Hospice RN Perceptor

Position Summary The Hospice RN Preceptor serves as a clinical mentor and educator responsible for onboarding, training, and supporting newly hired and transitioning clinical staff. The role ensures that all team members demonstrate competency in hospice philosophy, clinical skills, regulatory compliance, and interdisciplinary collaboration and fosters confidence, critical thinking, and compassionate care delivery aligned with hospice standards and organizational values. Key Responsibilities Provide structured, discipline‑specific orientation for new hospice nurses and other clinical team members. Facilitate hands‑on training during patient visits, modeling best practices in symptom management, communication, and end‑of‑life care. Supervise and validate clinical competencies, including dietary counseling, hospice nursing services, treatment and preventive procedures, nursing interventions, symptom monitoring, and family education. Observe patient signs and symptoms and report unexpected changes to physicians and interdisciplinary team members. Teach, supervise, and counsel hospice patients and family members about providing care for the patient. Develop and re‑evaluate patient/family care plans in conjunction with interdisciplinary team members. Attend team conferences and maintain required records, following hospice policies, procedures, and HIPAA regulations. Participate in on‑call coverage and coordinate care plan implementation for patients residing in health‑care facilities. Organize work schedule and time management to attend all required meetings. Assist with orientation, teaching, and training as requested by the Director of Clinical Services or Clinical Manager. Transition orientee from observation to independent practice using a competency‑based approach. Education & Workforce Development Collaborate with the Director of Orientation and Workforce Readiness to implement and refine orientation programs. Assist in developing educational materials, skills checklists, and competency tools. Provide real‑time coaching and constructive feedback to orientees. Identify learning gaps and create individualized development plans. Support ongoing staff education, including refreshers and skill validations. Quality, Compliance & Documentation Ensure adherence to hospice Conditions of Participation, state, and federal regulations. Mentor staff on accurate, timely, and defensible clinical documentation. Reinforce eligibility criteria and appropriate clinical decision‑making. Monitor orientee documentation and provide corrective guidance as needed. Interdisciplinary Collaboration Model effective collaboration with the hospice interdisciplinary team, including nursing, social work, chaplaincy, aides, and physicians. Educate orientees on each discipline’s role and the importance of coordinated care. Promote timely communication and follow‑up on patient needs. Leadership & Culture Serve as a role model for hospice philosophy, compassion, and professionalism. Promote a culture of accountability, curiosity, and continuous improvement. Support employee engagement and retention through positive onboarding experiences. Provide feedback to leadership on orientee progress and readiness. Qualifications Education & Licensure Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred. Experience Minimum of 3‑5 years of hospice or palliative care experience, RNCM preferred. Demonstrated expertise in end‑of‑life care, symptom management, and patient/family education. Previous preceptor, educator, or leadership experience preferred. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Strong understanding of hospice regulations and eligibility criteria. Exceptional communication and teaching skills. Ability to coach, mentor, and evaluate clinical performance. Critical thinking and clinical judgment in complex situations. High level of emotional intelligence and empathy. Strong organizational and time‑management skills. Proficiency in electronic medical records (EMR) systems. Work Environment & Expectations Provides care and training in patient homes, facilities, and community settings. Participates in ride‑along, field training, and occasional classroom or virtual sessions. Maintains a flexible schedule to meet orientation needs, including occasional evenings. Willing to travel to meet the needs of new orientees and their locations. Performance Metrics Orientee competency validation and time‑to‑independence. Documentation accuracy and compliance rates. Retention of new hires. Feedback from orientees and interdisciplinary team members. Contribution to orientation program development. General Working Conditions Physical Demands: While performing the responsibilities of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, lift, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stop, kneel, crouch, or crawl with no restrictions. Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Unusual Demands: The employee may occasionally be exposed to wet and/or dry humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This classification description is intended to indicate the general kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that are required of positions given this title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of the employees under her/his supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty. #J-18808-Ljbffr