Nurse Practitioner - Palliative Care

Description

Locally Owned Hospice Agency Seeking Nurse Practitioner for Hospice & Palliative Care

Full-Time

Position Summary:

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) – Palliative Care is responsible for providing advanced clinical care to patients with serious, chronic, and life-limiting illnesses, with a primary focus on palliative care services and program development/oversight. This role leads the coordination and delivery of palliative care services across settings, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care focused on symptom management, quality of life, and goal-concordant treatment planning. The NP will also support hospice operations by performing Face-to-Face (F2F) encounters as needed to assist in determining continued eligibility for Medicare hospice benefits, in collaboration with the Medical Director.

Requirements

Essential Duties & Responsibilities Palliative Care Program Leadership & Oversight

Palliative Care Program Leadership & Oversight

1. Provide clinical leadership and oversight of the palliative care program, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
2. Assist in the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of palliative care services, workflows, and quality initiatives.
3. Collaborate with leadership to grow and expand palliative care services across service areas.
4. Serve as a clinical resource and mentor to interdisciplinary team members on palliative care principles, symptom management, and goals-of-care discussions.
5. Participate in program development activities, including policy development, staff education, and performance improvement initiatives.

Direct Patient Care – Palliative Services

1. Conduct comprehensive patient assessments and develop individualized, patient-centered care plans.
2. Manage acute and chronic symptoms, including pain, dyspnea, nausea, anxiety, and other complex conditions.
3. Facilitate advance care planning and goals-of-care discussions with patients and families.
4. Collaborate with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other interdisciplinary team members to ensure coordinated care.
5. Provide education and support to patients, families, and caregivers regarding disease progression, treatment options, and symptom management.
6. Monitor patient response to treatment and adjust care plans as appropriate.

Hospice Support – Face-to-Face Encounters

1. Perform Face-to-Face Encounters for Medicare hospice beneficiaries beginning with the third benefit period and beyond.
2. Collaborate with RN Case Managers and Clinical Leadership to determine scheduling and prioritization of F2F visits.
3. Review patient records and clinical data prior to visits to ensure accurate and thorough assessments.
4. Document clinical findings in accordance with hospice policies and regulatory requirements.
5. Ensure timely communication of findings to the certifying physician to support eligibility determinations.
6. Understand and adhere to CMS hospice regulations; does not certify terminal illness.

Compliance, Documentation & Quality

1. Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant clinical documentation in the EMR.
2. Adhere to all federal, state, and organizational regulations, including HIPAA and Medicare guidelines.
3. Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) activities.
4. Support audit readiness and compliance initiatives (e.g., CHAP standards).

Collaboration & Representation

1. Promote the mission, values, and philosophy of Peoples Hospice and Palliative Care.
2. Serve as a liaison between palliative care, hospice, and community partners.
3. Represent the organization professionally within the healthcare and local community.
4. Perform other duties as assigned by the Medical Director or leadership team.

Required Qualifications:

1. Licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the State of Florida.

2. Certification by an approved certifying body (AANP or ANCC).

3. Minimum of 2–3 years of clinical experience in palliative care, hospice, geriatrics, oncology, or related field preferred.

4. Strong knowledge of:

• Pain and symptom management
• Pharmacology
• End-of-life care principles
• Goals-of-care and advance care planning

5. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

6. Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.

7. Valid Florida Driver’s License and current automobile insurance.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this position, the employee travels by automobile and is exposed to changing weather conditions. The employee works in varied residential and facility environments based on assigned caseload.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to see, talk, or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, reposition patients; use hands and fingers to feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently lifts and moves up to 50 lbs.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employee will also perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by his/her immediate supervisor or other management.