Nurse Practitioner - Hospice - PRN

Lifecare Home Health Family•Weatherford, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse Practitioner assists physicians in overseeing clinical care and treatment for hospice patients and their families. In consultation with the hospice physician, the Nurse Practitioner works with patients’ attending physicians, provides clinical direction to the Interdisciplinary Group/Team (IDG/T), and helps ensure quality care. The role includes face-to-face documentation and home visits for palliation and management of terminal illness and related conditions. The Nurse Practitioner is a member of the IDG/T and reports to the Hospice Administrator. The position provides clinical assessment, education, consultation, and palliative care support to patients, families, physicians, and staff. It includes completing assigned face-to-face encounters, supporting individualized plans of care, communicating changes in patient needs and outcomes, and performing on-call duties as assigned. The Nurse Practitioner works in patient homes and must be able to travel locally, work a flexible schedule, and respond to PRN emergency calls.

Requirements

Graduate of a baccalaureate school of nursing and a Nurse Practitioner-focused master’s or doctoral nursing program.
Current state license as a Registered Nurse and as an Advanced Practice Nurse.
Current driver’s license.
Two years of experience as an Advanced Practice Nurse.
Knowledge of the psychosocial, ethical, legal, and medical aspects of hospice care.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients’ families, staff, the Governing Body, the Interdisciplinary Team, and other physicians.
Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
Commitment to patient-centered care and family support.
Reliable transportation and valid auto liability insurance.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, travel locally, and respond to PRN emergency calls.
Ability to work in patient homes under varying conditions, with possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, infectious diseases, and unpleasant weather.
Ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods, lift up to 50 pounds, and move patients.
Ability to work under stressful conditions, meet deadlines and patient needs, make quick decisions, and address individualized psychosocial needs.
Eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity.
Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information about patient condition and health status.
Ability to listen attentively, understand information, ask appropriate questions, and avoid interrupting at inappropriate times.
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions and use logic and reasoning to evaluate alternatives and problems.
Ability to view a tablet and Electronic Health Record and review, assess, record, or type data quickly and accurately.
Ability to determine resources needed to provide quality patient care.
Ability to travel to patient homes and office or support-center locations for care or education.

Nice To Haves

Clinical care setting experience is preferred, particularly hospice or home health experience.
End-of-life or palliative accreditation, certification, or specialty practice is desirable; examples include HPM Fellowship, HPM Certification, ABMS, AOA, and HMDCB.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the IDG/T to ensure appropriate evaluation and palliative treatment of terminal disease.
Consult with and assist the IDG/T in developing patient and family plans of care.
Educate patients and families about disease processes, self-care techniques, and end-of-life care; train other staff as needed.
Perform and document patient and family visits according to the plan of care and their needs.
Communicate with attending and consulting physicians about palliative care in collaboration with the hospice physician.
Provide clinical education and consultation to IDG/T members as needed on palliation-related issues.
Participate actively in the IDG/T and communicate effectively, promptly, and appropriately.
Inform physicians and other personnel of changes in patient needs and intervention outcomes, and evaluate patient and family responses to care.
Complete assigned face-to-face encounters before the third benefit period and during each subsequent period.
Provide assessment results to the hospice physician after assigned face-to-face encounters.
Provide clinical direction and education to clinical staff, serve as a role model, and consult with attending physicians.
Communicate with the medical community and attending physicians as needed to support optimal patient care and act as a liaison.
Perform home visits, patient assessments, and interventions requested by the IDG/IDT; consult on palliative and end-of-life care and complete face-to-face assessments as needed.
Support the Hospice’s goals, vision, philosophy, and administrative policies.
Promote compliance with fiscal intermediary and other third-party payer requirements through education, coaching, and assistance.
Maintain professional growth and competency and provide care using infection-control measures.
Work with the IDG/T to ensure patient and family needs are met.
Submit required paperwork accurately and on time.
Meet industry caseload and productivity standards.
Perform assigned on-call responsibilities and provide on-call services to patients and families.
Communicate effectively with patients, family members, team members, and other health care professionals.
Maintain reliable transportation and valid auto liability insurance.