Nurse Practitioner (NP) - Hospice

Req #400

Nurse Practitioner (NP) - Hospice - PRN - Central Coast

Job Description Summary
The Nurse Practitioner is a registered professional nurse with advanced graduate education and clinical training who provides comprehensive health care services in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act. Provides comprehensive 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. The nurse practitioner visits patients and completes physical assessments as assigned in consultation with the primary care 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/Responsiblities:
Patient Care

• Provides medical care in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act under the supervision of a collaborating physician.
• Completes history & 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 by developing an individualized plan of care, prescribing medications and/or treatments, obtaining consultations or making referrals and coordinating health care services.
• Reviews clinical information, coordinates and oversees patient care in consultation with the attending physician and/or hospice physician.
• Assures that patient receives appropriate measures to control symptoms, through collaboration with the attending physician and/or hospice physician.
• Consults the Hospice Medical Director/Team Physician regarding the patient's plan of care.
• Perform face to face encounters within thirty (30) days of the third and subsequent hospice benefit certification periods and attest to the encounter. 
   

Communication

• Communicates and collaborates with other health care practitioners and the IDT team to create, review and revise the patient's plan of care.
• Consults with the patient's attending physician, primary care team and other healthcare practitioners regarding the patient's current condition, ongoing care needs and medical management.
• Communicates with other community health practitioners to coordinate the plan of care.
• Attends and participates in care management meetings as needed.
• 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.
• Educates/counsels’ patients, families, and/or caregivers as to preventative care, medical problems, psychological problems, and spiritual problems in conjunction with the primary care team to meet the total needs of patients.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
• Assists the patient and family / caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
• Works in cooperation with the family/ caregiver and other health care practitioners to identify and meet the care needs of the patient and family / caregiver.
• Serves as a nursing resource for consultation and education in the community.
• Establishes, builds, and nurtures relationships with staff and community referral sources to facilitate program growth.

Additional Duties:

• The Nurse Practitioner:
• Maintains knowledge of and compliance with current Medicare/Medicaid, state/federal rules and regulations for hospice care.
• Ensures compliance with the hospice Medicare conditions of participation and other state regulations govern the provision of healthcare.
• Complies with all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements in accordance with federal, state, and organizational policies.
• Participates in organizational monitoring of the quality of medical services and quality improvement initiatives. (QAPI)
• 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.
• Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted assignments.
• Demonstrate knowledge in communication and counseling patient/family in dealing with health care issues.
• Must adhere to the company attendance and reliability guidelines, which are an essential function of the job to ensure quality, and consistent patient care.
• May be required to participate in the on-call rotation to meet the needs of the agency.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbent(s) of this job. The incumbent(s) may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in the description.
 
Position Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing and accredited Nurse Practitioner Program.
• Current nursing licensure in State and CPR certification is CPR required.
• Master's degree with a minimum of (1) year Nurse Practitioner experience.
  Accreditation from an approved certifying body for advanced practice nursing as required by the State.
• Certification in a specialist area preferred; (e.g. Hospice and Palliative Care)
• 2 years Hospice experience preferred 
• Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, mathematical skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Must possess a valid California Driver’s License with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
• Must hold a collaborative agreement with a physician outside of the hospice organization.

Physical Requirements:

• The ability to sit occasionally for 1-3 hours. 
• The ability to frequently stand for 3-6 hours. 
• The ability to occasionally drive/ operate foot control for 1-3 hours. 
• The ability to walk intermittently on level and or unlevel surface for less than 1 hour. 
• The ability to intermittently bend or climb for less than 1 hour. 
• The ability to occasionally twist, kneel, crouch and crawl for 1-3 hours. 
• The ability to lift 50 pounds frequently for 3-6 hours. 
• The ability to lift greater than 50 pounds occasionally for 1-3 hours. 
• The ability to carry up to 50 pounds frequently for 3-6 hours. 
• The ability to carry greater than 50 pounds occasionally for 1-3 hours. 
• The ability to push up to 50 pounds frequently for 3-6 hours. 
• The ability to push greater than 50 pounds occasionally for 1-3 hours. 
• The ability to pull up to 50 pounds frequently for 3-6 hours 
• The ability to pull greater than 50 pounds occasionally for 1-3 hours.