Registered Nurse (RN) Palliative Care Nursing (Hospice)

Come work as a Registered Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) on the Palliative Care team at the Hilltop House Long Term Care Facility in Squamish BC. Apply now to join our team!

Using a best practices approach provides nursing care to clients working independently and as a member of an interdisciplinary care team to achieve quality symptom management goals of care conversations and end of life care. Assesses consults plans implements and evaluates care needs of clients who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness in acute hospice or community settings. Assesses clients physiological psychological sociocultural and spiritual needs. Provides support to clients/families and caregivers who are facing physical emotional and practical difficulties arising from advanced progressive life-threatening illness. Promotes the palliative philosophy that improves the quality of life of clients and their families and relieves suffering. Participates on designated hospital committees/teams and approved research projects as assigned.

Practices in accordance with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)Standards (professional & practice) and code of ethics for a Registered Nurse. Practices within the scope of practice as set by the organization as per VCH policies and guidelines/clinical practice documents and within own competence. This practice is aligned with the vision mission goals and values of the organization as well as with the concept of a client and family centred care model.

ABOUT HILLTOP HOUSE:

Hilltop House is located in Squamish BC approximately one hour north of the Vancouver lower mainland and accessible on the scenic Sea to Sky highway. The area hosts an abundance of recreational activities such as mountain biking hiking rock climbing and kayaking as well as a growing arts and culture scene. Hilltop House is an 86-bed long term care facility for seniors with complex needs. It provides home-like care for its permanent residents as well as respite care a community bathing program and adult day care for seniors.

Education & Experience

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Two (2) years recent related acute medical-surgical experience or an equivalent combination of education training and experience.
• Palliative Care experience and completion of related coursework is an asset.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability in nursing practice related to designated client group palliative patient populations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices pathophysiology and trajectory of disorder/disease related to common diagnosis/ and specific clinical situations related to area of practice (e.g. cancer end stage cardiac COPD neurological disease such as ALS or MS chronic renal disease end stage liver disease metabolic disorders or HIV/AIDS dementia frailty).
• Demonstrated ability to provide nursing assessments and interventions related to common diagnosis and specific clinical situations relevant to palliative patient/client group i.e. lab value monitoring symptom management appropriate referrals safe medication practices bowel care care of body after death.
• Demonstrated knowledge of approaches and systems in place (e.g. iPace EPAIRS etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to perform focused secondary assessments integrate information from a variety of sources including diagnostics and develop plan of care relevant to the designated patient/client group.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate and respond to potential complications and care issues relevant to the designated client group.
• Demonstrated ability in correct usage of equipment and maintains competency in working with Central venous access devices; Oxygen delivery equipment; Ostomy/wounds; chest tubes; other care related tubes catheters drains suctions for patient population.
• Demonstrated ability to document client care on appropriate systems/forms in accordance with organizational and unit standards in a timely and accurate manner.
• Demonstrated skill in palliative symptom management (e.g. pain dyspnea nausea and vomiting depression constipation).
• Demonstrated skill in conducting goals of care conversations and in understanding the care goals and what is most important to the patient.
• Demonstrated skill in performing RN autonomous scope of practice and standards of care relevant to palliative patient/client group.

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes.

As per Ministry of Health policy all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care research and teaching delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH we embrace thinking boldly taking smart risks and going first when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package including MSP extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports including counselling critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff medical staff and volunteers
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

At Vancouver Coastal Health our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices diverse teams and inclusive environments which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canadas Top 100 Employers BCs Top Employers Canadas Best Diversity Employers and Canadas Top Employers for Young People in 2026.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.


***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.