Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

Position Summary

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) is seeking a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to provide palliative care consultative services within a collaborative, interdisciplinary clinical team. This role focuses on delivering patient-centered, goal-concordant care for patients with serious, complex, or life-limiting illness.

The APP will work closely with physicians, nurses, social work, and other members of the care team to support symptom management, goals-of-care discussions, and care coordination across inpatient settings.

• Provide inpatient palliative care consults for hospitalized patients
• Conduct comprehensive patient assessments and symptom evaluations
• Support goals-of-care discussions and advance care planning with patients and families
• Develop and implement individualized symptom management plans
• Collaborate with attending physicians and interdisciplinary teams on care decisions
• Assist with pain and symptom control, including end-of-life care management
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare providers
• Document consults, assessments, and treatment plans in the medical record
• Support continuity of care and appropriate transitions across care settings
• Promote patient comfort, dignity, and quality of life

• Current Maryland Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant license (in good standing)
• DEA, CDS, and NPI registration
• Basic Life Support (BLS-HCP) certification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program

• National certification in specialty area
• Master of Science in Nursing (for NP candidates)
• Minimum of 2 years of clinical experience as an NP or PA (preferably in inpatient, surgical, or acute care settings)
• Prior experience in palliative care, hospice, oncology, or complex medical/surgical care

• Strong communication skills for complex and sensitive conversations
• Ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary care team
• Clinical judgment in managing complex symptom burden
• Competence in assessing patients across the lifespan
• Strong interpersonal and documentation skills
• Ability to function independently in a high-acuity hospital environment

• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Working knowledge of electronic medical records and medical terminology
• Familiarity with clinical documentation standards and coding principles

This role is based in a hospital setting and requires the ability to:

• Walk and stand for extended periods
• Lift or move objects up to 20 pounds
• Push or pull equipment such as stretchers or supply carts
• Perform fine motor tasks and computer-based documentation
• Work in environments with exposure to clinical hazards using appropriate protective equipment
• Communicate effectively in high-stress clinical situations

• The APP works independently while collaborating closely with supervising physicians and the palliative care team
• All employees must maintain licensure, certification, and required hospital competencies
• Compliance with institutional policies, safety standards, and patient confidentiality is required