As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position is responsible for coordinating care for patients with serious illnesses that require palliative and end of life supportive care. The palliative care nurse will work within a large interdisciplinary team of palliative medicine experts who are focused on providing relief from the complex physical and emotional symptoms of serious illness and be a resource for nurses providing palliative and end of life care. The goal is to improve quality of life. Providing education, support, and resources to patients and their families around what to expect in the future with their illness is key to advocating for care that is matched to the goals and priorities of patients and families.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

• Provide clinical care within the RN (Registered Nurse) scope of practice, document assessments, and report distressing symptoms to the bedside nurse, palliative providers and care team.
• Collaborates with and functions as a resource to care units, referring teams, and outpatient clinics as to the services provided by the palliative and Supportive Oncology and Survivorship (SOS) teams.
• Interfaces with the Palliative Care social worker and unit social workers.
• May work with the clinical staff education department to provide education to patients/families on various palliative care topics.
• Works with unit Nursing Professional Development Practitioner to identify learning needs of bedside nursing staff and provide nurse-to-nurse education on symptom management interventions, coping strategies, and end-of-life care.
• Effectively manage resources and workflow to triage consults and manage day-to-day clinical needs by ensuring timely communication with palliative/SOS team members and referring providers. This may require participation in on-call rotations.
• Provide continuity of care between patients, Palliative/SOS provider, and care team providers to ensure a consistent team presence with rotating providers.
• Works with patients and families to introduce the role of the palliative care team and/or SOS teams to patients, families, and staff.
• Assist team members in coordinating with family and other care teams and resources to improve whole-person care (i.e., referring providers, social work, case management, PT/OT, music therapy, etc.).
• Works with the primary nurse, family and care team to offer pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to improve symptom management and psychosocial coping (i.e., emotional support, meditation, breath work, journaling, etc.).
• Works with patients/families to support coping with end-of-life symptoms and pain management and assists with legacy work.
• Serve as liaison between the inpatient palliative/SOS team and outpatient clinic and GIP and Huntsman at Home to ensure safe care transitions and timely follow-up.
• Participate in advance care planning discussions with appropriate documentation in EMR and assist with advance directive completion, and POLST forms.
• May perform basic pain assessments and follow up evaluation on response to treatment interventions.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.

• Demonstrated human relations and effective interpersonal communication skills that are necessary to effectively collaborate and work within a team.

• Demonstrated teaching and leadership skills.

• Demonstrated potential to perform the essential functions as outlined above.

• Ability to provide care to population served.

• Demonstrates self-motivation and the ability to work independently.

• Demonstrated organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated leadership, human relations, and effective communication skills.

• Ability to multi-task.

• Ability to display mental and emotional stamina in situations dealing with death, multiple patients, family members, etc.

• Demonstrated ability to function calmly and competently in high stress situations.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree (BSN).
• Two years of clinical nursing experience.

Licenses Required

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Preferred

• CHPN certification.
• One year of directly related experience in an area of specialty is preferred.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intensive work that may exert up to 100 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients, while providing medical care. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases and may be required to function around prisoners or behavioral health patients.

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Non Indicated, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking