Palliative Care Registered Nurse
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse – Palliative Care

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks (approximately 3 months)
Start Date: July 13, 2026

Job Description

This position is for a Registered Nurse in Palliative Care, focusing on providing relief from the side effects of serious illness. The role involves caring for patients receiving end-of-life comfort care as well as those undergoing treatment who need symptom management for issues such as uncontrolled pain, severe nausea/vomiting, failure to thrive, and fatigue to improve quality of life.

• New unit opening July 1; travelers starting before this date will float to inpatient units until training is complete.
• Floating to units of equivalent or lower acuity is required.
• Shift: 12-hour day/night rotating shifts; schedule reviewed every 4 weeks but subject to change based on staffing needs.

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

Required Background and Compliance

• 7-year criminal background check including SS trace, counties lived/worked, nationwide check, sex offender registry, and motor vehicle record if driving is part of the job.
• FBI and BCI fingerprinting required within 1 year of start.
• Education verification from an accredited nursing program (CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA).
• Drug screening: Negative 10-panel drug screen within 3 months of start (includes amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, methadone, methaqualone, opiates, PCP, propoxyphene).
• Physical exam within 1 year of start confirming good health and free of contagious disease.
• Immunizations and health requirements:

  • Tdap vaccine (adult dose after age 11/12)
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray within 1 year
  • TB questionnaire
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) – 2 vaccines or positive titer
  • Varicella – 2 vaccines or positive titer (medical exemptions require documentation)
  • Hepatitis B titer or 3-vaccine series (declination acceptable)
  • Seasonal flu vaccine or declination during flu season (10/1 - 3/31)
• COVID-19 vaccination is not required but strongly recommended.

Competency and Training Requirements

• Medication/Pharmacology competency exam prior to start.
• Unit-specific competency exam.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required within 1 year of start and updated annually (minimum passing score 76%, max 3 attempts).
• Orientation safety manual acknowledgement annually.

References and Documentation

• Two professional references required; at least one must be from a manager, director, or formal leadership role.
• Employment application required including education details.
• Skills checklist required.

Additional Notes

• Floating to other units of similar or lower acuity is expected.
• Shift assignments may include days, nights, or a combination.
• New unit opening offers exposure to various patient populations.
• Prior travel experience is preferred but not mandatory.

This role offers an opportunity to work in a specialized palliative care setting, providing critical symptom management and comfort care to seriously ill patients.