Come join this collaborative and innovative team.  At Integritus Healthcare (formerly Berkshire Healthcare) you will enjoy WEEKLY pay, generous time off, exceptional health insurance, and the ability to grow in your career.  Integritus Healthcare wants you!

Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care (formerly Hospice of Franklin County) is growing into the Greater Springfield area and looking for experienced candidates interested in becoming part of our growing team!  Our goal has always been to support and care for those living with life-limiting illnesses so they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.  

Salary Range - $52-68

We are committed to the core principles of hospice: to compassionately care for patients at end-of-life.  We support the patient and caregivers by addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and bereavement needs. We are dedicated to giving the very best care we have to offer to people wherever they are living – whether that be at home, in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or in the hospital.

Position Summary: The Nurse Practitioner (NP) at Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care (PVHPC) is responsible for serving as a representative of the organization, within their scope of practice, to support hospice patients and caregivers and provide clinical expertise to the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT).   The Nurse Practitioner travels throughout Franklin and Hampshire Counties providing Face-to-Face patient assessments to help determine ongoing patient eligibility for hospice services in collaboration with the hospice team.  

Essential Job Functions

Essential Job Functions

• Demonstrates understanding of the hospice and palliative care philosophy/principles and an ability to clearly articulate these with others.
• Performs Face-to-Face encounters with hospice patients within standard time frame to identify/monitor existing or potential health problems and gather findings to help determine continued eligibility for hospice care.
• Evaluates patients in assigned settings including, but not limited to, a patient’s home, nursing home, hospital, or assisted living facility.
• Participates in patient case review at weekly IDT meeting as appropriate.
• Completes timely documentation in accordance with medical guidelines.
• Assists the IDT to evaluate appropriate plan of care in collaboration with patient/family with goals and interventions that promote optimal patient outcomes while maintaining patient dignity, autonomy and comfort. Coordinates with other hospice and palliative care team members as appropriate.
• Collaborates with the hospice medical director keeping them informed of patient status through timely submission of documentation as appropriate.
• Recommends pain and symptom interventions as appropriate. Completes, maintains, and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding Face-to-Face assessment of patients’ condition and care in all settings.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills in person, writing, phone and computer. Provides exceptional customer service.
• Improves clinical outcomes by conducting research or applying research findings of others.
• Provides fiscally responsible care without compromising care and services.
• Manages multiple priorities and demonstrates effective problem solving and decision-making in a relatively broad range of situations.
• Represents the programs and services associated with PVHPC specifically to physicians, continuing care entities, community groups and presentations, and via professional meetings when needed.
• Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development. Maintains and improves professional knowledge and skills through continuing education and in-services.
• Collects, compiles, and documents performance improvement monitoring information according to established standards and time frames.
• Participates in the conception, development, and implementation of new procedures and programs within the hospice.
• Meets individual program expectations and goals as identified through performance appraisal, annual plan and by supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

(Minimum qualifications will be considered required unless specifically stated otherwise)

Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in health care.
• Experience in a hospice, homecare or Long Term Care preferred.
• Experience in acute care in an institutional setting preferred.
• Understands palliative care and hospice philosophy, and issues of death/dying.
• Familiar with and practices according to Massachusetts Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing in the Expanded Role CMR 244, 4.00-4.28

Education and Training:

(Acquired through formal education, outside study, training on jobs of lesser degree, or by any combination of these. May be expressed in terms of formal educational equivalents): 

• Registered Nurse, and MS in nursing required

License, Certification & Registration:

• Possesses and maintains current CPR Certification.
• Current Massachusetts licensure: Registered Nurse, certified as an Adult or Family Nurse Practitioner
• Valid driver’s license
• Advanced certification in Palliative Care preferred

Other Requirements:

• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication, and organization skills.
• Strong observation skills and problem-solving skills.

Working Conditions:

• Uniform / Dress Requirements (see policy). Workspace primarily in the Greenfield office, which is a busy, professional office with a moderate level of noise, activity and interaction with others. The majority of time is spent on visits to patient care facilities or patient/family homes where space, climate, facilities and conditions may vary.
• May be exposed to extremes of heat and cold in all weather conditions. Must drive in various weather conditions on roads in varying repair.
• Occasional evening and weekend assignments with prior notice (presentations, events)
• May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases. Contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstances. May be exposed to /occasionally exposed to patient elements. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations. Handles emergency or crisis situations. Travel required. OSHA exposure category:
• OSHA exposure category: Category I
• Category I: Position includes tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, and tissues.
• Category II: Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues, but employment may require unplanned Category I tasks.
• Category III: Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues; would not be required to perform Category I tasks.