Hospice Nurse Practitioner NP

About the role

The Nurse Practitioner is a registered professional nurse with advanced graduate education and clinical training who provides comprehensive hospice services in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act and under the supervision of a collaborating physician. They provide hospice care through evaluation and assessment of health history, health promotion, diagnosing medical conditions, managing health problems, directing and developing the plan of care, prescribing medications or treatments, and collaborating with patients, families, and other healthcare practitioners.

Responsibilities

• Provides medical care, palliates, and manages terminal illness in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act under the supervision of a collaborating physician.
• Completes history and physical examinations by evaluating the patient's medical condition and health history, ordering and interpreting laboratory and diagnostic tests, diagnosing health conditions, and documenting findings in the patient's medical record.
• Manages health conditions and terminal illnesses by developing an individualized plan of care, prescribing medications and/or treatments, obtaining consultations or making referrals, and coordinating hospice care services.
• Completes the hospice face-to-face visit requirements prior to the third and subsequent hospice benefit periods to assess hospice eligibility based on hospice conditions of participation and local coverage determinations.
• Provides clinical information to the hospice medical director for interpretation of eligibility for hospice recertification and makes recommendations regarding patient eligibility for certification and recertification.
• Reviews clinical information, coordinates, and oversees patient care in consultation with the hospice interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners.
• Ensures patients receive appropriate measures to control symptoms through collaboration with interdisciplinary team members.
• Reviews and develops protocols for treatment and proposes options for interventions based on literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician.
• Consults the collaborating physician when the patient's plan of care is outside standardized practice and protocols.
• Communicates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary group to create, review, and revise the patient's plan of care.
• Consults with the patient's attending physician, the hospice medical director, and other healthcare practitioners regarding eligibility for hospice care, ongoing care needs, and medical management related to the patient's terminal condition.
• Coordinates the plan of care with other community health practitioners.
• Attends and participates in hospice interdisciplinary group meetings.
• Completes, maintains, and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes, physical examination notes, assessment visit notes, medical orders, and other documentation in the medical record.
• Educates and counsels patients, families, and/or caregivers on preventative care, medical problems, psychological problems, and spiritual problems in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient and assists in providing continuity of care.
• Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to identify goals of care and meet the care needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
• Serves as a nursing resource for consultation and education to members of the interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners in the community.
• Establishes, builds, and nurtures relationships with staff and community referral sources to facilitate program growth.
• Maintains knowledge of and compliance with current Medicare/Medicaid, state/federal rules, and regulations for hospice services.
• Ensures compliance with Medicare conditions of participation and other state regulations governing healthcare provision.
• Complies with all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements.
• Participates in organizational monitoring of the quality of medical services and quality improvement initiatives.
• Assumes responsibility for personal growth by developing, maintaining, and upgrading professional knowledge and practice skills through seminars, conferences, continuing education, and in-service classes.
• Demonstrates knowledge in communication and counseling patients/families in dealing with end-of-life issues.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing and accredited Nurse Practitioner Program.
• Current DEA license, if applicable to state regulations.
• Current nursing licensure in State and CPR certification.
• Master's degree with a minimum of one (1) year Nurse Practitioner experience and a minimum of one (1) year hospice or palliative care experience.
• Accreditation from an approved certifying body for advanced practice nursing as required by State.
• Certification in a specialist area preferred (e.g., Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN), Pediatrics, or Geriatrics).

Skills

• Excellent observation, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and mathematical skills.
• Nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Prolonged or considerable walking or standing.
• Able to lift, position, and/or transfer patients.
• Able to lift supplies and equipment.
• Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and/or crouching.
• Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/organization requirements and is in good working order.