Nurse Practitioner-Sherman

Nurse Practitioner The Nurse Practitioner (NP) assists in overseeing the clinical care and treatment to patients and families in consultation with the hospice medical director and/or attending physician. The NP will also provide clinical direction to the Interdisciplinary Team to assure quality care. All care provided by NP is consistent with the philosophy, policies and processes of Home Hospice and in accordance with federal and state statutes and the Medicare Conditions of Participation. Reports to: Executive Director, Clinical Director Principal Requirements 1. Graduate of an accredited advanced nursing (NP) program. 2. Current unrestricted Texas state license to practice as a Registered Nurse and as an Advanced Practice Nurse. 3. A minimum of two years of nursing experience; hospice or home health experience preferred 4. Physically able to perform duties 5. Current CPR certification or willingness and ability to obtain certification 6. Current driver's license, reliable transportation, and current/valid automobile liability insurance 7. Current PPD or chest x-ray negative for tuberculosis, or proof of tuberculosis treatment with documentation of current noninfectious status 8. Willingness to undergo and ability to pass drug screen by urine or blood sample per agency policy 9. Ability and willingness to adhere to all applicable Home Hospice policies and regulatory requirements 10. Ability to adhere to the Mission and Vision Statement of Home Hospice of Grayson County Competency Requirements 1. Comprehensive knowledge of general nursing theory and practice as conditioned by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners 2. Basic nursing assessment skills and critical thinking skills adequate to establish priorities in the planning and provision of care 3. Proficiency in medication administration and phlebotomy 4. Time management skills adequate to meet responsibilities in patient care, medical record documentation, IDT activities, HHA supervision, LVN supervision, staff meetings and other meetings as requested or required 5. Knowledge of disease processes and expected changes to health status of patients due to disease progression 6. Working knowledge of the dying process and the stages of grief 7. Desire and ability to expand practice through continuing education to include, but not limited to, all aspects of end of life care 8. Ability to effectively communicate in English, both verbally and in writing, both in person and by telephone 9. Ability to maintain interpersonal boundaries and establish therapeutic relationships with patients and families from a variety of cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds 10. Basic computer knowledge Physical Requirements 1. Ability to walk, climb stairways of varying degrees, bend, reach, kneel and twist 2. Ability to lift, carry, push and pull greater than 50 pounds, repeatedly 3. Visual acuity sufficient to note changes in patient condition and read medical instruments 4. Hearing acuity sufficient for basic nursing assessment and communication with patients and caregivers 5. Ability to function in a normal office environment 6. Ability to drive within a 60-mile radius of the Home Hospice office in daylight, dusk and nightlight Duties and Responsibilities 1. Conducts Face-to-Face visits to assess patients need for hospice eligibility and on-going hospice eligibility 2. Completes required documentation to support eligibility and to meet regulatory requirements for communication of findings to Hospice Medical Director 3. Interacts ith attending and consulting physicians as necessary regarding palliative care, in collaboration with hospice medical director 4. Communicates to RN Case Manager any patient needs requiring medical intervention. 5. Serves as the attending physician upon patient request 6. Provides basic and palliative nursing assessment and care to patients and caregivers according to professional standards and the interdisciplinary plan of care 7. Collaborates with patients, caregivers, physicians and the IDT to plan and provide optimum care 8. Utilizes appropriate pain and symptom management techniques and educate patients and caregivers in pain and symptom management to optimize patient comfort 9. Reviews and develops protocols for treatment, and proposes options for interventions based on the literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician 10. Teaches and demonstrates care to be provided by patients, caregivers, H