Hospice Nurse Practitioner

We are seeking a Nurse Practitioner to provide comprehensive hospice and palliative care services to patients and families in their homes and communities. Working under the supervision of a collaborating physician, you will evaluate patients for hospice eligibility, manage terminal illnesses, coordinate interdisciplinary care, and ensure symptom management and comfort for patients at end of life.

Responsibilities

Patient Care

• Provide medical care and palliative management of terminal illness in compliance with state Nurse Practice Act under physician supervision
• Complete history and physical examinations, evaluate medical conditions and health history, order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests, diagnose health conditions, and document findings in medical records
• Develop individualized plans of care, prescribe medications and treatments, obtain consultations, and coordinate hospice services
• Complete required face-to-face visits prior to third and subsequent hospice benefit periods to assess eligibility based on conditions of participation and local coverage determinations
• Make recommendations to the hospice medical director regarding patient eligibility for certification and recertification
• Review clinical information and coordinate patient care in consultation with the hospice interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners
• Ensure patients receive appropriate symptom control measures through collaboration with interdisciplinary team members
• Review and develop treatment protocols and propose intervention options based on current literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician
• Consult with the collaborating physician when the patient's plan of care falls outside standardized practice and protocols

Communication and Collaboration

• Communicate and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to create, review, and revise patient care plans
• Consult with the patient's attending physician, hospice medical director, and other healthcare practitioners regarding eligibility, ongoing care needs, and medical management
• Communicate with community health practitioners to coordinate care
• Attend and participate in hospice interdisciplinary team meetings
• Complete, maintain, and submit accurate clinical notes, physical examination notes, assessment visit notes, medical orders, and collaboration notes in medical records
• Educate and counsel patients, families, and caregivers regarding preventative care, medical problems, psychological issues, and spiritual concerns in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team
• Provide and maintain a safe environment for patients
• Assist patients, families, caregivers, and team members in providing continuity of care
• Work cooperatively with families and the hospice interdisciplinary team to identify care goals and meet patient and family needs
• Serve as a nursing resource for consultation and education to interdisciplinary team members and community healthcare practitioners
• Establish, build, and nurture relationships with staff and community referral sources to facilitate program growth

Compliance and Professional Development

• Maintain knowledge of and compliance with current Medicare/Medicaid, state, and federal rules and regulations for hospice services
• Ensure compliance with Medicare conditions of participation and other state regulations governing healthcare provision
• Comply with all HIPAA requirements in accordance with federal, state, and organizational policies
• Participate in organizational quality monitoring and quality improvement initiatives
• Assume responsibility for personal professional growth through attendance at seminars, conferences, and continuing education
• Fulfill requested and accepted assignments
• Demonstrate knowledge in communication and counseling regarding end-of-life issues

Required Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing
• Current DEA license
• Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program meeting Board of Registered Nursing educational standards as specified in California Code of Regulations Section 1484, or certification by a national organization with equivalent standards
• Current nursing licensure in state and CPR certification
• Master's degree with a minimum of one year of Nurse Practitioner experience and a minimum of one year of hospice or palliative care experience
• Accreditation from an approved certifying body for advanced practice nursing as required by state
• Licensed driver with an insured automobile in good working order
• Knowledge of death and dying concepts, including cultural and values issues, grief, and psychosocial and spiritual aspects of the dying process
• Approved for admitting privileges and treatment of patients in hospitals in your locality of practice
• Working knowledge of palliative medicine principles and symptom management
• Ability to communicate effectively in group settings
• Ability to work collaboratively with patient's attending physicians to implement the hospice program
• Ability to work independently, make judgments based on assessments and available data, and act accordingly
• Ability to work collaboratively with hospice employees and volunteers as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Visual and hearing ability sufficient to comprehend written and verbal communication
• No known communicable diseases

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in a specialist area such as Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN) or Geriatrics

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in various environmental situations in individual patient homes, including exposure to odors, tobacco smoke, and animals
• Potential exposure to blood, body fluids, and tissues
• Moderate noise levels in work environment
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions