Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant, Palliative Care - HealthAlliance Hospital

I. Major Responsibilities:
1. Provides diagnostic and assessment services. Secures a health history from patient and/or family, records findings, and evaluates them. Performs a complete in-depth physical examination. Orders/performs pertinent diagnostic tests based on age and history.
2. Analyzes data collected to determine health status and identify differential diagnoses based on history, physical exam, and clinical findings.
3. Collaborates with physicians regarding proposed plan of care. Formulates this plan of care with the patient.
4. Manages therapeutic regime as outlined by established protocols for patients with acute illnesses. (Protocols are guidelines concerning patient care that are established between the physician and nurse practitioner. The guidelines outline subjective and objective findings, treatment plan and follow-up). Reassesses and modifies plan as necessary to achieve medical and health goals. Confers with physician for clinical direction as outlined by protocols.
5. Documents patient care outcomes to determine effectiveness of plan of care. Communicates outcomes with physician.
6. Prescribes medications from Schedules II-VI. The form of prescription may be written or verbal via telephone order. Written prescriptions may be initiated by the nurse practitioner after obtaining proper registration numbers from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Drug Enforcement Agency.
7. Provides patient education. Acts as coordinator for admitting and discharging assigned patients. Works collaboratively with other health agencies and families of patients in the transition from admission to discharge. Confers with other health care providers including consultations and referrals to prepare a comprehensive patient care plan.
8. Within established protocols, under the supervision of the physician, nurse practitioners will assist with procedures in the operating room and with endoscopic procedures.
9. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meeting and workshops.

II. Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education:
Required:
1. MSN degree with current Massachusetts license registration required.
2. Graduate of approved Nurse Practitioner program with certification.

Experience/Skills:
Required:
1. 3-5 years of experience.

Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

Department-specific competencies and their measurements will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.