Job Summary:
This specialized role focuses on improving the quality of life for hospitalized patients facing serious, life-limiting illnesses. The palliative care nurse will support the interprofessional team that supports the palliative care program, conduct daily inpatient rounds, provide clinical support to the inpatient nursing and provider teams, and participate in an off-hours on-call rotation.

Primary duties and responsibilities:
Hospice and palliative care triage
1. Maintain intake pager
2. Situational awareness of new patients and any issues

Inpatient Rounding
1. Palliative care patients daily for complex physical, emotional, and spiritual needs as directed by the physician on duty.
2. Hospice patients on the inpatient hospice service. Engage with nurse, patient and family to identify care needs.
3. Lead, participate in and follow up on care conferences to clarify goals of care and advanced directives as directed by the medical team.
4. Partner closely with hospice agency assigned to the operating unit, hospitalists, nursing bedside staff and leadership, social workers, chaplains, and discharge planners.

Care Transitions
1. Together with the interprofessional team, support care transitions to alternative setting including hospice discharge education as well as supportive care clinic and ambulatory follow-up.

Symptom Management
1. Assess symptoms using structured tools and patient and family interview.
2. Recommend and educate the bedside burses on palliative and hospice protocols for pain, dyspnea, nausea, and acute distress.
3. Support education to the patient and family on same topics.

Staff Support
1. Educate floor nurses on palliative and hospice protocols, symptom management, and compassion fatigue.
2. In conjunction with the operating unit medical director, supports in-services and education to various departments.
3. Answer in-scope clinical questions.

Off-Hours Call
1. Participate in a rotational on-call schedule to support bedside nurses and palliative care team as needed for support of patient care.

Additional Duties as Assigned.

Travel: While a primary location will be defined for work, travel may be required to various Emory Healthcare Hospitals based on guidance by the system lead for Palliative Care.
Work Type: Work will be on site at operating unit assigned to..

MINIMUM REQUIRMENTS
Education: Graduate of an accredited prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and 12 months of recent nursing experience within the past five years.
OR
Graduate of an accredited prelicensure Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) with a minimum of 2 years of experience in oncology, ICU, emergency, hospice, or palliative nursing within the past five years.

Licensure: A valid, unencumbered Registered Nursing License approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.

Certification: Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) designation is highly recommended and required within 1 year of hire.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities (required):
1. Expert communication skills
2. Emotional resilience
3. Strong clinical triage abilities

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Medium Max 25lbs): up to 25 lbs., 0-33% of the workday (occasionally) Lifting 25 lbs. max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs.; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure, Bio-hazardous waste chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors, Communicable diseases, Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.

Emory Healthcare is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact Emory Healthcare’s Human Resources at careers@emoryhealthcare.org. Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.