Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN); Palliative

Job Title/Position: Nurse Practitioner
Reports To: Clinical Director
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
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 need of individuals and
families within their homes and communities.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES
Patient Care
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Provides medical care, palliates and manages terminal illness in compliance with the state
Nurse Practice Act under the supervision of a collaborating physician.
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.
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.
Completes the hospice face to face visit requirements prior to the third and subsequent
hospice benefit periods to a s s e s s 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.
Makes recommendations to the hospice medical director regarding patient eligibility for
certification and recertification for hospice care.
Reviews clinical information, coordinates and oversees patient care in consultation with the
hospice interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners.
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. Feguations gover ene provision if heathetions of participation and other state
3. Complies with all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements
in accordance with federal, state and organizational policies.