Nurse Practitioner- Palliative & Hospice- Part Time

Description

  The Part-Time Palliative/Hospice Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides compassionate, patient-centered clinical care focused on comfort and quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses and their families. This key clinical role involves home-based and facility-based patient evaluations, working in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team and Medical Director. The NP is responsible for high-quality, regulatory-compliant clinical services, contributing to patient satisfaction and program excellence within our agency. This position reports directly to the Agency Administrator.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive bedside and home-based evaluations of palliative/hospice care patients, including histories, physical examinations, and interpretation of radiological and laboratory tests.
• Manage a part-time caseload, providing care related to symptom management, pain control, and end-of-life needs.
• Order, prescribe, and interpret laboratory/radiology tests, medications (including controlled substances to the extent delegated/licensed), treatments, and durable medical equipment.
• Coordinate care transitions and services with social workers, case managers, and the interdisciplinary hospice/palliative care team.
• Make visits to palliative/hospice care patients as delegated by the Medical Director, attending providers, Administrator or Director of Patient Care.
• Collect and assess patient data, develop, implement, manage, and evaluate patient-specific plans of care.
• Report significant changes in a patient's condition verbally and in writing to the physician and appropriate agency personnel as required by policy.
• Work in direct collaboration with the Medical Director and attending physicians to optimize patient outcomes. Consult with the Medical Director or designees as needed.
• Maintain accurate, concise, and timely clinical notes and patient records in the electronic medical record (EMR), ensuring sound practice and appropriate reimbursement.
• Provide written reports to primary physicians and attending providers upon request.
• Educate clinical staff, patients, and families on disease management, prognosis, and palliative/hospice care strategies.
• Assist with the coordination of patient admissions and discharges, focusing on accurate prognosis and diagnosis related to terminal illness/serious condition.
• Utilize appropriate communication lines to problem-solve personal and departmental issues.
• Supports the Agency’s Mission and Value Performance Standards.
• All other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Personal Qualifications

• Ability to relate to people of diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
• Must demonstrate maturity, initiative, tact and good judgment in dealing with staff, patient and families.
• Knowledge of medications and sterile techniques.
• Knowledge of and appropriate use of safety (personal protective) equipment.
• Strong teaching and leadership skills.
• Basic personal computer skills required. Clinical documentation experience preferred.
• All staff driving on agency business are required to have a valid driver’s license, reliable auto, and current auto insurance.
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification.

Professional Qualifications

• Licensure: Current, unencumbered Nurse Practitioner (NP) license to practice in the State of Oregon.
• Certification: NP Certification from an accredited body.
• Experience: Previous experience in Hospice, Palliative Care, or Geriatrics is preferred but not required.
• Skills: Demonstrated ability to perform procedures for which they are privileged, including prescriptive authority.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Excellent understanding of relevant state and federal regulations and accreditation standards for hospice and palliative services.
• Continuing Education: Responsible for maintaining continuing education requirements and professional development.

Physical Demands

Driving or riding in a motor vehicle, standing, sitting, walking, bending, reaching, and stretching. Lifting up to 35 pounds unassisted and up to 325 pounds utilizing an assistive device. Job may include sitting, standing, bending, stretching, stooping, walking, lifting 20 – 30lbs and repetitive hand motion associated with keyboarding.

Work Environment

Field experience may expose employees to temperature extremes, physical injury by patients, family, animals or others in the community, unsafe or unsanitary environment or exposure to infectious diseases and offensive odors.