Hospice RN – Home & Inpatient Care
Colchester, VT
GHR Healthcare - PH Division
3x12 hrs

Hospice RN Opportunity – Home Health & Hospice Setting

Location & Facility

• Hospice care provided in both inpatient (21 beds at respite house) and home/SNF/ALF settings (about 80 patients).
• Teaching facility, but no teaching hospital experience required.
• No trauma level designation.

Contract Length

• 20 weeks

Experience & Certification Requirements

• Minimum 3-5 years clinical experience.
• Minimum 3 years clinical experience in hospice specialty.
• AHA BLS certification required.

Orientation & Training

• 2-3 days orientation.
• Online facility-specific onboarding prior to arrival.
• Bi-weekly orientations on Mondays.
• Narrative-heavy EMR requiring excellent typing skills.
• Documentation system: Net Smart (Oasis not required for hospice).

Patient Population & Care

• Primarily adult terminally ill patients (6 months or less prognosis), occasionally pediatrics in home setting.
• Hospice/End of Life care focusing on complex symptom management and education.
• Patient care includes pain management, palliative sedation, tracheostomy care, wound care, ostomy and drain management, venipuncture, and central line care (PORT/IVAD, PICC).
• Medication administration via multiple routes: IV, subcutaneous, oral, sublingual, rectal, etc.
• Strong emphasis on symptom assessment, critical thinking, and goals of care discussions with patients, families, and care teams.

Staffing & Workload

• Nurse-patient ratio:

  • Home setting: caseloads of 12-14 patients.
  • Inpatient respite house (MMRH): day shift 5-7 patients, overnight up to 11.
• CNA/PCT support available (4 per shift).
• Advanced Practice Provider (NP) available full-time primarily at inpatient site.
• No charge nurse responsibilities required.
• Floating not currently required but cross-setting training encouraged.

Scheduling & Shifts

• Typical shifts:

  • Inpatient respite house (MMRH): 7-7:30 (12-hour shifts).
  • Home hospice: 8am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday with weekend rotation.
• Weekend shifts required on rotation.
• Call coverage rarely needed but may be requested.
• Holiday coverage if needed.
• No self-scheduling or block schedules.

Equipment & Support

• Use of specialized equipment including CADD pumps, feeding pumps, suction devices, BiPAP/CPAP, nebulizers, IV pumps, glucose and INR monitors.
• Respiratory and anesthesia support not available 24/7.
• No ventilator management required.

Dress Code & Professional Appearance

• Business casual or non-hospital scrubs in non-institutional colors.
• Closed-toe, supportive shoes.
• Limited jewelry; no nail polish.
• Hair and beard must be neat and tidy.

Additional Notes

• Strong communication and teaching skills required for patient and caregiver education.
• Travelers may be assigned to geographic areas and expected to make visits across service area counties.
• Strict protocols in place for patient/family communication via app.
• Reliable personal transportation required; public transportation not accessible.
• Vehicles should be equipped for winter conditions (snow tires recommended Nov-April).
• COVID and flu vaccination declinations accepted with documentation.
• All work history details and explanations for employment gaps over 30 days must be provided.

This role is ideal for experienced hospice RNs comfortable with complex symptom management, end-of-life care, and working in both home and inpatient hospice settings.