Nurse Practitioner

Description

Supportive Care Management & Hospice Nurse Practitioner - All Unity Service Area

The Supportive Care Management (palliative care) and Hospice Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner (APNP) provides advanced clinical expertise and leadership to enhance care planning, treatment, and outcomes for individuals with palliative care and/or hospice needs. The APNP supports an interdisciplinary approach that aligns with the vision and values of palliative and hospice care. The APNP offers clinical direction and guidance to the Unity staff to ensure high-quality care for patients and their families, consistent with Unity’s mission and values. The NP supports Unity’s programs and operates within the regulatory framework. The APNP functions both independently and collaboratively under the guidance of the Medical Director or designee, delivering services related to hospice and palliative care.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.

· Must possess excellent human relation skills as demonstrated by the ability to interface positively with patients, their families, as well as colleagues and other employees of Unity.

· Must possess the ability to work well with frequent interruptions, under stress, with minimal supervision, and to exercise judgment in analyzing, organizing, planning, prioritizing, scheduling, and coordinating with others.

· Must possess a high level of intelligence, integrity, sense of responsibility, and ability to comprehend and analyze details. 

· Must possess knowledge of theory, principles, techniques, and practice of scientific principles and research, of preparation, administration, and actions of medications, of treatments and medical procedures, of counseling techniques, and of teaching techniques.

· Must maintain current knowledge base in caring for pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients.

· Must complete annual core competencies and continuing education.

· Extensive and recent hospice, palliative care, or related specialty experience. 

· Evidence of working at a level of advanced practice in palliative care. 

· Peer recognition as an expert in palliative care or related specialty practice. 

· A strong understanding of evidence-based practice. 

· Demonstrating leadership qualities such as vision, openness, flexibility, and integrity. 

· Evidence of teaching and learning principles. 

· Evidence of advanced nursing expertise and working across care settings. 

· Knowledge and understanding of medical, legal, and ethical responsibilities for the APNP role. 

· Knowledge of clinical quality improvement strategies. 

· Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively. 

· Ability to work as a team member and achieve projected goals and targets. 

· Demonstrate a commitment to the understanding of the hospice and palliative care philosophy and have an understanding and openness to wider cultural diversity. 

· Demonstrate an understanding of population health. 

· Have a strong commitment to interdisciplinary teamwork, influencing patient and family centric care.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

Palliative Care: Supportive Care Management (SCM)

Working in partnership with individuals, families, and healthcare partners across a range of settings, the APNP complements and enhances existing services (primary community, home-based, and facilities) using a consultative and advisory model in collaboration with other healthcare providers.

Hospice:

The APNP assists in overseeing the clinical care and treatment of Unity patients in collaboration with the patients’   attending providers and with the Unity Medical Director and medical team members.

Leadership

· Demonstrates nursing leadership that positively influences the health outcomes of people

· with palliative care and/or hospice needs.

· Advances the profession of nursing.

· Identifies practice areas of concern, risk, and learning opportunities.

· Demonstrates skilled mentoring, coaching, and teaching of health care colleagues.

· Contributes to a culturally safe environment.

· The APNP will contribute to a culture of excellence, collaboration, integrity, compassion, and accountability.

· Role models excellence in clinical professional practice and works alongside staff to reinforce

· learning and provide specialist assistance when required.

· Utilizes evidence-based theory and best practice in clinical care.

· Contributes to clinical leadership across the Unity interdisciplinary teams and

· broader Hospice and Supportive Care Management (SCM) program.

· Influences organizational change as appropriate.

· Demonstrates professional nursing leadership by participating in pertinent evidence-based

· literature searches and policy development.

· Creatively generates new approaches to the extension of nursing knowledge and delivery of

· expert care.

· Facilitates collaboration between primary, facility-based aged-care, in-patient, and community

· Services.

· Works collaboratively with other APNP’s in the region and state and participates in peer

· support and mentorship.

· The APNP will communicate effectively, timely, and appropriately at all times.

