Hospice Nurse Practitioner

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES

The Hospice Nurse Practitioner (NP) is responsible for providing advanced clinical assessment, symptom management, and palliative care services to hospice patients in collaboration with the Hospice Medical Director, attending physicians, and interdisciplinary group (IDG). The NP serves as a clinical resource to staff, patients, and families; conducts face-to-face encounters required for hospice eligibility determinations and recertifications; participates actively in interdisciplinary care planning;

provides hospice education and mentoring to clinical staff; and participates in after-hours and weekend on-call coverage as assigned. The Hospice Nurse Practitioner promotes quality end-of-life care through effective symptom management, timely clinical interventions, collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, and adherence to hospice regulations and organizational standards. This role supports continuity of care and ensures patients receive individualized, compassionate care consistent with hospice philosophy.

• Provide advanced assessment, evaluation, and management of patient symptoms related to terminal illness, including pain, dyspnea, agitation, nausea, anxiety, wounds, and other end-of-life symptoms. Conduct hospice eligibility and recertification Face-to-Face (F2F) encounters in accordance with Medicare Conditions of Participation and organizational policies. Collaborate with the Hospice Medical Director and attending physicians regarding eligibility determinations, symptom management recommendations, medication adjustments, and changes in patient condition.
  
  Participate in the development, review, and revision of individualized plans of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary group, patient, and family. Attend and actively participate in interdisciplinary group (IDG) meetings, providing clinical recommendations and support related to patient care needs, hospice eligibility, symptom burden, and disease progression. Order, prescribe, and adjust treatments, medications, and interventions within the scope of licensure and collaborative practice agreements.
  
  Provide patient and family education regarding disease progression, symptom management, medication administration, goals of care, and hospice services. Serve as an educational resource for clinical staff by providing mentoring, training, competency support, and evidence-based hospice and palliative care education. Assist with clinical case reviews, documentation audits, quality improvement initiatives, and regulatory readiness activities as requested. Provide after-hours, weekend, and holiday on-call coverage as assigned, including telephonic consultation and in-person patient visits as clinically indicated.
  
  Support transitions between levels of hospice care, including routine home care, continuous care, respite care, and general inpatient care. Maintain accurate, timely, and complete clinical documentation in accordance with Medicare regulations, state requirements, and organizational policies. Demonstrate positive interpersonal relations and effective communication with patients, families, physicians, referral sources, and all members of the interdisciplinary team.
• 1.0 45% QUALITY OF WORK 1.1 15% Effectively assesses, evaluates, manages patient symptoms and clinical needs, ensures accurate and timely eligibility as evidenced by:
  Completion of comprehensive advanced assessments during patient visits. Timely implementation of symptom management interventions. Appropriate medication recommendations and adjustments. Communication of significant findings to physicians and the IDG. Documentation supporting clinical decision-making and plan of care updates. Support of patient comfort, quality of life, and goal-concordant care. Assessing the patients’ and family/caregivers’ physical, psychosocial, bereavement, environmental, safety, and developmental needs.
  
  Provide support, instruction, and education of the patient, family and other caregivers who participate in the care of the patient in relation to needs identified on the plan of care, including, but not limited to: disease process and progression, medications,…