Hospice Clinical Nurse Liaison

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare•Wilmington, NC

About The Position

The Hospice Clinical Nurse Liaison is a registered nurse who supports patients from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds by building relationships with referral sources and coordinating hospice admissions. The role works with providers, hospitals, long-term care facilities, physicians’ offices, and community partners to support the admission process and provide education and community support. The liaison explains Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s services, helps identify appropriate care settings, and provides service recovery and customer support. The position conducts educational presentations and in-services for medical staff and community groups on hospice eligibility and philosophy, end-of-life and symptom management, disease states, and hospice medication use. Although the nurse does not provide direct patient care, they consult with patients and families, educate them about signs and symptoms, common hospice medications, and what to expect at end of life, and coordinate with medical staff and referral sources to assess eligibility for hospice, palliative care, or the Memory Partners program. For eligible patients, the liaison coordinates transitions to inpatient hospice centers, in-hospital hospice, home hospice, or facility-based hospice services. This includes obtaining consent, assisting with discharge planning, arranging transportation, completing referral and follow-up documentation, and coordinating with LifeCare staff to initiate admissions and arrange durable medical equipment and other supplies. The role requires schedule flexibility, driving, and reliable transportation.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing through an associate degree, diploma, or BSN program.
Current license to practice professional nursing in North Carolina or South Carolina, depending on position location.
Two years of experience.
Ability to speak clearly and communicate with patients, families, physicians, and staff.
Good command of the English language.
Ability to develop positive interactions with patients, families, physicians, staff, and other health professionals and communicate and educate effectively about hospice services and end-of-life care.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Highly self-motivated and self-disciplined; flexible.
Ability to move freely and work long hours and manage stressful situations.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; short- and long-term memory skills.
Touch, sight, and hearing; ability to organize thoughts, facts, and ideas and translate written material.
Willingness to drive and have reliable transportation; subject to the Safe Driver Policy.
Flexibility with schedule, including occasional weekends, holidays, evenings, and early mornings.

Nice To Haves

Degree in business, marketing, or a related field.
Hospice or home care experience.
Experience in marketing, public affairs, community relations, or as a hospital liaison nurse.
Computer experience.

Responsibilities

Develop relationships with referral sources, including providers, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and physician offices.
Support the admission process and provide community support.
Understand company marketing and strategic goals and communicate knowledgeably about Lower Cape Fear LifeCare services.
Provide service recovery and customer service, and manage multiple tasks while adapting to changing priorities.
Explain hospice eligibility and advise on appropriate care settings.
Conduct educational in-services and presentations for medical staff and community groups on hospice eligibility and philosophy, end-of-life and symptom management, disease states, and hospice medication use.
Consult with patients and families and educate them about signs and symptoms, common hospice medications, and what to expect at end of life.
Collaborate and coordinate with external medical staff and referral sources to determine eligibility for hospice, palliative care, or the Memory Partners program.
Coordinate transitions of eligible patients to inpatient hospice centers, in-hospital hospice, home hospice, or facility-based hospice services.
Obtain consent to treat from the patient or primary caregiver.
Work with physicians and case managers on discharge planning.
Coordinate with outside vendors, including transportation companies, to arrange patient pickup and arrival times.
Complete documentation for new referrals and follow-ups after visits.
Work with LifeCare staff to begin admissions and order durable medical equipment and other supplies.
Drive as required and maintain reliable transportation.