Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

Job Title/Position: Nurse Practitioner
Reports To: Clinical Director
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
CONTINUUM CARE HOSPICE
The 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. He/She 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.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES
Patient Care

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 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 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 a s s e s s 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.
                     Assures that patient receives appropriate measures to control symptoms, through
                     collaboration with interdisciplinary team members.
2. Reviews and develops protocols for treatment and proposes options for interventions
   based on the literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician.
3. Consults the collaborating physician when the patient's plan of care is outside standardized
   practice and protocols.
   Communication
4. Communicates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary group to create, review and
   revise the patient's plan of care.
5. 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.
6. Communicates with other community health practitioners to coordinate the plan of care.
7. Attends and participates in hospice interdisciplinary group meetings.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
11. Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of
    care.
12. 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.
13. Serves as a nursing resource for consultation and educations to members of the
    interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners in the community.
14. Establishes, builds and nurtures relationships with staff and community referral sources to
    facilitate program growth.
    Additional Duties
15. Maintains knowledge of and compliance with current Medicare/Medicaid, state/federal rules
    and regulations for hospice services
16. Feguations gover ene provision if heathetions of participation and other state
17. Complies with all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements
    in accordance with federal, state and organizational policies.