Registered Nurse (RN) - Hospice Residence - FT Permanent

The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County; Leamington; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County is seeking a Registered Nurse to join our front-line care team. You will provide direct, patient-centered end-of-life care within our residences or in patients' homes, collaborating with physicians, social workers, and volunteers to ensure comfort and dignity.

As an RN, you will assess patient needs, develop and implement care plans, manage symptoms, and educate patients and families about the dying process.

Qualifications

• Current nursing license in Ontario (or eligible)
• Experience in palliative/end-of-life care preferred
• Ability to collaborate within an interdisciplinary team

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive and ongoing assessments of patients and families across care domains.
• Develop, implement and evaluate individualized care plans focused on comfort, dignity and quality of life.
• Proactively identify and manage palliative care emergencies and symptom relief.
• Provide direct hands-on care, including medication administration and wound care as prescribed; maintain caseload within scope.
• Educate patients and families about the end-of-life process and what to expect.

Skills

Registered Nurse (RN)

Palliative care

Job description

ABOUT THE HOSPICE OF WINDSOR AND ESSEX COUNTY

Founded to provide compassionate, clinical, end-of-life care, The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County Inc. (Hospice) has been caring for our community since 1979. Hospice believes in equitable access to care for all. We provide specialized wrap-around services to adults, children, and their caregivers, in the setting of their choice - whether it be in our Residences or in their home. With only partial government funding, it has been through the generous support of our volunteers and our community that we have continued to provide memorable care, meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Registered Nurse (RN) is dedicated to Hospice’s vision, mission, and values. They support and work toward achieving the strategic directions set out by the Board of Directors. They put their best efforts forward to promote the interests of our patients as well as contribute to a positive work culture.

The RN is a front-line staff member with clinical expertise who will ensure the delivery of exceptional, high quality, patient-centered care. The RN is a vital member of the interdisciplinary team, supporting the Hospice Residence Manager, Physicians, Registered Practical Nurses, Personal Support Workers, Coordinator of Volunteers, Social Workers and volunteers at the Hospice Residences.

The RN provides direct, compassionate end-of-life care by assessing patient needs, developing and implementing care plans, and coordinating with an interdisciplinary team. The focus is on enhancing comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families during their final stages.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Hospice Nursing

• Conduct comprehensive and ongoing assessments of the patients and their families using the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s (CHPCA) 8 domains of care (physical, psychological, social, spiritual, practical, end-of-life/death management, loss/grief and disease management).
• Develop, implement and evaluate individualized care plans, ensuring alignment with the patient’s goals of care, focusing on comfort, dignity, and quality of life and accounting for demographic needs such as social determinants of health, age, gender or gender identity, race, cultural, ethnic and linguistic needs, personal or religious values and beliefs, developmental needs, education and literacy, and abilities/disabilities.
• Proactively identify, assess and manage palliative care emergencies (e.g. bowel and urinary obstruction, catastrophic bleed, delirium, hypercalcemia, pain crisis, seizures, spinal cord compression and superior vena cava obstruction).
• Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of common pain and symptom management medications and consult with other providers to guide management of potential side effects, interactions or complications.
• Screen, assess and manage delirium; screen and assess respiratory symptoms; assess and manage gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, bleeding, and thromboembolic events; manage hydration and nutrition concerns aligning with the Ontario Palliative Care Network (OPCN) Palliative Care Competency Framework.
• Provide direct, hands-on care, including medication administration and advanced wound care/treatments as prescribed; maintain patient caseload within CNO scope of practice.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive in-depth understanding of the pharmacological and physiological use of adjuvant medications in managing pain and symptoms.
• Interpret medical information and educate patients and families about their condition, the end-of-life process, and what to expect, addressing questions and concerns with clarity and compassion.
• Manage complex clinical and patient/family situations independently and elevate to Managers/Director as required.
• Provide orientation and mentorship to any new staff members, ensuring a smooth integration into the organization’s culture and processes.

Support and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Assist the Hospice Residence Manager with daily management of the residences.
• Welcome and orientate new patients and families into the Hospice residence, to achieve a fulsome understanding of the environment and support system available within the home.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, including physicians, social workers, and other health professionals.
• Communicate, implement and ensure that Hospice’s responsive and holistic culture is maintained and evident within the Hospice residences.
• Support individuals in making informed decisions regarding the depth of information about diagnosis, prognosis and disease progression they wish to receive and share with their families.
• Develop and nurture professional and therapeutic relationships with the interdisciplinary team to ensure seamless transitions and continuity of care.
• Communicate and implement Hospice’s support services as appropriate for families and patients admitted to the residence.
• Demonstrate openness and sensitivity to social, spiritual and cultural values and practices that influence end-of-life preferences.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of dying, death, grief, loss, and bereavement; recognize and respond to grief reactions.
• Explore questions and concerns expressed by patients and their families regarding the dying process and provide information about what to expect.
• Accurately assess and manage individuals’ and families’ loss, grief and bereavement needs, through interventions or referring to members of the interdisciplinary team.

Best Practices, Standards and Guidelines

• Demonstrate knowledge of best practices for expected death, such as the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario's Best Practice Guidelines, as well as local and organizational policies and processes.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of and proficiency with relevant legislation and policies, including the Health Care Consent Act, 1996, the Substitute Decisions Act, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) protocols, etc.
• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive documentation in accordance with professional standards, CNO guidelines, and organizational policies.
• Actively collect statistical and clinical quality improvement data, under the direction of the Hospice Residence Manager, thereby meeting the required timelines for monthly, quarterly, and annual report needs.
• Actively contribute to maintaining a safe environment for residents, families, visitors, staff and volunteers through ongoing environmental surveying and prompt issue resolution.
• Complete quality audits, which may include auditing practices such as infection control or hand hygiene, fall prevention, pressure injury prevention and documentation to ensure all appropriate interventions are in place.
• Identify supply needs and communicate appropriately.
• Complete mock code drills.
• Support staff scheduling at the Hospice Residence.

Quality and Process Improvement, Special Projects

• Participate in planning with the Hospice Residence Manager, by providing suggestions related to education and support needs of patients/families, residence personnel, volunteers, and other employees, with a focus on continuous quality improvement.
• Participate in the development, training and implementation of policies, procedures, practices and projects which ensure best practices in the Hospice.

NOTE: This position profile is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Accountable to the Hospice Residence Manager and the Director of Clinical Services and Informatics.
• Accountable for performing in adherence to the Hospice Mission, Vision and Values.
• Accountable for adhering to Hospice Policies, professional behaviour and for ensuring review of such as required.
• Accountable to maintain clinical competence through continuing education and required reflective practice protocols as established by the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• Accountable to submit annually proof of current certificate of competence registration from the College of Nurses of Ontario to Human