Nurse Practitioner - Palliative Care

About the role

The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner will provide comprehensive specialized care to senior living residents in long-term care, assisted living, and independent living settings. This position focuses on serious illness conversations, advanced care planning, and expert symptom management to improve the quality of life for residents and their families. This role involves collaboration with internal and external partners to ensure quality and effectiveness of the palliative care plan, with a focus on education to facility partners.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Functions independently to complete history and physical data on patients; performs complete physical exams; interprets and integrates data to determine appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan
• Facilitates serious illness conversations with patients and their families to establish goals of care and document their preferences to ensure their choices are honored
• Guides residents and families in completing advance directives, POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) forms, or other legal documentation
• Works closely with Curana primary team and senior living facility staff to ensure no gaps in care and serves as a resource for education on palliative care principles and practices
• Collaborates with Curana primary team in managing acute and long-term medical needs of patients, acting as specialist for symptoms of advancing serious illness
• Provides expert symptom management for pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety, and other distressing symptoms. Prescribes appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities
• Orders and interprets diagnostic and therapeutic tests relative to patient needs
• Maintains and reviews patient records, charts, and other pertinent information accurately and efficiently
• Instructs and educates patient and family regarding medications and treatment instructions

Qualifications

• Must hold current state RN and NP licensure
• Must hold a current Board Certification in a Nursing Specialty/Field
• Must possess a minimum of a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Nursing from accredited Colleges or Universities
• Minimum of 3 years palliative or hospice nursing experience required, and some experience as a Nurse Practitioner/Provider is preferred, but not necessary, although demonstrated critical thinking skills are required
• ACHPN certification is preferred, but not required, with a willingness to complete within a year of employment. Curana will reimburse for certification costs
• Must possess knowledge of Nursing and clinical Nurse Practitioner critical thinking skills application to the aged, chronically ill, and convalescent resident
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills preferred
• Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills
• Must possess traits of punctuality, organizational skills, and ability to function within a team