Hospice Nurse Practitioner

Gentiva Hospice•San Angelo, TX

About The Position

The Nurse Practitioner provides comprehensive, patient-centered care to people with serious illnesses. Depending on market needs, the role may include hospice care, palliative care, or both. The position delivers advanced clinical care, manages patient visits, and performs hospice Face-to-Face (F2F) encounters for eligibility certification and recertification. The Nurse Practitioner partners with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to provide high-quality, compliant, compassionate care and to guide patients and families through medical decision-making, symptom management, and end-of-life care. The role includes comprehensive assessments and care planning; diagnosis and management of acute and chronic symptoms; medication management and prescribing within applicable state and federal requirements; ordering and interpreting tests within the defined scope of practice; goals-of-care and advance-care-planning discussions; coordination across care settings; referrals to support services; and accurate, compliant documentation. The Nurse Practitioner collaborates with patients, families, caregivers, primary and attending providers, specialists, medical directors, and interdisciplinary groups. The position may include an on-call rotation and coverage across multiple provider numbers as needed and approved. The position requires an accredited Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or higher and completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program, along with current state RN and Nurse Practitioner licensure or certification, national NP certification, and applicable practice agreements or independent practice authority. Additional credentials and regulatory requirements include DEA registration and prescriptive authority as applicable, current CPR certification, and a valid driver's license and current automobile insurance. Hospice, palliative care, and other relevant clinical experience, Part B billing experience, and ACHPN certification are preferred. Gentiva describes itself as a national provider of hospice, palliative, home health, and advanced illness management services, with nearly 600 locations across 38 states. The company emphasizes compassionate care in patients' homes and a collaborative workplace where achievements are recognized and kindness is celebrated.

Requirements

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or higher from an accredited program.
Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program.
Current RN license and Nurse Practitioner license or certification in the state of practice.
National Nurse Practitioner certification through ANCC or AANP.
Collaborative Practice Agreement with a supervising internal physician or proof of independent practice authority, in accordance with state regulations.
Controlled Substance Agreement, if applicable.
DEA registration and prescriptive authority in accordance with state regulations.
Current CPR certification.
Valid driver's license and current automobile insurance.
Strong clinical assessment and critical-thinking skills across palliative and hospice populations.
In-depth understanding of palliative care principles, hospice philosophy, home health eligibility, and end-of-life care.
Working knowledge of LCD criteria, Medicare and Medicaid regulations, coding and billing, and documentation requirements.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Knowledge of Hospice and Palliative Quality Measures collection, documentation, and reporting, and the QAPI process.
Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Compassion, emotional intelligence, and sensitivity to the needs of patients and families.
Proficiency with point-of-care technology and electronic medical records.
Willingness and ability to meet organizational productivity and documentation standards.
Sensitivity to the impact of life-and-death issues affecting people with terminal illness, and tact in working with patients and families.
Ability to support others during a crisis.
Flexibility to move among tasks of different natures while maintaining efficiency and composure.
Ability to communicate effectively with people of diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact when working with coworkers and hospice team members.
Compliance with OSHA, State Board of Nursing, and federal regulations related to hospice Conditions of Participation.
Compliance with state-specific requirements where applicable.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of two years of Nurse Practitioner experience preferred.
Experience in hospice, palliative care, oncology, geriatrics, family or adult medicine, home health, or acute care preferred.
Experience with Part B billing preferred.
ACHPN certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Complete patient visits, including Medicare-required hospice Face-to-Face encounters, history and physical/initial comprehensive visits, symptom-management visits, admission visits, goals-of-care discussions, and routine follow-ups.
Collaborate with hospice and palliative medical directors and interdisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.
Coordinate patient plans of care with primary care providers, attending providers, and specialists as applicable.
Perform in-depth physical, emotional, functional, and psychosocial patient assessments.
Develop and support individualized care plans with patients, families, caregivers, and the interdisciplinary group or team.
Manage patient care, including diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, medications, assessments, longitudinal serious-illness support, quality-of-life optimization, and consultations, while reducing avoidable acute-care utilization.
Prescribe medications and treatments, including controlled substances, within applicable state and federal regulations and practice parameters.
Order and interpret laboratory and other diagnostic tests within the applicable scope of practice and collaborative practice agreement.
Facilitate goals-of-care discussions, advance care planning, and transitions in level of care when appropriate.
Coordinate care across home, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living settings.
Initiate referrals to supportive services and community resources as needed.
Use Local Coverage Determination criteria to support hospice eligibility and recertification.
Document clinical findings accurately and attest to F2F encounters in the medical record in compliance with regulatory standards.
Communicate findings, treatment plans, diagnostic information, and medication reviews to the interdisciplinary group or team.
Provide clinical recommendations to the interdisciplinary group based on assessment findings.
Ensure alignment with Medicare, Medicaid, and accrediting-body requirements, including ACHC.
Promptly notify appropriate team members of barriers to completing scheduled visits.
Provide care and visit coverage across multiple provider numbers as needed and approved.
Maintain comprehensive knowledge of hospice and palliative care.
Partner with physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other interdisciplinary team members.
Communicate clearly and compassionately with patients, caregivers, and families, including support through serious illness and end-of-life transitions.
Participate in an on-call rotation as needed.
Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation.
Comply with federal, state, and organizational regulations, including OSHA requirements and hospice Conditions of Participation.

Benefits

Competitive pay.
401(k) with company match.
Career advancement opportunities.
National and local recognition programs.
Teammate Assistance Fund.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for full-time associates.
Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program for full-time associates.
Generous paid time off and 7 paid holidays for full-time associates.
Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care, for full-time associates.
Education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs, for full-time associates.
Free continuing education units (CEUs) for full-time associates.
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates.
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage, for full-time associates.