Nurse Practitioner - Palliative Care

Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) is seeking a full-time palliative care nurse practitioner to join the Lower Columbia Hospice caregiver team.

The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) serves as a professional and qualified provider with the responsibility to practice in accordance with the Oregon State Board of Nursing, and all guidelines of applicable professional and accreditation agencies. The NP is responsible to work in collaboration with patients, their families and other caregivers, the patient's primary care physician, and other specialists as appropriate, in an active practice to deliver medical management of symptoms related to advanced illness. The work environment will include time seeing patients in their home. The Practitioner functions in a manner which maintains the confidentiality and privacy of each patient, promotes a positive relationship with all health team members and supports the policies and procedures of the Columbia Memorial Hospital and Medical Group.

Essential Functions

1. Coordinates care with the attending provider, eliciting pertinent history details and disease status.
2. Arranges support services as needed by collaborating with the Palliative Care Social Worker.
3. Contacts attending physician to discuss emergent situations and plans as appropriate.
4. Recognizes and manages unusual or unexpected changes in condition and contacts attending physician as appropriate.
5. Discusses risks/benefits when prescribing medications or treatments.
6. Respects patient diversity in beliefs and health care concerns.
7. Participates in ongoing education in hospice and palliative care.
8. Records all patient visits including lab results, medication changes, current plan of care, return visits and new problems in the patient's electronic health record (EHR).
9. Utilizes the electronic record to document all patient interactions and treatment plans.
10. Assumes on-call duties from time to time as needed in assistance of the Hospice Medical Director.
11. Provides overflow assistance for the Hospice team as needed.

Knowledge of/Skill/Ability to:

• Organizational problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to exercise sound clinical judgment.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical practice.
• Maintain a broad base of technical knowledge and skills to perform all assigned clinical/administrative duties.
• Knowledge of palliative care and hospice regulations, clinical practice, end of life care services, and advance care planning.
• Demonstrate excellent teaching skills to explain medical information to the patient and family.
• Must be able to coordinate and communicate effectively with colleagues, managers, and other medical staff.
• Develop a plan of care that is individual to each patient and ensure that the primary care physician and applicable specialists receive regular updates.

License / Certification:

• Certified as a Geriatric, Family, or Adult Nurse Practitioner licensed in the State of Oregon.
• State of Oregon Prescriptive privileges required
• ACLS/BLS through American Heart Association required.
• Advanced Certification in Hospice and Palliative Nursing (ACHPN) is preferred.

Education and/or Experience:

• Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice from an accredited program.
• Experience with palliative care is strongly preferred.
• Experience with hospice desired.

This employed position has a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

ELIGIBLE FOR CMH EMPLOYEE REFERRAL BONUS: PRIORITY RECRUITMENT