Registered Nurse (RN) - Palliative Care Nursing (Hospice)

Vancouver Coastal Health; Squamish; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is seeking a Registered Nurse to join the Palliative Care team at Hilltop House Long Term Care Facility in Squamish, BC. The role involves providing compassionate nursing care, engaging in goals of care conversations, and delivering quality symptom management for clients with life‑threatening illness in acute, hospice or community settings.

Applicants must hold current BC RN registration (BCCNM) and have at least 2 years of related clinical experience; palliative

Qualifications

• Active practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Two (2) years of recent acute medical‑surgical experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Palliative care experience and related coursework is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care to clients working independently and as part of an interdisciplinary care team.
• Participate in goals of care conversations and end-of-life care planning.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care needs for clients with life‑threatening illness in various settings.
• Support clients, families and caregivers facing physical, emotional and practical difficulties.
• Document care accurately and timely according to organizational standards.

Skills

Palliative care

Nursing assessment

Symptom management

Goals of care conversations

Interdisciplinary care

Documentation

Education

Registered Nurse (BCCNM)

Tools

iPace

EPAIRS

Job description

Come work as a Registered Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) on the Palliative Care team at the Hilltop House Long Term Care Facility in Squamish, BC.

Using a best practices' approach, provides nursing care to clients working independently and as a member of an interdisciplinary care team to achieve quality symptom management, goals of care conversations and end of life care. Assesses, consults, plans, implements, and evaluates care needs of clients who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness in acute, hospice or community settings. Assesses clients’ physiological, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual needs. Provides support to clients/families and caregivers who are facing physical, emotional and practical difficulties arising from advanced progressive life-threatening illness. Promotes the palliative philosophy that improves the quality of life of clients and their families and relieves suffering. Participates on designated hospital committees/teams and approved research projects as assigned.

Practices in accordance with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) Standards (professional & practice) and code of ethics for a Registered Nurse. Practices within the scope of practice as set by the organization, as per VCH policies and guidelines/clinical practice documents and within own competence. This practice is aligned with the vision, mission, goals and values of the organization as well as with the concept of a client and family centred care model.

About Hilltop House

Hilltop House is located in Squamish, BC, approximately one hour north of the Vancouver lower mainland and accessible on the scenic Sea to Sky highway. The area hosts an abundance of recreational activities such as mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing and kayaking, as well as a growing arts and culture scene. Hilltop House is an 86-bed long term care facility for seniors with complex needs. It provides home-like care for its permanent residents, as well as respite care, a community bathing program and adult day care for seniors.

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and \"going first\" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan


• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities


• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families


• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers


• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, Canada's Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2026.

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.

Education & Experience

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).


• Two (2) years' recent, related acute medical-surgical experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.


• Palliative Care experience and completion of related coursework is an asset.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability in nursing practice related to designated client group - palliative patient populations.


• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices, pathophysiology and trajectory of disorder/disease related to common diagnosis/ and specific clinical situations related to area of practice (e.g. cancer, end stage cardiac, COPD, neurological disease such as ALS or MS, chronic renal disease, end stage liver disease, metabolic disorders, or HIV/AIDS, dementia, frailty).


• Demonstrated ability to provide nursing assessments and interventions related to common diagnosis and specific clinical situations relevant to palliative patient/client group i.e. lab value monitoring, symptom management, appropriate referrals, safe medication practices, bowel care, care of body after death.


• Demonstrated knowledge of approaches and systems in place (e.g. iPace, EPAIRS, etc.).


• Demonstrated ability to perform focused secondary assessments, integrate information from a variety of sources including diagnostics, and develop plan of care relevant to the designated patient/client group.


• Demonstrated ability to anticipate and respond to potential complications and care issues relevant to the designated client group.


• Demonstrated ability in correct usage of equipment and maintains competency in working with Central venous access devices; Oxygen delivery equipment; Ostomy/wounds; chest tubes; other care related tubes, catheters, drains, suctions for patient population.


• Demonstrated ability to document client care on appropriate systems/forms in accordance with organizational and unit standards in a timely and accurate manner.


• Demonstrated skill in palliative symptom management (e.g. pain, dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, depression, constipation).


• Demonstrated skill in conducting goals of care conversations and in understanding the care goals and what is most important to the patient.


• Demonstrated skill in performing RN autonomous scope of practice and standards of care relevant to palliative patient/client group.