Community Based Palliative Nurse Practitioner

The Community Based Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner is a member of robust interdisciplinary care team, providing direct care to patients in the community settings. The right candidate will possess strong clinical skills and a passion for collaboration with team members from multiple service lines and disciplines.  This position includes participation in development of the dynamic and growing palliative care program for an organization that values innovation, leadership, continuity of care and places mission at the forefront. The nurse practitioner provides holistic, community-based care that includes exploratory discussions on patient and family goals of care, symptom management and consultation on supportive resources and end of life care.  The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is an integral member of the Hebrew SeniorLife interdisciplinary team and provides clinical and educational support internally and in the community.  

Becoming a member of the Hebrew SeniorLife team offers the opportunity to collaborate with leaders and experts in the palliative care industry including those focused on impactful and groundbreaking research, teaching and clinical excellence.

Core Competencies:

• Collaborates effectively with the interdisciplinary home care team, hospice and palliative care teams, and across the organization to offer/provide specialized care to patients requiring advanced illness management and end of life care.
• Facilitates or leads family meetings when complex goals of care are identified and discussed.
• Advances the impact and visibility of advanced illness management and palliative care by establishing a trusted and collaborative approach with Hebrew SeniorLife, as well as community-based providers and agencies.
• Educates staff and promotes the development of advanced illness management and palliative care skills across the continuum.
• Supports staff in the provision of exceptional quality care to patients and families with complex medical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs and ethical issues.
• Keeps up to date on evidence-based medical practice, industry trends and current research in advanced illness management and palliative care and serves as a clinical resource.
• Actively participates in program development as identified through collaboration with referral sources and community residents and members of the HSL Community
• Collaborates with other members of the Community Based Palliative Team to ensure high quality delivery of care

Position Responsibilities Include:

• Provide consults for community-based patients and their families facing chronic, complex and/or life threatening conditions.
• Conduct comprehensive medical, psychosocial and spiritual evaluation of patients and families referred for consult.
• In conjunction with other health disciplines, provide skilled and thorough pain and symptom management. Recommend additional referrals, diagnostic studies, and treatment plans based on assessment and patient/family choices and in collaboration with primary care providers. 
• Work with patients and families to determine their understanding of the patient’s medical status, disease course and proposed treatment plan.
• Facilitate clarification of patient and family goals of care and advance care directives.
• Formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate advanced illness management plans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team and referring providers.
• Promote continuity of care through effective verbal and written communication across health care settings.
• Consult with the palliative care physician as needed, inform primary care providers of recommended treatment and collaborate with other physicians/consultants as appropriate.
• Serve as a clinical and educational role model and mentor.
• Provide formal and informal educational opportunities for the clinical staff on current aspects of advanced illness management and palliative care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings as indicated.
• Document patient visits according to policy (typically within the same day) using the appropriate medical record system.
• Using electronic charge capture system, or other established process, submits charges for each patient visit within 72 hours of completing the visit..
• Enhances professional growth and self-development through participation in research activities, other professional activities, educational programs, current literature, in-service programs and workshops.
• Assists with Face to Face visit activity for Hospice Services.
• Acts as Advanced Practice Resource to both Home Health and Hospice direct care staff on matters related to pain management, bridging of patients from Home Health to Hospice, and management of complicated end of life symptoms.

Education: Master of Science in Nursing required.  Graduate of an accredited Advance Practice Registered Nurse Program.

License: Licensed as nurse practitioner by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration of Nursing.  Unrestricted license to practice in state and per Physician/ANP Standard Care Arrangement.

Certification: National Certification as Geriatric, Adult or Family Nurse Practitioner. Advanced Certification in Hospice and Palliative Nursing desirable

• Knowledge of medications and prescriptive authority per state law.
• Qualified candidates must have a minimum of five years nursing experience.
• Experience in palliative care, with either 5 years in specialty field or Advanced Certification in Hospice and Palliative Nursing.
• Experience including care of elders at the end of life or with complex, chronic and/or life-threatening conditions preferred.