Palliative Care Registered Nurse
Columbus, OH
Host Healthcare
3x12 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse – Palliative Care

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

This position involves providing palliative care focused on relief from the side effects of serious illness. Responsibilities include symptom management for patients undergoing treatment (e.g., uncontrolled pain, severe nausea/vomiting, failure to thrive, fatigue) and end-of-life comfort care.

• New unit opening soon; travelers starting before the opening will float to inpatient units for training and exposure to various patient populations.
• Shift: 12-hour day/night rotating shifts; schedule may include days, nights, or a combination based on department needs.
• Shift assignments reviewed every 4 weeks but are subject to change based on staffing priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Ohio
• Minimum 2 years of Hospice Palliative Care RN experience, including experience within the last year
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Experience with Epic electronic health record system

Compliance and Background Checks

• 7-year criminal background check required within 90 days of start, including FBI and state fingerprinting.
• Education accreditation verification required for nursing degree.
• Monthly monitoring through federal exclusion lists (EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG).
• Drug screening: Negative 10-panel drug screen within 3 months of start (no pending tests allowed).
• Physical exam documentation within 1 year of start confirming good health and freedom from contagious disease.
• Various health immunizations and screenings required (see Health Requirements below).

Health Requirements

• Immunizations and Titers:

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (adult dose after age 11/12)
  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year
  • TB questionnaire annually
  • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella: 2 MMR vaccines or positive titer
  • Hepatitis B titer or 3-vaccine series (declination acceptable)
  • Varicella: 2 vaccines or positive titer (medical exemption requires documentation)
  • Seasonal flu vaccine or declination during flu season (10/1 - 3/31)
• Drug Testing: Negative 10-panel drug screen required within 3 months of start.
• Physical Exam: Required within 1 year of start.
• COVID-19: Not required but vaccination and booster doses strongly recommended.

Competency and Certification Exams

• Medication/Pharmacology competency exam required prior to start.
• Unit-specific competency exams required.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required within 1 year of start and updated annually (with some unit exceptions).
• Additional certifications may be required depending on unit assignment (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP, NIH Stroke Certification).

References and Documentation

• Two professional references required; at least one must be from a manager or formal leadership.
• Employment application and skills checklist required.
• Various facility-specific documents and policies must be reviewed and acknowledged annually.

Additional Notes

• Fingerprinting must be completed using specific state codes and within 1 year of start.
• Candidates may be required to complete fraud, waste, and abuse training prior to start.
• Floating to other units may be required until training on the new unit is complete.

This role offers valuable experience in palliative care within a dynamic inpatient setting, ideal for RNs with at least 2 years of experience and proficiency in Epic. Prior travel experience is preferred but not mandatory.