Nurse Practitioner - Per Diem

Hospice of San Joaquin is the oldest not-for-profit hospice of 40 years.  We serve all of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.  We are committed to continuing to be the leader in ensuring the quality of the journey, from a serious illness to the end of life, and to honor our mission by honoring life by ensuring patients and their Caregivers are the focus of everything we do.  We are seeking a Dynamic, self-motivated Nurse Practitioner - who thrives in a fast-paced environment and to support our mission.  This is a Per Diem position reporting to the Chief Clinical Officer (CCO).

POSITION PURPOSE/SUMMARY: The Nurse Practitioner is a registered professional nurse with advanced graduate education and clinical training who provides comprehensive hospice and palliative care services in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act and under the supervision of a Hospice of San Joaquin physician/Pacific Palliative Care physician.  She/he provides hospice care & palliative care through the evaluation and assessment of the health history, health promotion, diagnosis of medical conditions, management of health problems by directing and developing the plan of care, prescribing medications or treatments, coordinating and collaborating with patients, families, and other healthcare practitioners. Under the supervision of a physician, the nurse practitioner visits patients, completes physical assessments, performs face-to-face assessments, and evaluates hospice eligibility as assigned in consultation with the hospice & Palliative Care interdisciplinary team.  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES
 

Patient Care

1. Provides medical care, palliates, and manages terminal illness in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act under the supervision of a collaborating physician.
2. Completes history and physical examinations by evaluating the patient's medical condition and health history, ordering and interpreting results from laboratory and diagnostic tests or procedures, diagnosing health conditions, and documenting the findings in the patient's medical record.
3. Manages health conditions and terminal illnesses by developing an individualized plan of care, prescribing medications and / or treatments, obtaining consultations or making referrals, and coordinating hospice/palliative care services.
4. Completes the hospice face-to-face visit requirements before the third and subsequent hospice benefit periods to assess hospice eligibility based on the hospice conditions of participation and the local coverage determinations. Provides clinical information to the hospice medical director for interpretation for eligibility for hospice recertification.
5. Make recommendations to the hospice medical director regarding patient eligibility for certification and recertification for hospice care.
6. Reviews clinical information, and coordinates and oversees patient care in consultation with the hospice/palliative interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners.
7. Assures that patient receives appropriate measures to control symptoms, through collaboration with interdisciplinary team members.
8. Review and develop protocols for treatment and proposes options for interventions based on the literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician.
9. Consult the collaborating physician when the patient's plan of care is outside standardized practice and protocols. 

Communication

1. Communicate and collaborates with the interdisciplinary group to create, review, and revise the patient's plan of care.
2. Consult with the patient's attending physician, the hospice medical director/Pacific Palliative Care physician, and other healthcare practitioners regarding the patient's eligibility for hospice care, ongoing care needs, and medical management related to the patient's terminal condition.
3. Communicate with other community health practitioners to coordinate the plan of care.
4. Attends and participates in hospice/palliative care interdisciplinary group meetings.
5. Completes, maintains, and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes, physical examination notes, assessment visit notes, medical orders, collaboration notes, and other documentation in the medical record.
6. Educates/counsels patients, families, and/or caregivers as to preventative care, medical problems, psychological problems, and spiritual problems in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team to meet the total needs of patients.
7. Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
8. Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
9. Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice/palliative care interdisciplinary group to identify the goals of care and meet the care needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
10. Serves as a nursing resource for consultation and education to members of the interdisciplinary team and other healthcare practitioners in the community.
11. Establishes, builds, and nurtures relationships with staff and community referral sources to facilitate program growth. 

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing.
2. Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program that conforms with the Board’s educational standards set forth in the California Code of Regulations Section 1484 or certification by a national organization/association whose standards are equivalent to those set forth in the California Code of Regulations Section 1484 or a registered nurse who has not completed a nurse practitioner program of study which meets the Board of Registered Nursing’s educational standards as specified in the California Code of Regulations Section 1484.
3.  Current nursing licensure in the State of California and CPR certification.

4.  Have DEA and California PDMP Registration

5.  Master's degree with a minimum of one (1) year of Nurse Practitioner experience and a minimum of one (1) year of hospice or palliative care experience.
6. Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured by state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order.

7.  Has excellent observation and verbal and written communication skills.

8. Accreditation from an approved certifying body for advanced practice nursing as required by the State.

9. Certification in a specialist area preferred; (e.g. Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN), Pediatrics, or Geriatrics)

10.  Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skill, problem solving skills, mathematical skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.

11.  Prolonged or considerable walking or standing. Able to lift, position and / or transfer patients. Able to lift supplies and equipment. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling and/or crouching. Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.

12. CPR Training

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Physically able to walk, stand, stoop, sit and lift.
2. Good manual dexterity.
3. Visual / hearing ability sufficient to comprehend written / verbal information.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
1. Health Screening
2. TB Screening
3. Hepatitis B Series offered
4. Background Check
5. Reference Check
6. Immunizations including a record of receiving COVID-19 vaccination and booster
7. Drug Screening

We offer a great benefits package to our staff such as:

• Competitive hospice industry compensation
• Benefits package with multiple plan offerings and generous employer contribution (100% paid for employee only by HSJ)
• 401(k) Retirement plan with generous employer match
• AFLAC insurance plans
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Fitness Center membership discount
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Supportive work culture which encourages work-life balance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Monthly mileage reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program

If you are interested in being part of a dynamic team and helping us continue to be the leader in ensuring the quality of the journey, from a serious illness to the end of life, and to honor our mission by honoring life by ensuring patients and their Caregivers are the focus of everything we do, we encourage you to apply.  To learn more about Hospice of San Joaquin, please visit our website at:  www.hospiceofsanjoaquin.org