Advanced Practice

· Demonstrates the competencies for the APNP Scope of Practice.

· Applies advanced nursing practice in the provision of health care services to patients with a hospice and/or palliative care need. 

· Delivers patient-centered care operating within a nursing model of holistic practice. 

· Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients and families that recognizes the patient in context and respects cultural identity and lifestyle choices. 

· Demonstrates complex decision-making skills to support advanced practice identifying patients and patient/families at risk. 

· Demonstrates advanced comprehensive patient health assessment skills and diagnostic decision-making relative to the specialty of hospice and palliative care. 

· Orders, conducts, and interprets diagnostic and laboratory tests, and administers therapies for the management of potential or actual health needs. 

· Consistently uses appropriate tests and investigations based upon the patient’s clinical status to support clinical reasoning and evaluates measurable outcomes. 

· Provides patients and families with appropriate clinical information to support informed decision making, uses appropriate language and style respectful of the end-of-life experience. 

· Demonstrates competency with prescribing and regular medication review for hospice and palliative care patients.

Hospice Service Provision

· The APNP will participate in call coverage on a regular basis.

· The APNP will be responsible for the medical aspect of the patient care programs and activities with members of the local medical community in collaboration with the Medical Director and members of the medical team.

· The APNP will review and collaborate with the Medical Director regarding the appropriateness of patients at time of hospice admission.

· The APNP will round on designated patients at the Jack and Engrid Meng Hospice Residence when directed.

· Provide face-to-face recertification visits and ensure the accurate and timely documentation of those visits to assure seamless care of Unity’s hospice patients. 

· Identify practices of concern, risk, and learning opportunities.

· Assist in the development and delivery of comprehensive, quality plans of care for patients/families in accordance with Unity program standards, collaborating with other members of the IDT.

· Accept the role of hospice attending if/when needed.

· Assure accuracy and timeliness of documentation to support CPT codes and billing.

· Adhere to Unity’s policies regarding the protection of all health information.

· Perform other duties as assigned by the Medical Director or designee.

Palliative Care Coordination and Service Provision

· Working in partnership with individuals, families, and healthcare partners across a range of settings, the APNP complements and enhances existing services (primary, community, home-based, and facilities) using a consultative and advisory model in collaboration with other healthcare providers.

· Coordinates care across sectors and disciplines to improve patient outcomes. 

· Initiates and oversees health care for palliative care patients as part of the supportive care model.

· Effective team member within the interdisciplinary team. 

· Provides comprehensive, accurate assessments of patients with a palliative care need in a variety of settings. 

· Maintains excellent documentation and communication practices. 

· Evaluates effective use of assessment tools for safe, consistent, evidence-based practice. 

· Anticipates and collaborates with training in response to the needs of clinical settings. 

· Acts as an expert resource for clinical and theoretical knowledge within the specialty of palliative care. 

· Upholds the cultural safety in nursing practice.

Consultant

· Serve as a hospice and palliative resource with attending and consulting providers as necessary regarding pain and symptom management, chronic disease management, patient prognosis, and palliative treatments in collaboration with the Medical Director.

· Provides advisory support and consults with primary care providers, subspecialists, and Unity’s interdisciplinary team regarding the health of the individual with serious illness or advanced chronic disease to promote optimal outcomes for those with palliative care or hospice needs.

· Contributes clinical expertise and support in the development of clinical capability in care (knowledge, skill, and leadership) of those with complex palliative care or hospice needs. 

· Support access to timely palliative care or hospice nursing advise to promote optimal clinical care for the patient experiencing serious illness or advanced chronic disease. 

· Support the principles of dying in place. 

· Contribute to improved coordination of care across various care settings and disciplines. 

· Collaborate with clinical leaders within various settings to provide mentorship and enhance support for registered nurses and interdisciplinary caregivers in their facilities and practices. 

· Consult with team members on an as-needed basis for clinical issues relating to the patient/family plan of care.

· Serve as a consultant with the patient’s attending provider as requested.

