Job Description

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. He / She provides hospice care through the evaluation and assessment

of the health history, health promotion, diagnosing medical conditions,

management of health problems by directing and developing the plan of care,

prescribing medications or treatments, coordinating and collaborating with

patients, families and other healthcare practitioners. Under the supervision of

a physician, the nurse practitioner visits patients, completes physical

assessments, performs face to face assessments and evaluates hospice

eligibility as assigned in consultation with the hospice interdisciplinary

team. The nurse practitioner builds from the resources of the community to plan

and direct services to meet the need of individuals and families within their

homes and communities.

ESSENTIAL

JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care

1. Provides

medical care, palliates and manages terminal illness in compliance with the

state Nurse Practice Act under the supervision of a collaborating physician.

2. Completes

history and physical examinations, by evaluating the patient's medical

condition and health history, ordering and interpreting results from laboratory

and diagnostic tests or procedures, diagnosing health conditions and documents

the findings in the patient's medical record.

3. 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.

4. Completes

the hospice face to face visit requirements prior to the third and subsequent

hospice benefit periods to assess hospice eligibility based on the hospice

conditions of participation and the local coverage determinations. Provides

clinical information to the hospice medical director for interpretation for

eligibility for hospice recertification.

5. Makes

recommendations to the hospice medical director regarding patient eligibility

for certification and recertification for hospice care.

6. Reviews

clinical information, coordinates and oversees patient care in consultation

with the hospice interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners.

7. Assures

that patient receives appropriate measures to control symptoms through

collaboration with interdisciplinary team members.

8. Reviews

and develops protocols for treatment and proposes options for interventions

based on the literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician.

9. Consults

the collaborating physician when the patient's plan of care is outside

standardized practice and protocols. 

Communication

1. Communicates

and collaborates with the interdisciplinary group to create, review and

revise the patient's plan of care.

2. Consults

with the patient's attending physician, the hospice medical director and other

needs and medical management related to the patient's terminal

condition.

3. Communicates

with other community health practitioners to coordinate the plan of care.

4. Attends

and participates in hospice interdisciplinary group meetings.

5. Completes,

maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes, physical

examination notes, assessment visit notes, medical orders, collaboration notes

and other documentation in the medical record.

6. Educates/counsels

patients, families, and/or caregivers as to preventative care, medical

problems, psychological problems, and spiritual problems in conjunction with

the interdisciplinary team to meet the total needs of patients.

7. Provides

and maintains a safe environment for the patient.

8. Assists

the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity

of care.

9. Works in

cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to

identify the goals of care and meet the care needs of the patient and

family/caregiver.

10. Serves as a nursing

resource for consultation and educations to members of the interdisciplinary

team and other healthcare practitioners in the community.

11. Establishes, builds

and nurtures relationships with staff and community referral sources to

facilitate program growth. 

Additional Duties

1. Maintains

knowledge of and compliance with current Medicare/Medicaid, state/federal rules

and regulations for hospice services 

2. Ensures

compliance with the Medicare conditions of participation and other state

regulations govern the provision of healthcare.

3. Complies

with all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

requirements in accordance with federal, state and organizational policies.

4. Participates

in organizational monitoring of the quality of medical services and quality

improvement initiatives.

5. Assumes

responsibility for personal growth. Develops, maintains and upgrades

professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance at seminars,

conferences and participation in continuing education and in-service classes.

6. Fulfills

the obligation of requested and/or accepted assignments.

7. Demonstrate

knowledge in communication and counseling patient/family in dealing with

end-of-life issues

POSITION

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Graduation

from an accredited School of Nursing and accredited Nurse Practitioner Program.

2. Current

nursing licensure in State and CPR certification.

3. 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.

4. Accreditation

from an approved certifying body for advanced practice nursing as required by

State.

5. Certification

in a specialist area preferred; (e.g. Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN),

Pediatrics or Geriatrics).

6. Excellent

observation, verbal and written communication skill, problem solving skills,

mathematical skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.

7. 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.

8. Must be

a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with

state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.

Our mission is to provide comfort where there is pain, solutions where there are challenges, and peace where there is chaos in the lives of our patients and their loved ones. Hospice is not about dying, rather it is about living and maximizing the quality of life that a person has remaining. It recognizes death as a normal part of life and engages not only the patient, but also loved ones as it provides a team of specialists to care for people as they write that final chapter of life’s journey.

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