Hospice & Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner at NORTHERN COUNTIES HEALTH CARE INC – St.Johnsbury, Vermont

Lead with compassion. Deliver care that truly matters.
As a Hospice & Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, you’ll support patients and families through some of life’s most meaningful moments. Grow your career while making a lasting impact in your community.

Job Summary:

The Hospice and Palliative Care 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. 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.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

• ESSENTIAL DUTIES
  • 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, administering and dispensing 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 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.
  • 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.
  • Participates with physician in quarterly review of the patient’s health record.
  • Assures that patient receives appropriate measures to control symptoms, through collaboration with interdisciplinary team members.
  • Reviews and develops protocols for treatment and proposes options for interventions based on the literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician.
  • Consults the collaborating physician when the patient's plan of care is outside standardized practice and protocols.
  • Provide general preventive health care to Palliative Care patients. Manage and follow-up routine and problem patients.
  • Adheres to policies and procedures as outlined in Policy and Procedure Manual.
• COMMUNICATION
  • Communicates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary group to create, review and revise the patient's plan of care.
  • 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.
  • Works with Medical Director to insure compliance with practice activities around patient satisfaction, utilization, productivity, clinical competence, and peer satisfaction.
  • Communicates with other community health practitioners to coordinate the plan of care.
  • Attends and participates in meetings, including but not limited to hospice interdisciplinary group meetings.
  • 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 interdisciplinary 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 hospice interdisciplinary group to identify the goals of care and meet the care needs of the patient and family / caregiver.
  • Serves as a nursing resource for consultation and educations to members of the interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners in the community.
  • Establishes, builds and nurtures relationships with staff and community referral sources to facilitate program growth.
• ADDITIONAL DUTIES
  • Maintains knowledge of and compliance with current Medicare/Medicaid, state/federal rules and regulations for hospice services.
  • Ensures compliance with the 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.
  • Complies with established departmental and hospital policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, various hospital “codes”, fire safety, infection control, emergency procedures, time and attendance and other hospital policies.
    • Has adequate knowledge of the various hospital codes and appropriate action to take.
    • Maintains clean and safe working environment.
    • Initiates and follows infection control guidelines.
    • Promotes safety in the work place.
    • Adheres to hospital policies that may affect day-to-day operations.
    • Adheres to clinic policies that may affect day-to-day operations.
    • Has basic knowledge of Rural Health Clinic guidelines.
    • Applies the guidelines of the Confidentiality Policy at all times.
  • Participates in organizational monitoring of the quality of medical services and quality improvement initiatives.
  • 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 end-of-life issues.
  • Demonstrates the ability to organize his/her time effectively and efficiently. Manages a typical work assignment. Is productive. Assists others when able.
    • Completes assigned duties within scheduled hours.
    • Is able to manage multiple tasks.
    • Is able to prioritize work assignments effectively.
    • Is able to complete his/her work assignments independently.
    • Floats to other areas of facility, or takes on additional tasks, as needed.
    • Does not waste time in idle conversation with co-workers.
    • Does not abuse break periods. Is timely in returning to work.
    • Stays on task while performing duties.
    • Assists other team members with workload when work is complete.
  • Adheres to NVRH and NCHC Standards of Behavior: We are committed to providing the highest quality service and care, and meeting our patients’ needs in a courteous and respectful manner. This commitment is reflected in our behavior towards each other.
    • Treats each person with dignity, respect and compassion.
    • Is considerate and exhibits professional courtesy at all times.
    • Is cooperative and receptive to requests for help from others.
    • Shows respect through proactive and positive communications; acknowledges the presence of others, makes eye contact, smiles, introduces self and greets people by name, answers questions in a professional, pleasant and informative manner, says thank you, listens with the intent to understand through positive body language, asking questions and repeating back your understanding.
    • Discusses issues with co-workers in a respectful way. Does not involve others co-workers. Uses resources for guidance and support as needed.

The above statements are intended to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Position Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing and accredited Nurse Practitioner Program.
• Current nursing licensure in the State and current CPR certification.
• Master's degree with a minimum of one year of Nurse Practitioner experience and at least one year of hospice or palliative care experience.
• Accreditation from an approved certifying body for advanced practice nursing as required by the State.
• Certification in a specialist area preferred, such as Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN), Pediatrics, or Geriatrics.
• Must maintain proof of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• DEA License appropriate for scope of practice as defined by State law and clinic protocols.
• Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem-solving skills, and mathematical skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
• 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 sufficient to perform required nursing skills.
• Job allows employee to vary physical position or activity for comfort.
• In a normal workday, may be required to sit, stand, and/or walk for 8 hours or longer.

*This position is open for full-time and part-time opportunities.