Director of Nursing

About the Role

Ovation Hospice is seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Director of Nursing with a focus on geriatrics, hospice, and palliative care to join our primary care team. You will oversee the clinical operations of our hospice program, ensuring the highest standards of care are upheld. Your leadership and expertise will be instrumental in providing exceptional nursing care and ensuring the well-being of our patients.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to the nursing team, ensuring high-quality patient care and compliance with hospice regulations and standards.
• Develop, implement, and monitor nursing policies and procedures to maintain clinical excellence.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate patient care plans and promote holistic support.
• Manage nursing staff recruitment, training, performance evaluations, and professional development.
• Oversee patient safety initiatives and quality improvement programs.
• Serve as a resource for clinical consultation and participate in community outreach and education.
• Review records for clinical eligibility, LCD alignment, and terminal prognosis justification.
• Demonstrate strong working knowledge of Medicare hospice medical review processes, including focused regulatory audits.
• Provide education and coaching to clinical staff on:
  • Proper charting to demonstrate skilled need and hospice eligibility.
  • Use of objective tools (e.g., FAST, PPS, NYHA, Functional decline).
  • Documentation that reflects individualized, patient-specific symptom management.
• Serve as the agency’s clinical expert and work in unison with the administrator as a key point of contact during external review processes.
• Ensure full compliance with all CMS hospice regulations, Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs), state licensing rules, and accreditation standards.
• Provide expert oversight of clinical documentation to ensure it:
  • Supports eligibility for the hospice benefit.
  • Reflects terminal prognosis clearly and consistently.
  • Demonstrates ongoing decline and disease progression meets LCD (Local Determining Coverage) criteria for the diagnosis.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Thinks like both a clinician and a reviewer, understanding how clinical care is judged by auditors.
• Can spot documentation weaknesses before they become payment or compliance issues.
• Is proactive, systematic, and able to build a culture where documentation supports care, not just paperwork.
• Knows how to explain complex regulatory requirements in ways nurses can apply at the bedside.
• Demonstrated success in improving documentation to avoid payment denials.

Requirements

• Current RN license in the state of Colorado.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Minimum of 4 years nursing experience with at least 2 years in a leadership role within hospice or palliative care.
• Strong knowledge of hospice regulations, patient care standards, and interdisciplinary team collaboration.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in using electronic medical record (EMR) systems and other relevant healthcare software.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Compassionate, empathetic, and dedicated to providing quality end-of-life care.

Benefits

• Competitive salary ranging from $100,000.00 to $130,000.00 per year, paid bi-weekly.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Paid time off and holiday benefits.
• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.
• Supportive work environment dedicated to compassion and excellence in patient care.

About The Company

Ovation Hospice is a leading provider of hospice care dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families through compassionate, personalized care. Based in Bountiful, UT, we strive to create a supportive environment that honors each individual's journey with dignity and respect.