Assistant Head Nurse - Hospice Access Nurse Clinician

The Hospice Access Nurse Clinician is a key member of the Calgary zone Palliative and End of Life Care portfolio, reporting to the Hospice Access and Operations Manager. The Nurse Clinician role is dedicated to safely and efficiently supporting admissions to hospice, , providing and/or coordinating ‘just in time education’ for referrers and hospices to optimize safety, timeliness and efficiency in admitting patients from acute care and community into hospice, and providing clinical support to hospices, patients and families throughout admission as concerns arise. The Nurse Clinician works closely with all stakeholders to ensure timely, compassionate, and clinically sound placement of complex palliative patients. Ongoing collaboration with multisector partners is essential to ensure safe, high‑quality hospice and palliative care, considering assessments, eligibility criteria, and resource considerations. The Nurse Clinician manages unique and complex patient situations, particularly when prognosis or the need for specialized hospice care is unclear and engages in outreach to contracted hospice sites and continuing care providers to jointly develop and implement patient‑centered end‑of‑life care plans. Additionally, this role contributes to the development, evaluation, and continuous improvement of hospice palliative care programs and services, supporting quality initiatives that influence clinical practice. You bring advanced hospice and palliative clinical expertise, exceptional communication and leadership skills, and the ability to navigate complex patient situations with sensitivity and clinical judgment. You excel at balancing resource management with patient-centered care, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and supporting patients and families through critical care transitions.

As an Assistant Head Nurse, you will be responsible for staff assignments, patient flow and acting as a role model, clinical resource and advocate for nursing staff. In addition to providing frontline nursing care, as required, you will take a leadership role in the promotion of quality patient care and the implementation of operational priorities. Your in-depth knowledge and skills, advanced judgment and clinical experience, will assist in providing solutions for complex health care issues at all levels with patients, interprofessional teams, administrators and policy makers. You will play a key role in providing safe, quality patient and family centered care while reflecting the shared vision and values of AHS.

Completion of an accredited nursing education program. Active or eligible for registration and practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA). Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP).

Registered Nurse, active practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA). 7 years full-time equivalent palliative care clinical experience, including minimum 5 years full-time equivalent in a dedicated hospice setting within the last 10 years. 2 years full time equivalent in a hospice clinical leadership role Strong computer literacy, including proficiency with Strata Health Pathways and Microsoft Office.

CNA Certification in Palliative Care Nursing. Completion of palliative and EOL care courses, including: Advanced Care Planning and Goals of Care Designation Serious Illness Conversation Guide How to Care, What to Say