For over 45 years Pathways has been a Bay Area pioneer, leader, and innovator in Hospice, Home Health and Palliative Care. We provide care at home or in settings such as assisted living, a nursing home, or the hospital. We have offices in Sunnyvale, South San Francisco, and Oakland. Patients and their families know us for our personalized, high-quality care, delivered with empathy, kindness, and respect.

Title: Hospice and Palliative Nurse Practitioner
Schedule: Monday - Friday 
Hours: 8:30am-5pm 
Territory: Santa Clara County

The posted compensation range of $60.96 - $83.79/Hour is a reasonable estimate that extends from the lowest to the highest pay Pathways Home Health & Hospice in good faith believes it might pay for this particular job, based on the circumstances at the time of posting. Pathways Home Health & Hospice may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range as permitted by law.

Position Summary: 
In coordination and collaboration with the assigned Director of Hospice and Hospice Medical Director, is responsible for the evaluation of appropriateness of on-going hospice care to identified patients. Coordinates care with other members of the hospice care team to assure appropriate plan of care and recertification documentation. Serve as a consultant to the Palliative Care team patients for appropriate transition to hospice care. This person is an adjunct to the Hospice Medical Director and serves as a resource and consultant.

Areas of Responsibility:

• Provides assessment of select patients to determine appropriateness for home health or hospice.
• Coordinates and communicates with the Hospice Physicians to assure that ongoing appropriateness for Hospice program participation is documented and certified.
• Provides consultative services to Case Managers regarding patients with chronic conditions and/or symptom management issues. 
• Assists select patients and Case Managers with creating a smooth transition to Hospice services.
• Document observations, clinical findings and problems, skilled interventions and response, goals, plans and submits according to policy.
• Admits patients to service: assessing patient’s physical, mental and social status and eligibility for hospice services according to hospice admission criteria
• Assures that all applicable services ordered are explained and offered; obtains physician orders for services, equipment, medication as needed
• Assesses need for and coordinates services of and with all other IDG members, including Physician, Social Worker, Home Health Aide, Dietician, Volunteer, Spiritual Care, or therapy services (PT, OT, ST).
• Assists in the Performance of supervisory visits to the nursing staff and communicates findings to appropriate Nursing Manager.
• Assures that Plan of Care changes are documented as indicated.
• Assesses need for care beyond current certification period, obtains required orders and completes required documentation.
• Completes required discharge procedures and documentation.
• Participates in multiple Hospice interdisciplinary team conference including the Palliative Care Team if needed. 
• Maintains and updates level of knowledge and skills required to provide quality hospice nursing care
• Assists in development of hospice and palliative care protocols, procedures and policies as requested
• Participates in QA / PI activities and in-service education related to areas of practice as appropriate.
• Follows established standards for point of service technology, documentation and synchronization. 
• Uses agency provided telecommunication devices (i.e. cell phone, voicemail, tablet) according to established guidelines.
• Submits weekly visit schedule of assigned patients. 
• Submits all documentation according to agency requirements.
• Meets established productivity standards.
• Demonstrates established clinical competencies.
• Assists in development of agency protocols, procedures and policies as requested.
• Assesses, develops, organizes and delivers teaching materials for assigned home care patients as appropriate.
• Participates in the development of protocols or critical paths for patients on the Palliative Care Team and other chronic care programs.  Evaluates areas in which Hospice should be considered for inclusion in disease management protocols and outcomes.
• Performs other duties as assigned consistent with skills and training and the mission and goals of Pathways.

Qualifications:

• Nurse Practitioner with certification in palliative care preferred.
• Demonstrated program development and teaching skills preferred.
• Minimum of one-year experience as a professional nurse within the last three years or a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing.
• Must be highly motivated, self directed, flexible, and able to work well and participate in a multidisciplinary team setting.
• Meets competencies per Pathways guidelines.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional nursing experience.
• Demonstrates willingness and ability to work with electronic input and telecommunication devices.
• Current California driver's license and automobile insurance with coverage meeting the agency required limits.
• Current CPR Certificate.