The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner is licensed to provide care as Advanced Graduate Nurse Practitioner that is clinically trained to work with patients with Advanced Diseases such as Cardiac, Cancer, Pulmonary, Liver, Kidney and/or Neurological Diseases. The nurse practitioner will collaborate with the Medical Director, Palliative Team Members, and Community Physicians on the care of the patient. Palliative Care is typically done in a patient environment and will include caregivers.

1. Provides medical care, palliates and manages advanced illness in compliance with the state Nurse Practice Act under the supervision of a collaborating physician in a variety of settings.

• Reviews history & performs 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 documents the findings in the patient's medical record.
• Manages chronic and complex conditions through collaboration with the patient and their care team by developing an individualized plan of care, prescribing medications and / or treatments, obtaining consultations or making referrals and coordinating with other community care services.
• Educates patient and caregivers regarding medications, side effects, treatment, illness progression, diet and nutrition, medical adherence and crisis anticipation and prevention.
• Educate and provide assistance to patient and caregiver(s) in understanding and completing advanced directives based on the patient’s goals and wishes.
• Facilitate clarification of patient and caregiver goals of care to support development of a comprehensive care plan.
• Implements interventions to support the patient with chronic conditions to decrease the recurring hospitalizations. Monitors the effectiveness of interventions.
• Facilitates patient transitions between health care settings.

8. Assures that patient receives appropriate measures to control symptoms, through collaboration with interdisciplinary team members

9. Reviews and develops protocols for treatment and proposes options for interventions based on the literature in collaboration with the collaborating physician.

10. Consults the collaborating physician when the patient's plan of care is outside standardized practice and protocols.

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  Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing.
• Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program which conforms with the Board’s educational standards set forth in South Carolina.
• Current nursing licensure in State and CPR certification.
• Master's degree with a minimum of one (1) year Nurse Practitioner experience and/or a minimum of one (1) year hospice or palliative care experience.
• Accreditation from an approved certifying body for advanced practice nursing as required by State.

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

7. Able to perform duties autonomously, schedule and meet workload expectations. Provide leadership for the care team, to ensure that the patient’s care plan and interventions are met.

8. Identify and report to leadership immediately any concerns or issues, that places the team, patient or caregiver at risk.

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

10. 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.

11. Travel between care sites is mandatory. Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.