Nurse Practitioner

This position is FT, M-F 8a-430pm, with weekend, holiday and on call rotation. It is based out of the Mercer County office (Coldwater), but may travel to anywhere in the service area, including coverage of the inpatient care center.

Summary of Position: The Nurse Practitioner provides assistance to the Medical Director for the overall medical direction for all hospice and palliative care patients under the care of EverHeart Hospice. He/she provides guidance to the hospice and palliative care program, to any physician employees, and to EverHeart Hospice staff and volunteers to assure the maintenance of quality care for patients and families. He/she serves as a liaison between the program, community physicians, and other health care providers to interpret and expand appropriate patient care. He/she provides direct medical care as needed to patients in the home, inpatient, hospital, or nursing facility setting. He/she provides clinical leadership and expertise.

Education and Experience:

1. Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited School of Nursing
2. Completion of a nurse practitioner program or certified as a Nurse Practitioner
3. Current Nurse Practitioner license in the State of Ohio.
4. Current staff privileges at hospitals in the Agency’s service areas.
5. Specialization in area of Family Practice, Oncology, or Hospice is preferred.
6. Knowledge of non-profit organizations preferred.
7. Minimum of five years of nursing experience; clinical nursing care in oncology, hospice, geriatrics, intensive care

Special Skills and Requirements:

1. Shall have a valid driver’s license.

1. Excellent customer service skills.
2. Detail oriented with excellent communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
3. Ability to follow instructions.
4. Ability to work independently without supervision.
5. Travel to other sites as needed. Travel may be in inclement weather.
6. Ability to lift 25 lbs of supplies or equipment.
7. Requires various amounts of sitting, standing, twisting, turning, bending, lifting and walking.
8. Comprehension of the Conditions of Participation (COP) in hospice.
9. Comprehension of Joint Commission Accreditation requirements.
10. Comprehension of state regulations. (Ohio)

Responsibilities of Position:

Routine Homecare:

1. Oversee the implementation of the plan of care for patient/families and in coordination with the patient’s physician, evaluates and changes plan of care as necessary to meet the needs of the patient/family.
2. Consults with the Medical Director when plan of care is outside of standardized practice and protocols and specialty consults are needed to manage patients care.
3. Prescribe medications to the extent delegated and licensed after collaboration with the Medical Director.
4. Update interdisciplinary team on changes made to the patient’s Plan of Care.
5. Collaborate with the Admissions Team and Team Managers concerning admissions and referrals.
6. Provide services, clinical input, and oversight for all patient treatment plans consistent with hospice and palliative care philosophy.
7. Participate in all components of hospice as requested to included but not limited to;
   1. Perform “Face to Face” visits as directed.
   2. Perform patient visit at the hospice Inpatient Unit – Care Center and home setting
   3. Provide clinical expertise to the interdisciplinary team regarding diagnosis and medical management of patient/family needs, ensuring that the highest quality of care is provided and that continuity and comprehensiveness is maintained

Palliative Care:

1. Collaborate with the attending physician to help palliative care patients to manage and plan for disease progression.
2. Collaborate with referring physician concerning assessment findings, diagnostic and therapeutic measures.
3. Evaluate quality of life and responses to treatments.
4. Perform Palliative Care consults to assess the patient, provide symptom management, educate regarding the disease process, coordinate providers, end of life planning, and link patient to available resources to enhance quality of life.
5. Develop agency policies, procedures, and protocols for Palliative Care.

Other Job Responsibilities:

1. Enhance hospice’s visibility and reputation with practicing physicians and area hospitals.
2. Contact physicians to introduce the hospice program, to discuss parameters of hospice and palliative care and to encourage physician referrals, as requested.

1. Facilitate/Co-facilitate educational seminars, in-services and presentations to physicians and other health care professionals to increase understanding of hospice concepts of care and to increase appropriate access of hospice care, as requested.
2. Assist with pursuing opportunities for partnering with other specialties, including Geriatric, Home-Based Primary Care, Spinal Cord Injury, ALS, Pulmonology, Surgery and Oncology.
3. Provide clinical leadership in the development and review of clinical protocols and patient care policies and procedures to assure medical appropriateness, as requested.
4. Develop a strong knowledge base related to appropriate palliative care of persons with various terminal diagnoses, as requested.
5. Complete all documentation as required by the organization in compliance with Agency policy, accreditation bodies, and governing requirements.
6. Other duties as assigned.