Circle of Life Hospice has proudly served Northern Nevada for more than 20 years. We are seeking an experienced, compassionate, and clinically strong Director of Nursing to lead our exceptional hospice team. Our organization has built a reputation for providing outstanding end-of-life care centered on dignity, comfort, and compassion for patients and their families.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a hospice nursing leader who is passionate about clinical excellence, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, staff development, and delivering the highest standard of patient-centered care.
As the Director of Nursing, you will not only maintain a small, manageable patient caseload but also provide leadership and oversight of all clinical operations, ensuring compliance with Medicare Conditions of Participation, state and federal regulations, accreditation standards, and organizational policies while fostering a culture of compassion, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
At Circle of Life Hospice, we believe exceptional patient care begins with supporting our employees. We have intentionally built our clinical operations to promote a healthy work-life balance while maintaining outstanding care for our patients and families.
Our Director of Nursing position is designed to be both rewarding and sustainable. You will maintain a small, manageable caseload that allows you to stay clinically connected while focusing on leadership responsibilities. We also have a dedicated Clinical Scheduler who coordinates patient visits, staffing, and schedule adjustments, along with established on-call nursing staff who provide routine after-hours patient coverage.
Because of this support structure, overtime is limited, leadership on-call responsibilities are shared and utilized only as needed, and our Directors are able to focus on leading their teams, supporting quality initiatives, mentoring staff, and delivering exceptional patient care, without the expectation of routinely working excessive hours.
Position Summary
The Director of Nursing is responsible for directing all hospice clinical services and ensuring exceptional patient care throughout the organization. This role provides leadership for interdisciplinary teams, oversees clinical quality initiatives, manages staff performance and clinical operations, supports survey readiness, and promotes excellence in hospice practice.
The successful candidate will be an experienced hospice leader with strong clinical judgment, regulatory expertise, outstanding communication skills, and a commitment to mentoring and developing clinical teams while maintaining a small patient caseload.
Essential Responsibilities Clinical Leadership
- Direct and oversee all hospice clinical operations.
- Ensure delivery of high-quality, compassionate hospice care.
- Supervise and support RN Case Managers, Hospice Aides, and other clinical personnel.
- Collaborate to maintain appropriate staffing levels and patient scheduling.
- Provide clinical consultation and mentorship to staff.
- Participate in leadership on-call responsibilities as needed.
Patient Care & Clinical Oversight
- Maintain a small, manageable patient caseload.
- Assign appropriate clinical staff based on patient needs and acuity.
- Conduct supervisory visits, home visits, record reviews, and case conferences.
- Monitor patient outcomes and ensure timely, appropriate interventions.
- Promote excellence in pain and symptom management and end-of-life care.
Quality Improvement & Performance Management
- Lead the organization's Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program.
- Analyze quality metrics and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Monitor clinical documentation for accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
- Conduct chart audits and clinical record reviews.
- Develop corrective action plans and monitor outcomes.
- Ensure continuous readiness for state, federal, and accreditation surveys.
Regulatory Compliance
- Maintain compliance with Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for Hospice.
- Ensure adherence to CMS regulations, Nevada State requirements, and hospice industry standards.
- Lead survey preparation activities and regulatory audits.
- Develop, review, and implement clinical policies and procedures.
- Maintain compliance with documentation standards and billing requirements.
Interdisciplinary Team Leadership
- Lead interdisciplinary team meetings and case conferences.
- Promote collaboration among nursing, social work, chaplain, bereavement, volunteer, and physician services.
- Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and patient-centered care.
Staff Development & Education
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluations.
- Develop and lead competency validation and continuing education programs.
Community & Professional Relations
- Represent the organization professionally within the healthcare community.
- Build collaborative relationships with physicians, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and referral partners.
- Participate in community education and outreach activities promoting hospice services.
QualificationsRequired
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Nevada.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or equivalent leadership experience.
- Minimum of two years of hospice management or supervisory experience.
- Extensive hospice clinical experience strongly preferred.
- Thorough knowledge of Medicare Conditions of Participation for Hospice preferred.
- Strong understanding of hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, pain and symptom management.
- Experience with clinical audits, survey readiness, and regulatory compliance.
- Demonstrated success leading interdisciplinary clinical teams.
- Strong organizational, leadership, and time management skills.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and conflict resolution abilities.
- Valid driver's license with reliable transportation.
Preferred
- Experience leading QAPI and quality improvement initiatives.
- Experience preparing organizations for state and federal surveys.
- Knowledge of hospice EMR systems.
- Budgeting and operational leadership experience.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and lift as necessary.
- Visual acuity and hearing sufficient to perform clinical assessments.
- Ability to lift, transfer, and assist patients as required.
- Ability to travel throughout the service area.
Working Environment
- Leadership role with a small, manageable patient caseload.
- Dedicated Clinical Scheduler responsible for coordinating staffing and patient schedules.
- Established on-call nursing team provides routine after-hours patient coverage.
- Leadership on-call responsibilities are shared among leadership and utilized only as needed.
- Limited overtime expected due to proactive staffing, scheduling, and operational support.
- Frequent travel to patient homes and healthcare facilities throughout our service area.
- Exposure to varying weather conditions and healthcare environments.
- Possible exposure to infectious diseases.
- Ability to respond appropriately during emergency or urgent patient care situations.
Why Join Circle of Life Hospice?
For more than 20 years, Circle of Life Hospice has been a trusted provider of compassionate hospice care throughout Northern Nevada. We are proud of the culture we have built, one that values teamwork, clinical excellence, integrity, collaboration, and supporting one another.
We understand that hospice leadership can be demanding, which is why we've intentionally structured this role to promote long-term success and work-life balance. Our leadership team benefits from:
- A manageable patient caseload that keeps you connected to patient care without becoming overwhelming.
- Dedicated Clinical Scheduler support to coordinate staffing and daily scheduling.
- Established on-call nursing staff who provide routine after-hours patient coverage.
- Shared leadership on-call responsibilities that are utilized only as needed.
- Limited overtime expectations through proactive staffing and operational support.
- A collaborative executive leadership team that values employee input and professional growth.
- The opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients, families, and the clinical team every day.
- A stable, respected hospice organization with more than two decades of serving Northern Nevada.
If you are a compassionate hospice leader committed to clinical excellence, developing exceptional teams, and providing extraordinary care while maintaining a healthy work-life balance, we encourage you to apply and become part of our mission.
Visit colhospice.com to learn more about our organization.
Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Medical Specialty:
- Hospice & Palliative Medicine
Work Location: In person
