Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

General Summary The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner serves as a member of the Palliative Care Team, collaborating with team members for optimal patient outcomes and embracing opportunities to learn from and teach team members. The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner serves as a primary level care provider under the clinical supervision of the Hospice of Dubuque Medical Director or Hospice Physician.

The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner demonstrates expertise in palliative care and collaborates with each patient’s primary care provider. The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner provides palliative services to patients in their place of residence or in contracted facilities, and he/she completes appropriate documentation for billable visits and for coordination of care. Able to complete a weekly rotation to provide services for in-patient palliative care with a contracted facility.

This employee serves as a liaison with referral sources and the medical community, thus must demonstrate decorum when engaging and communicating with other healthcare providers. The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner may be assigned to perform the duties of the Hospice Nurse Practitioner. The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner must maintain high standards of integrity and business ethics, and provide all patient care in accordance with current professional standards of practice and regulatory requirements.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities Represents Hospice of Dubuque in a professional, responsible manner and exhibits dedication to the advancement of palliative care as a medical specialty.

Evaluates clients referred to Hospice of Dubuque’s Palliative Care Consulting service or located in contracted facilities, and performs palliative consultation and collaborates with the patient’s primary care provider.

Assesses the physical and psychosocial status of clients by means of interview, health history review, physical examination and diagnostic studies.

Makes assessment visits to patients in their place of residence or while located in a contracted facility.

Works on a rotating weekly schedule with other Palliative Care Nurse Practitioners with contracted facility for in-patient palliative care services.

Works with Hospice Intake Nurses to support access to hospice services in a timely manner.

Functions in the role of Hospice Nurse Practitioner by completing hospice patient face-to-face visits and other hospice nurse practitioner duties, as delegated/requested.

Completes patient visits in a timely manner and documents visits appropriately.

Interprets and integrates clinical data to assess, prescribe or recommend appropriate comfort interventions for palliative care.

Collaborates with Hospice of Dubuque Medical Director or Hospice Physician and client’s primary physician.

Prescribes medications within the scope of nurse practitioner autonomy of practice.

Serves as an active member of the Palliative Care Team by sharing clinical expertise to help ensure quality palliative care and welcoming expertise that is shared by other team members.

Prepares and maintains accurate and timely patient records to support sound medical practice and coding for reimbursement for services as appropriate.

Assists in providing training/clinical education to staff when appropriate or as delegated.

Evaluates clients for ongoing eligibility for palliative services.

Provides support, feedback, and assistance in problem-solving to members of the Palliative Care Team, as appropriate.

Maintains and develops relationships with community physicians and referral sources.

Functions as liaison with facilities and other healthcare providers in the community.

Participates in the Hospice of Dubuque Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement program, as…