Overview:
The Nurse Practitioner will serve in a dual Hospice and Palliative Care role. In this position, they will provide comprehensive, patient-centered care across the continuum of serious illness, supporting patients in both palliative and hospice settings. The role includes a blend of hospice and palliative responsibilities with flexibility based on patient census and program needs.
The Nurse Practitioner will deliver advanced clinical care, perform patient management visits and hospice Face-to-Face (F2F) encounters for eligibility certification and recertification, and partner closely with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality, compliant, and compassionate care. This role blends autonomy with collaboration, allowing you to guide patients and families through complex medical decision-making, symptom management, and end-of-life care.
Essential Functions:
Essential Functions of Position
Clinical Management
- Complete all visit types for patients on services, including Medicare-required hospice Face-to-Face (F2F) visits within CMS established regulatory timeframes, History & Physical/Initial Comprehensive visits, Problem-focused Symptom Management visits, Admission visits, Goals of Care discussions, and routine follow up visits.
- Collaborate with Hospice and Palliative Medical Directors and interdisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.
- Collaborate with Primary Care Provider (PCP)/Attending Provider and specialists (if applicable) to coordinate patient Plan of Care
- Perform in-depth patient assessments, including physical, emotional, functional, and psychosocial evaluations.
- Support individualized care plans in partnership with the patients, families, caregivers, and IDG/IDT.
- Assist with and/or manage all aspects of patient care including diagnosis, acute and chronic symptoms, treatment, medication management, assessments, longitudinal serious illness support, quality-of-life optimization, and consultations, while reducing avoidable or unnecessary acute care utilization.
- Prescribe medications and treatments, including controlled substances, as permitted by state law and federal regulation and within defined parameters of Independent Practice or a Collaborative Practice Agreement.
- Order and interpret laboratory and other diagnostic tests within the state defined scope of practice and Collaborative Practice Agreement.
- Facilitate goals-of-care discussions, advance care planning, and level of care transitions when appropriate.
- Coordinate care across settings, including home, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living.
- Initiate referrals to supportive services and community resources as needed.
- Utilize Local Coverage Determination (LCD) criteria to support hospice eligibility and recertification.
- Document clinical findings accurately and attest F2F encounters in the medical record in compliance with regulatory standards.
- Communicate findings, treatment plans, diagnostics, and medication reviews with IDG/IDT.
- Provide clinical recommendations to the interdisciplinary group (IDG) based on assessment findings.
- Ensure alignment with Medicare, Medicaid, and accrediting body requirements (e.g., ACHC).
- Notify appropriate team members promptly of any barriers to completing scheduled visits.
- Provide patient care and visit coverage across multiple provider numbers, as needed and approved.
- Maintain comprehensive0 knowledge in the field of hospice and palliative care.
Collaboration & Communication
- Partner effectively with physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other IDG/IDT members.
- Communicate clearly and compassionately with patients, caregivers, and families.
- Support patients and families through serious illness and end-of-life transitions with empathy and clinical expertise.
- Participate in on-call rotation as needed.
Documentation & Compliance
- Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation.
- Adhere to all federal, state, and organizational regulations, including OSHA and hospice Conditions of Participation.
- Demonstrate understanding of hospice eligibility, documentation standards, and Part B billing practices (as applicable).
About You:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Education/Experience:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or higher from an accredited program.
- Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program.
- Minimum of two years of Nurse Practitioner experience preferred.
- Experience in hospice, palliative care, oncology, geriatrics, family/adult medicine, home health, or acute care preferred.
- Experience with Part B billing preferred.
Licenses, Certifications and/or Registration:
- Current RN license and Nurse Practitioner license/certification in state of practice.
- National NP certification (ANCC or AANP).
- Collaborative Practice Agreement with supervising internal physician or Proof of Independent Practice Authority in accordance with state regulations.
- Controlled Substance Agreement, if applicable.
- DEA registration and prescriptive authority in accordance with state regulations.
- Current CPR certification.
- ACHPN certification preferred.
- Valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
Specialized Knowledge and Skills:
- Strong clinical assessment and critical thinking skills across palliative and hospice populations.
- In-depth understanding of palliative care principles, hospice philosophy, home health eligibility, and end-of-life care.
- Working knowledge of LCD criteria, Medicare/Medicaid regulations, coding/billing, and documentation requirements.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Knowledgeable of Hospice & Palliative Quality Measures collection, documentation, reporting, and the QAPI process.
- Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and sensitive to the needs of patients and families.
- Proficient in point-of-care technology and electronic medical records.
- Willingness and ability to maintain productivity and documentation standards in alignment with organizational expectations.
Personal Traits, Qualities and Aptitudes:
- Sensitivity to the impact of life and death issues faced by individuals with terminal illness; tact in dealing with these patients and their families.
- Ability to support others at a time of crisis.
- Must demonstrate flexibility by performing various tasks, often changing from one to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
- Communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
- Demonstrate maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact when dealing with co-workers and all members of the hospice team.
- Is compliant with OSHA, State Board of Nursing and Federal Regulations related to Hospice Conditions of Participation.
We Offer:
Benefits for All Associates (Full-Time, Part-Time & Per Diem):
- Competitive Pay
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Career Advancement Opportunities
- National & Local Recognition Programs
- Teammate Assistance Fund
Additional Full-Time Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Mileage Reimbursement or Fleet Vehicle Program
- Generous Paid Time Off + 7 Paid Holidays
- Wellness Programs (Telemedicine, Diabetes Management, Joint & Spine Concierge Care)
- Education Support & Tuition Assistance (ASN to BSN, BSN to MSN)
- Free Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
- Company-paid Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Voluntary Benefits (Pet, Critical Illness, Accident, LTC)
Join our hospice team
Play a vital role in delivering compassionate, compliant care that honors patients’ dignity and supports families during challenging times.
Legalese:
- This is a safety-sensitive position
- Employee must meet minimum requirements to be eligible for benefits
- Where applicable, employee must meet state specific requirements
- We are proud to be an EEO employer
- We maintain a drug-free workplace
Location: Heartland Hospice Our Company:
At Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, it is our privilege to offer compassionate care in the comfort of wherever our patients call home. We are a national leader in hospice care, palliative care, home health care, and advanced illness management, with nearly 600 locations and thousands of dedicated clinicians across 38 states.
Our place is by the side of those who need us – from helping people recover from illness, injury, or surgery in the comfort of their homes to guiding patients and their families through the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects of a serious illness or terminal diagnosis.
Our nationwide reach is powered by a family of trusted brands that include:
- Hospice care: Gentiva Hospice, Emerald Coast Hospice Care, Heartland Hospice, Hospice Plus, New Century Hospice, Regency SouthernCare, SouthernCare Hospice Services, SouthernCare New Beacon
- Palliative care: Empatia Palliative Care, Emerald Coast Palliative Care
- Home health care: Heartland Home Health
- Advanced illness management: Illumia Health
With corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and providers delivering care across the U.S., we are proud to offer rewarding careers in a collaborative environment where inspiring achievements are recognized – and kindness is celebrated.
