Current Certificate of (licensure)/registration from the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Certification in Hospice Palliative Care preferred
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer services skills
• Excellent organization and time management skills, prioritize multiple requests
• Excellent decision making, problem recognition and problem solving skills
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Program planning and evaluation methodology skills
• Commitment to collaborative interprofessional practice
• Ability to work effectively independently in a self-directed manner and under rapid change conditions and high patient volumes
• Ability to utilize information technology and patient electronic health information system

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/ )
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment and opportunity for remote work
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.