Hospice RN Perceptor

Hospice RN Preceptor

The Hospice RN Preceptor serves as a clinical mentor and educator responsible for onboarding, training, and supporting newly hired and transitioning clinical staff. This role ensures that all team members demonstrate competency in hospice philosophy, clinical skills, regulatory compliance, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The RN Preceptor plays a critical role in workforce readiness by fostering 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:
• Provides dietary counseling
• Provides Hospice nursing services, treatments and preventive procedures.
• Initiates nursing procedures appropriate for the patient's Hospice care and safety
• Observes signs and symptoms and reports to the physician and IDG members any unexpected changes in the patient's physical or emotional condition
• Teaches, supervises and counsels the Hospice patient and family members about providing care for the patient
• Supervises and trains other nursing service personnel
• Develops and re-evaluates the patient/family care plan in conjunction with IDG to meet needs and maintain continuity of care
• Performs specific nursing procedures as needed (e.g., treatments, management of symptoms) following doctor's orders
• Attends team conferences
• Maintains records as required by Hospice
• Follows the policies and procedures of Hospice. Observes confidentiality and safeguards all patient-related information in compliance with HIPAA regulations
• Always communicate to the supervisor if unable to meet a patient's need or perform a procedure
• Participates in on-call system and is responsible for providing on-call coverage when unavailable for assigned duties
• Works with interdisciplinary group concept of patient care
• Coordinates the implementation of the plan of care for patients residing in SNF, NF, ICForMR
• Organizes work schedule and utilizes time management to be able to attend all required meetings
• Complies with agency infection control policies and protocols
• Assist with orientation, teaching and training as requested
• Other duties as assigned by Director of Clinical Services or Clinical Manager.
• Gradually 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 (CoPs), 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
• Participate in ride-along, field training, and occasional classroom or virtual sessions
• Flexible schedule to meet orientation needs, which may include occasional evenings
• Must be 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer