Clinical Nurse Specialist

Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Coordinator (CNC)

Under the general direction of the Director of Case Management, with clinical oversight provided by the Chief Nursing Officer, the Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Coordinator (CNC) supports the mission of Mountain Ridge by optimizing quality of life for patients and families facing serious illness through compassionate, interdisciplinary, patient-centered palliative care.

The Palliative Care CNC is a clinical nurse leader who provides expert consultation, care coordination, education, and program development for the Palliative Care Program. Working collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing, case management, social work, rehabilitation services, hospice agencies, community spiritual care partners, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, the CNC facilitates goals-of-care discussions, advance care planning, symptom management, and end-of-life care while promoting holistic, patient-centered care.

The CNC provides leadership for spiritual care coordination, oversees the Mountain Ridge Volunteer Program, coordinates mortality reporting, and serves as a clinical resource for patients, families, and staff. The CNC participates in interdisciplinary rounds, quality improvement initiatives, and program development activities to ensure regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and the continued growth of palliative care services.

Mountain Ridge Hospital expects our iCARE behavioral standards to be reflected in the way every employee interacts with co-workers, providers, patients & family members, and with others in the community.

· Integrity – We are honest and do what we say

· Compassion – We are sympathetic to the needs of others

· Accountability – We take ownership for how our actions and behaviors impact outcomes

· Respect – We value others and embrace differences

· Excellence – We take personal pride in exceeding expectations

Position Requirements:

a. Licensure / Certification / Registration/Education: BSN strongly preferred; Current licensure in the State of Colorado as a Registered Nurse, or current active multistate Registered Nurse license; Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse certification (CHPN) through the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (can be obtained within first year of employment).

b. Experience : 5 years of nursing experience; previous experience in hospice or palliative care required with additional experience in oncology and/or ICU preferred

c. Special Qualifications : Continuing demonstration of clinical and leadership competency. Must have the ability to assess information, apply critical thinking processes to determine course of action and relay this information to the interdisciplinary treatment team. Requires excellent interpersonal skills, conflict management and negotiation abilities and strong written and verbal skills. Must be able to prioritize workload and manage both time and stress effectively. This individual will need the ability to diplomatically interact with patients, family members and other professionals and document these interactions in a clinically precise and timely manner.

d. Knowledge / Skills / Abilities : Demonstrates advanced organizational, leadership, and communication skills. Provides safe, evidence-based patient care within the standards of nursing practice while demonstrating expert knowledge of palliative care principles, symptom management, advance care planning, and end-of-life communication. Effectively facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration among physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, case management, hospice providers, and community resources. Demonstrates the ability to lead family meetings, coordinate spiritual care services, oversee volunteer activities, manage mortality reporting responsibilities, and advocate for holistic, patient-centered care. Displays sound clinical judgment, conflict resolution skills, and superior problem-solving abilities while communicating professionally and compassionately with patients, families, physicians, colleagues, and all members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team.

Essential Functions:

a. Clinical Leadership & Care Coordination

i. Coordinate and provide clinical leadership for the Palliative Care Program.

ii. Perform comprehensive patient assessments related to symptom management, goals of care, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.

iii. Facilitate patient and family meetings regarding goals of care, advance care planning, treatment options, and end-of-life decision making.

iv. Collaborate with the Palliative Care provider to develop individualized plans of care.

b. Interdisciplinary Collaboration

i. Work collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, case managers, therapists, hospice agencies, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team.

ii. Participate in interdisciplinary rounds and care planning meetings.

iii. Serve as a clinical resource and educator regarding palliative care best practices.

c. Spiritual Care Coordination

i. Assess patients and families spiritual needs and facilitate appropriate support.

ii. Coordinate spiritual care services across diverse faith traditions and cultural backgrounds.

iii. Maintain relationships with community clergy, faith leaders, hospice chaplains, and other spiritual care resources.

iv. Coordinate after-hours spiritual care response and ensure timely access to spiritual support.

d. Volunteer Program Management

i. Oversee the Mountain Ridge Volunteer Program.

ii. Recruit, orient, train, schedule, supervise, and recognize hospital volunteers.

iii. Ensure compliance with hospital policies and regulatory requirements.

iv. Collaborate with department leaders to identify volunteer opportunities that enhance patient care and the patient experience.

e. Mortality Reporting

i. Coordinate accurate and timely reporting of all patient deaths.

ii. Ensure compliance with regulatory and organizational requirements.

iii. Collaborate with Quality, Compliance, Nursing Leadership, and other departments regarding documentation and reporting.

f. Quality & Program Development

i. Participate in quality improvement initiatives and program development.

ii. Collect and analyze program metrics.

iii. Assist with policy development and regulatory readiness activities.