Nurse Practitioner - Palliative Care

Nurse Practitioner - Palliative Care ($10,000 Sign-On)

Location:

US-IA-Des Moines

Based within multiple senior living facilities with travel between facilities within driving distance. 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.

• Work directly with patients and their families on end‑of‑life matters and goals of care planning for the chronically ill.
• Function independently to complete history and physical data on patients; perform complete physical exams; interpret and integrate data to determine appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Facilitate serious illness conversations with patients and their families to establish goals of care and document preferences to ensure choices are honored.
• Guide residents and families in completing advance directives, POLST (Physician Orders for Life‑Sustaining Treatment) forms, or other legal documentation.
• Work closely with Curana primary team and senior living facility staff to ensure no gaps in care and serve as a resource for education on palliative care principles and practices.
• Collaborate with Curana primary team in managing acute and long‑term medical needs of patients, acting as specialist for symptoms of advancing serious illness.
• Provide expert symptom management for pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety, and other distressing symptoms.
• Prescribe appropriate pharmacologic and non‑pharmacologic treatment modalities.
• Order and interpret diagnostic and therapeutic tests relative to patient needs.
• Maintain and review patient records, charts, and other pertinent information accurately and efficiently.
• Instruct and educate patient and family regarding medications and treatment instructions.
• Become proficient in exercising autonomy in medical decision making and providing a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.

• 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 Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Nursing from accredited colleges or universities.
• Minimum of 3 years of palliative or hospice nursing experience required; some experience as a Nurse Practitioner/Provider preferred, but not necessary; demonstrated critical thinking skills required.
• ACHPN certification preferred, but not required; willingness to complete within a year of employment; reimbursement for certification costs provided.
• Must possess knowledge of nursing and clinical nurse practitioner critical thinking skills applied to aged, chronically ill, and convalescent residents.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and problem‑solving skills preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
• Traits of punctuality, organizational skills, and ability to function within a team required.

Travel to and from one or more assigned facilities is required. Depending on the amount of travel, a valid driver’s license, current auto insurance, and an acceptable driving record may be required. Thirty‑day notice will be provided for any such requirement. Periodic motor vehicle checks may be conducted as a condition of continued employment.

Curana Health is dedicated to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity. We affirm, in policy and practice, our commitment to diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, military service, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

The EEO policy applies to all personnel matters as outlined in our company policy including recruitment, hiring, transfers, and general treatment during employment. The company is unable to provide sponsorship for a visa at this time.