Family Practice Center, PC has a Full-Time Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner position now available at our office located in our Harrisburg Office.
The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner provides comprehensive, patient-centered palliative care to adults with serious or life-limiting illness. The NP will travel to patients' homes, including private residences and assisted living or independent living communities, to manage symptoms, support complex decision-making, facilitate goals-of-care conversations, and coordinate care with primary care providers, specialists, hospice agencies, and families. The role is both clinical and developmental: the NP will help shape workflows, referral pathways, and community partnerships as the program grows.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Care
- Conduct comprehensive in-home palliative assessments, including physical, functional, cognitive, psychosocial, and spiritual needs
- Manage pain and non-pain symptoms (e.g., dyspnea, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, depression, delirium, constipation), including opioid and non-opioid pharmacologic management
- Lead advance care planning and goals-of-care discussions, and complete documentation such as POLST, advance directives, and code status orders
- Provide prognostic guidance and help patients and families understand disease trajectory and treatment options
- Assess hospice eligibility and facilitate timely, compassionate hospice transitions
- Provide education and emotional support to patients, caregivers, and families, including bereavement support
- Perform telehealth follow-up visits when clinically appropriate
Care Coordination
- Collaborate closely with PCPs, specialists, nurses, social workers, and care coordinators within the practice
- Communicate with hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospice providers, and community resources
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and care conferences
- Ensure smooth transitions of care following hospitalization or changes in condition
Program Development & Community Engagement
- Take ownership in managing the program schedules, and assistant in future development in collaboration with leadership and Medical Director
- Help develop clinical protocols, referral criteria, and documentation standards for the palliative program
- Build relationships with referring providers, facilities, and community organizations
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives and track program outcomes
- Provide education to practice staff on palliative care principles
Documentation & Compliance
- Complete timely, accurate documentation in the EHR, including mobile documentation during or after home visits
- Comply with billing, coding, and regulatory requirements for palliative and home-based care (including E/M, advance care planning, and prolonged service codes as applicable)
- Adhere to practice policies, HIPAA, and Pennsylvania regulations
Qualifications:
Required
- Master's or Doctoral degree from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program
- Active, unrestricted Pennsylvania RN license and CRNP licensure
- National NP certification (AGPCNP, FNP, AGACNP, or equivalent)
- Current DEA registration and PA controlled substance prescriptive authority (or ability to obtain prior to start)
- Minimum [2-3] years of NP or advanced clinical experience with adults, preferably in primary care, geriatrics, oncology, hospice, or palliative care
- Comfort with autonomous decision-making and independent, in-home practice
- Valid driver's license, reliable vehicle, and current auto insurance
- Ability to travel throughout the Harrisburg region and surrounding counties [e.g., Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lebanon, York]
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to navigate sensitive conversations with empathy
Preferred
- Palliative care certification (ACHPN) or willingness to obtain within [12-24] months
- Experience with home-based primary care, house calls, or hospice
- Training in serious illness communication
- Familiarity with Medicare and Medicare Advantage billing for palliative and home-based services
- Experience building or launching new clinical programs
Working Conditions & Physical Requirements
- Approximately [70-80%] of time spent traveling to and conducting visits in patient homes and community residential settings
- Exposure to varied home environments, including pets, smoking, and limited space
- Ability to lift, bend, kneel, and assist with light patient positioning as needed
- Ability to carry a mobile medical bag and equipment
- Occasional flexibility for urgent patient needs
- Emotional resilience in a role that regularly involves serious illness and end-of-life care
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary of $120,000-$140,000, based on experience and qualifications
- Quality/productivity incentive, e.g., up to 5-10% of base
- Sign-on bonus or relocation assistance for discussion
- Mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate, plus a provided [laptop, tablet, mobile phone, hotspot]
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with employer match
- Paid time off and holidays: 3 weeks of vacation and 1 week of CME
- CME allowance and paid time for conferences, with support for ACHPN exam and preparation costs
- Malpractice insurance with tail coverage
- Physician collaboration agreement and clinical support, with a culture of mentorship and shared decision-making
- Reasonable visit volume that allows time for meaningful patient and family conversations
- The chance to shape a new program within a stable, locally owned practice
