Advanced Practice Registered Nurse; APRN); Palliative

Job Title/Position:
Nurse Practitioner

Reports To:

Clinical Director

CONTINUUM CARE HOSPICE

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 needs of individuals and families within their homes and communities.

• Provide medical care, palliative care, and manage terminal illness in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act under the supervision of a collaborating physician.
• Complete history and physical examinations by evaluating the patient’s medical condition and health history, ordering and interpreting laboratory and diagnostic tests, diagnosing health conditions, and documenting findings in the medical record.
• Manage health conditions and terminal illnesses by developing individualized plans of care, prescribing medications or treatments, obtaining consultations or referrals, and coordinating hospice care services.
• Complete hospice face‑to‑face visit requirements prior to the third and subsequent benefit periods to assess hospice eligibility based on the hospice conditions of participation and local coverage determinations; provide clinical information to the hospice medical director for eligibility and recertification.
• Make recommendations to the hospice medical director regarding patient eligibility for certification and recertification.
• Review clinical information, coordinate and supervise patient care in consultation with the hospice interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners.
• Ensure that the patient receives appropriate measures to control symptoms through collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
• Review and develop protocols for treatment and propose intervention options based on the literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician.
• Consult the collaborating physician when the patient’s plan of care is outside standardized practice and protocols.
• Communicate and collaborate with the interdisciplinary group to create, review and revise the patient’s plan of care; consult with attending physicians, the hospice medical director and other healthcare practitioners regarding patient eligibility, ongoing care needs, and medical management of the terminal condition.
• Communicate with community health practitioners to coordinate the plan of care, attend and participate in hospice interdisciplinary group meetings.
• Complete, maintain and submit accurate clinical notes, physical exam notes, assessment visit notes, medical orders, collaboration notes and other documentation in the medical record.
• Educate and counsel patients, families and caregivers about preventative care, medical problems, psychological problems, and spiritual problems in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team to meet the total needs of patients.
• Provide and maintain a safe environment for the patient; assist the patient, family/caregiver and other team members in continuity of care.
• Work in cooperation with the family/caregiver and the hospice interdisciplinary group to identify goals of care and meet patient and family needs.
• Serve as a nursing resource for consultation and education to members of the interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners in the community.
• Establish, build and nurture relationships with staff and community referral sources to facilitate program growth.

• Maintain knowledge of and compliance with Medicare/Medicaid, state and federal rules and regulations for hospice services.
• Comply with all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements in accordance with federal, state and organizational policies.