Hospice RN job description.
A Hospice RN provides skilled nursing care to terminally ill patients, focusing on comfort, pain and symptom management, and quality of life rather than curative treatment. They assess patient condition, administer medications and treatments, and build individualized care plans in partnership with physicians, social workers, and chaplains. The role also involves educating and supporting patients' families through the end-of-life process, often across home, hospice facility, or hospital settings.
The Hospice RN job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Hospice RN Reports to: Hospice Clinical Director or Director of Nursing
A Hospice RN provides skilled nursing care to terminally ill patients, focusing on comfort, pain and symptom management, and quality of life rather than curative treatment. They assess patient condition, administer medications and treatments, and build individualized care plans in partnership with physicians, social workers, and chaplains. The role also involves educating and supporting patients' families through the end-of-life process, often across home, hospice facility, or hospital settings.
- Assess patient condition and manage pain and symptom control
- Develop and update individualized hospice care plans
- Administer medications and treatments per physician orders
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Hospice Clinical Director or Director of Nursing
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Assess patient condition and manage pain and symptom control
- Develop and update individualized hospice care plans
- Administer medications and treatments per physician orders
- Educate patients and families on end-of-life care and what to expect
- Coordinate with the interdisciplinary hospice team, including aides, social workers, and chaplains
- Provide emotional support and guidance to patients and families
- Document care accurately and in a timely manner
- Respond to on-call needs for symptom crises or emergencies
- Ensure care meets hospice regulations and quality standards
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Current licensure as a Registered Nurse as required by state and employer
- 1-2+ years of clinical nursing experience
- Strong understanding of palliative and end-of-life care principles
- Current CPR certification
- Valid driver's licence for home visits
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) credential
- Prior home health or hospice experience
- Bilingual communication skills
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Hospice RN job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Hospice RN job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Hospice Clinical Director or Director of Nursing) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What licensure is required for this role?
- Candidates must hold current Registered Nurse licensure as required by the state and employer; confirm specific requirements with your state board before posting.
- Is prior hospice experience required?
- It's helpful but not always mandatory — many employers hire RNs with general clinical experience and provide hospice-specific onboarding and training.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Home Health Registered Nurse
A Home Health Registered Nurse provides skilled nursing care to patients in their homes, managing chronic conditions, post-surgical recovery, and other medical needs.
Certified Nursing Assistant
A Certified Nursing Assistant provides direct hands-on care to patients or residents under the supervision of licensed nursing staff.
Patient Care Technician
A Patient Care Technician provides direct bedside support to patients in hospitals or clinics, combining basic clinical tasks with personal care assistance.
This Hospice RN job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.