Travel Hospice Registered Nurse
Colchester, Vermont
The University of Vermont Health Network Home Health and Hospice

Registered Nurse - Hospice RN (Travel/Contract)

Location: Colchester, Vermont
Contract Length: 16 weeks

Job Description

• Hospice RN role with call coverage rarely needed; may cover on-call team occasionally.
• Must work 2 out of 4 holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Day.
• Requires excellent typing skills due to narrative-heavy EMR system.
• Responsibilities include:

  • Complex symptom management and education in hospice/end-of-life care.
  • Symptom assessment and management requiring high-level critical thinking.
  • Comfort with initiating and participating in goals of care discussions with patients, families, and the care team.
  • Medication management and administration via multiple routes (IV, subcutaneous, oral, sublingual, rectal, etc.).
• Schedule: Monday to Sunday, no block schedules.
• Bi-weekly orientations on Mondays (next orientation noted as 12/22).
• Must explain any employment gaps over 90 days.
• Complete and detailed work history required (including bed count, EMR, facility type).
• Reliable personal or rental vehicle strongly recommended due to lack of public transportation; vehicles should have all-season or snow tires from November to April.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years prior community hospice experience.
• AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Additional certifications may be required depending on unit/job (e.g., ACLS, PALS).
• Must have strong critical thinking and communication skills for symptom and medication management and goals of care discussions.

Certifications & Verifications

• Background check within 30 days of start, covering all locations lived/worked/schooled in past 7 years, updated annually.
• Education verification based on job requirements.
• AHA certifications (BLS required; ACLS, PALS as applicable).
• Tech certification verification within 30 days of assignment start.
• State license primary source verification within 30 days of start and upon expiration.
• NURSYS verification for applicable professions within 30 days of start and updated annually.
• Medication test/pharmacology competency exam as required.
• Color blind testing required.
• Competency exams as required by specialty.

Health & Safety Requirements

• Physical exam within 12 months of start.
• N95 fit test required prior to assignment and updated annually (acceptable mask types specified).
• Immunizations/vaccinations required or documentation of immunity:

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (within 10 years or titer).
  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray if positive TB.
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) - 2 vaccines or positive titer.
  • Hepatitis B series and titer or signed declination.
  • Varicella - 2 vaccines or positive titer.
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption required during flu season (Oct 1 - Mar 31).
  • COVID-19 vaccination or declination.
  • Pneumonia vaccination or declination if assigned to NY facility.
• Drug testing as required (not annually for VT facilities).

Additional Compliance & Documentation

• Vermont Adult and Child Abuse Registry consent and search required.
• COVID questionnaire and attestation required prior to start.
• Facility-specific documents including dress code, telephone usage policy, auto registration form, emergency contact form, and others must be reviewed/completed as applicable.
• Photo for badge required two weeks prior to start (passport style, plain background, no logos or hats).
• Completion of EPIC and Cornerstone modules prior to start (approximately 8 hours, non-billable).
• Must have reliable transportation; public transportation is not accessible.

References & Work History

• Two professional references verified from assignments within the last 3 years.
• Employment application required.
• Skills checklist within 12 months required.
• Verification of 2 years of most recent clinical work history required.

Notes

• No block scheduling allowed.
• Orientation and start dates are specific; orientation occurs bi-weekly on Mondays.
• Must be prepared for travel and community hospice environment.
• Vehicle must be equipped for winter conditions (Nov-April).

This position is ideal for experienced hospice RNs comfortable with community-based end-of-life care, symptom management, and medication administration across multiple routes, who can work flexible schedules including holidays and have strong documentation skills.