Nurse Practitioner Palliative Care

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

1. Current Nurse Practitioner licensure with Family, Adult or Geriatric certification.
2. At least three (3) years' experience in the practice as a Nurse Practitioner.
3. Maintains current BLS certification.
4. Familiar with the philosophy of Palliative/Hospice care.
5. Expertise in pain and symptom management, especially in the appropriate use of narcotics.
6. Experience with issues concerning end of life care, pain and symptom management and the dying process. Comfortable and skilled in conversations with clients and their family regarding prognosis and decision-making weighing treatment options to match quality of life.
7. Presents a negative TB skin test and/or chest X-ray and other tests as required by Centrica Care Navigators.
8. Maintains a valid Michigan's driver's license and has the availability of a reliable, licensed and insured vehicle for use on the job, vehicle must be insured in accordance with the State of Michigan.
9. Remains up to date on all routine immunizations required by LARA and agency policy. Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for the palliation and management of serious illness for assigned palliative care patients. They provide initial and ongoing clinical assessments for patients with advanced and/or progressive medical conditions. The NP modifies the plan of care in collaboration with the attending and/or consulting provider. The main areas of focus are symptom management; assistance with decision making and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to provide and facilitate coordination of care until discharge. The NP provides care in a collaborative manner to patients and caregivers experiencing life limiting progressive and terminal illness.


RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Primary Duties

1. Completes history and physical examinations, by evaluating the patient's medical condition and health history, interpreting results from laboratory and diagnostic tests or procedures, diagnosing health conditions and documents the findings in the patient's medical record.
2. Manages acute and chronic health conditions and terminal illnesses by developing an individualized plan of care in consultation with the patient, family/caregiver and interdisciplinary team.
3. Has goals of care discussions and advanced care planning discussions with the patient and caregiver if appropriate.
4. Collaborates with attending physicians from the community and other interdisciplinary team members to establish immediate and long-term therapeutic goals. Helps to set clinical priorities and in developing a plan of care.
5. Shares the Palliative care team's caseload responsibilities with the Medical Director and any other Palliative Care Providers including rotation to on-call responsibilities.
6. Develops ongoing positive and professional relationships with contracted providers and other related bodies.
7. Monitors, interprets, and reports to the Medical Director clinical indicators to detect trends which could affect quality of care.
8. Participates in public relations and community activities that promote Centrica Care Navigators, as requested.
9. Promotes referrals in the community; maintains a good standing in the community.
10. Provides families and others in the community with appropriate information to make informed decisions regarding Palliative care and Hospice care and services.
11. Provides ongoing education and consultation on medical issues to staff, to assist them in continually improving all aspects of services provided.
12. Stays informed about changes in the field(s) of expertise and hospice and palliative care and shares information with the appropriate personnel.
13. Meets established visit goals for palliative clients residing in their homes, including assisted living, and other living environments.
14. Competent in the use of the electronic medical record for documentation if applicable to assigned work and understands Nurse Practitioner and physician billing codes and their appropriate application that reflects the service provided.
15. All documentation is completed promptly within timeliness guidelines and is accurate and supports sound medical practice and reimbursement for services provided.

Duties

1. Actively participates in organization-wide performance improvement activities.
2. Adheres to Centrica Care Navigators' standards of personal and professional conduct.
3. Demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to the Palliative philosophy of care, agency mission, and vision.
4. Ensures that all necessary information is shared with appropriate personnel.
5. Adheres to Centrica Care Navigators Workplace Safety Program.
6. Complies with applicable local, federal, and state regulations, Quality Partners standards, compliance guidelines, privacy protections and protected health information.

The above statements are only meant 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.

TYPES OF EQUIPMENT USED

1. Microcomputer with a wide variety of communication, medical and clinical equipment, and supplies.
2. Standard Physical Exam Equipment.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS

1. Comfort in assessing patients in their home environment.
2. Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving, critical thinking skills and medical skills.
3. Excellent organizational skills.
4. Excellent internal and external organizational sensitivity.
5. Family meeting skills with emphasis on the ability to accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, and values with extended families caring for our patients.
6. Strong clinical skills with emphasis on knowledge of palliative care.
7. Familiar with various reimbursements and the implications for case management.
8. Knowledge of computers, word processing, and spread sheet applications.

WORKING CONDITIONS

1. General office, multi-sites, and floors.
2. In and out of automobile.
3. Community and home environment, including adult foster care homes, assisted living, nursing homes, or other residence of the client.
4. Exposure to infectious disease.
5. Frequent telephone activity.
6. Residential facility.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

A typical eight (8) hour workday includes intermittent sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, twisting, occasionally lifting, or carrying 1-50 pounds (1 to 33% of the time), and repetitive hand motions associated with writing and computer keyboard typing.
CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Centrica Care Navigator personnel are expected to participate in appropriate continuing education as may be requested and/or required by their immediate supervisor. In addition, Centrica Care Navigator personnel are expected to accept personal responsibility for other educational activities to enhance job-related skills and abilities. All personnel must attend mandatory educational programs.