JOB SUMMARY 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.
The Nurse Practitioner 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 need of individuals and families within their homes and communities.
II.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Patient Care 1.
Provides medical care, palliates and manages terminal illness in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act under the supervision of a collaborating physician.
2.
Completes history and physical examinations, by evaluating the patient's medical condition and health history, ordering and interpreting results from laboratory and diagnostic tests or procedures, diagnosing health conditions and documents the findings in the patient's medical record.
3.
Manages health conditions and terminal illnesses by developing an individualized plan of care, prescribing medications and / or treatments, obtaining consultations or making referrals and coordinating hospice care services.
4.
Completes the hospice face to face visit requirements prior to the third and subsequent hospice benefit periods to assess hospice eligibility based on the hospice conditions of participation and the local coverage determinations.
Provides clinical information to the hospice medical director for interpretation for eligibility for hospice recertification.
5.
Makes recommendations to the hospice medical director regarding patient eligibility for certification and recertification for hospice care.
6.
Reviews clinical information, coordinates and oversees patient care in consultation with the hospice interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners.
7.
Assures that patient receives appropriate measures to control symptoms through collaboration with interdisciplinary team members.
8.
Reviews and develops protocols for treatment and proposes options for interventions based on the literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician.
9.
Consults the collaborating physician when the patient's plan of care is outside standardized practice and protocols.
Communication 1.
Communicates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary group to create, review and revise the patient's plan of care.
2.
Consults with the patient's attending physician, the hospice medical director and other healthcare practitioners regarding the patient's eligibility for hospice care, ongoing care needs and medical management related to the patient's terminal condition.
3.
Communicates with other community health practitioners to coordinate the plan of care.
4.
Attends and participates in hospice interdisciplinary group meetings.
5.
Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes, physical examination notes, assessment visit notes, medical orders, collaboration notes and other documentation in the medical record.
6.
Educates/counsels patients, families, and/or caregivers as to preventative care, medical problems, psychological problems, and spiritual problems in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team to meet the total needs of patients.
7.
Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
8.
Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
9.
Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to identify the goals of care and meet the care needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
10.
Serves as a nursing resource for consultation and educations to members of the interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners in the community.
11.
Establishes, builds and nurtures relationships with staff and community referral sources to facilitate program growth.
Additional Duties 1.
Maintains knowledge of and compliance with current Medicare/Medicaid, state/federal rules and regulations for hospice services 2.
Ensures compliance with the Medicare conditions of participation and other state regulations govern the provision of healthcare.
3.
Complies with all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements in accordance with federal, state and organizational policies.
4.
Participates in organizational monitoring of the quality of medical services and quality improvement initiatives.
5.
Assumes responsibility for personal growth.
Develops, maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance at seminars, conferences and participation in continuing education and in-service classes.
6.
Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted assignments.
7.
Demonstrate knowledge in communication and counseling patient/family in dealing with end-of-life issues.
The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by the employee of this job.
The employee may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.
III.
JOB REQUIREMENTS (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities) 1.
Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing and accredited Nurse Practitioner Program.
2.
Master's degree with a minimum of one (1) year Nurse Practitioner experience and a minimum of one (1) year hospice or palliative care experience.
3.
Current nursing licensure in State and CPR certification.
4.
Accreditation from an approved certifying body for advanced practice nursing as required by State.
5.
Certification in a specialist area preferred; (e.g.
Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN), Pediatrics or Geriatrics).
6.
Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skill, problem solving skills, mathematical skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
7.
Prolonged or considerable walking or standing.
Able to lift, position and / or transfer patients.
Able to lift supplies and equipment.
Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling and/or crouching.
Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
8.
The ability to drive and/or have access to transportation for agency related travel (e.g. community partners, patients, etc.) is an essential function of the job.
Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license, maintain automobile insurance coverage and have access to an automobile.
IV.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT (Check all that apply) Blood & Bodily Fluids Latex Odors, Chemicals Disease Hazardous Drugs Other: TB (to require mask) Mechanical/Electrical Other: V.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Please complete based on a normal day’s work.
Employees are asked to sign a statement indicating whether they can perform the essential functions of their position.
Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis.
Classification Max Frequent Occasional This Job Sedentary 10 lbs --------------------- --------------------- Light 25 lbs 10 lbs --------------------- Medium 50 lbs 25 lbs 10 lbs Heavy 100 lbs 50 lbs 20 lbs Very Heavy > 100 lbs --------------------- --------------------- Frequent > 50% of day Occasional 20% -50%of day Limited Up to 20% of day Sitting Twisting/turning from waist Standing Climbing Crawling Left/right foot movement Walking Bending Kneeling Squatting Push/Pull objects Reaching above shoulder level Reaching below shoulder level Handing (holding, grasping, working with hands) Repetitive movement of the hand (includes typing and ten-key use) Check if Appropriate Senses needed to perform essential functions of the position: Hearing, talking, depth perception, color, vision, touch and smell.
Maintain a stable posture and gait with hands free to perform anticipated or routine and emergent patient care.
Endurance (cardiovascular fitness) Physically and mentally able to work extended hours when necessary VI.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I have read this job description and fully understand the requirements and notices set forth therein.
I hereby accept the position and agree to perform the identified essential functions in a safe manner and in accordance with the Company’s established policies and procedures.
I agree to request guidance from my Supervisor in the event that I am unsure of how to interpret any policy.
I further understand that my employment is at-will and thereby understand that my employment may be terminated at-will either by the Company or myself, and that such termination can be made with or without notice.
This position consistently supports and promotes compliance with the Code of Conduct by maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information, protecting the assets of the agency, acting with ethics and integrity, reporting non-compliance, and adhering to applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements (if applicable), and all policies and procedures.
The employer for this position is stated in the job posting.
The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the US.
Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets.
More information about The Pennant Group, Inc. is available at http://www.pennantgroup.com. Symbii Home Health provides professional, home-based medical care for patients needing rehabilitation and expert care following surgery, a hospital stay or other illness.
For individuals and their caregivers who are facing chronic health conditions, the experienced team at Symbii can help patients achieve their health care goals and promote healing while remaining in the comfort of their home.
Symbii Home Health works with each patient’s primary care provider to develop a care plan which will meet their individual needs.
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring that all conditions and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, evaluation, transfer, promotion, discipline, determination of compensation and/or benefits, and termination of employment, for all job classifications, are based on qualifications and work record.
No employment decision is made, nor do we discriminate, on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex/pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, or disability.