· Provide clinical expertise, education, and training on pain and symptom management and other palliative and hospice-related topics to Unity staff.

Professional Development

· Models appropriate professional, legal, and ethical determinants of practice. 

· Identifies and appropriately manages own professional education. 

· Provides ethical, equitable, and quality palliative and hospice care across the care continuum. 

· Utilizes local, state, national, and international networks to inform practice and develop strong collegial links and partnerships. 

· Champions practice development through the optimal use of care guides/care pathways. 

· Engages in clinical education and mentoring of interdisciplinary staff. 

· Participates in staff and patient education through role modelling and facilitating the exchange of knowledge to improve patient outcomes. 

· Leads or participates in professional development activities, case reviews, conferences, seminars, and professional groups. 

· Engages with policy and practice development internally, state-wide, and nationally. Actively engages with medical and administrative leadership to inform the development of the hospice and palliative care (SCM) programs. 

Research, Education, and Quality Improvement

· Identifies quality improvement issues and contributes to the continual development of quality systems and processes to support palliative care and hospice service delivery. 

· Critically appraises and applies relevant research to the development and promotion of evidence-based practice. 

· Identifies issues and undertakes audit/practice review in collaboration with pertinent interdisciplinary team members and leaders.

· Collaborates with clinical and professional leaders, manages, and researches to actively participate in professional activities and to develop local, state, and national policy. 

· Leads and contributes to clinical risk management, quality improvement, and best practice activities. 

· Participates in organization clinical governance and actively responds to patient, family, provider, and colleague feedback. 

· Provides submissions to appropriate professional conferences or peer-reviewed journals for presentation or publication.

Health and Safety

· Demonstrates an understanding of the responsibilities under the WI state licensure and professional code of conduct.

· Actively supports and complies with health and safety identified within Unity Hospice and SCM Policies. 

· Reports all identified hazards, incidents (including near-miss events), and accidents to the direct supervisor and other designated resources as appropriate. 

· Contributes to ensuring that a safe working environment is always maintained. 

· Participates in mandatory health and safety training as required.

Why Unity? Unity is dedicated to supporting your well-being, growth, and success with a range of valuable benefits!

Health: We provide comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, Health Savings Accounts, and flexible spending options for medical and dependent care. On-site health risk assessments and flu shots are also available to keep you and your family well.

Life: Unity values work-life balance, offering paid time off, extended illness and injury bank, bereavement leave, an Employee Assistance Program, and fitness membership reimbursement to support your personal needs and interests outside of work.

Security: For your financial peace of mind, Unity offers a 403(b) retirement savings plan, group life insurance, voluntary life insurance, as well as accident, critical illness, and disability insurance options.

Compensation: We reward your skills and commitment with competitive pay, overtime opportunities for hourly roles, and mileage reimbursement.

Career: Grow with Unity through internal and external learning opportunities, education assistance, and leadership development programs designed to support your professional journey.

All new employees are eligible for benefits on the first of the month following their date of hire. 

For a full list of benefits: https://unityhospice.org/careers

If you're a nurse practitioner looking to make an impact in a role where your expertise, compassion, and leadership are deeply valued - we would love to hear from you. Choose Unity as the place to grow your career, make a meaningful impact, and be valued every step of the way. Apply today!

Requirements

1. A master’s degree in nursing or equivalent (with prescribing authority) 

2. Minimum of 3 years of professional advanced practice nursing experience.

3. Advanced Practice Clinician shall maintain an unrestricted certification as a nurse practitioner in the State of Wisconsin. 

4. National board certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner.

5. A current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license is required and shall maintain registration with the DEA without any restrictions on prescribing; Eligibility within 90 days of hire.

6. A post-graduate qualification and/or certification in palliative care; eligibility within 1 year of hire preferred.

7. The role holder must be able to demonstrate achievement of the current competencies for the Nurse Practitioner scope of practice.

8. Valid Wisconsin Driver’s License, reliable transportation, and proof of current automobile insurance coverage.