Palliative Care Program Practitioner

Central to all that California has to offer, Adventist Health Bakersfield has been providing an extraordinary team of world-class physicians, top-notch medical technology, caring professionals and award-winning quality since 1910. We are comprised of a 254-bed acute care hospital and 20 primary and specialty care medical offices. As one of America's fastest growing cities, Bakersfield offers affordable housing on the West Coast, beautiful weather, high-quality education and it is just a few hours away from Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, the Central California Coast and Southern California's great sports, theaters, concerts and amusement parks.

Job Summary:

Coordinates the Palliative Care Program and supervises the team, ensuring excellent patient care services, coordinating educational and outreach services, leading quality improvement initiatives, and linking team efforts with other hospital departments and community services.

Job Requirements:

Education and Work Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) or equivalent: Required
• Master's Degree: Preferred
• Five years' direct patient care: Required
• Three years' experience in Palliative Care, Hospice or end-of-life care or equivalent combination of critical care and end-of-life care experience: Required
• Care of patients with complex, chronic and/or life-threatening conditions and those at end of life; clinical nursing care in oncology, hospice or intensive care: Preferred

Licenses/Certifications:

• Nurse Practitioner (NP) licensure in state of practice: Required
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS OR HS-BLS OR RQIBLS) certification: Required
• Certified ELNEC and Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse: Preferred
• Certified Bereavement Facilitator: Preferred

Essential Functions:

• Coordinates the interdisciplinary Palliative Care Services (PCS) Program and provides direct patient care and related assistance to the patient and family through the Palliative Care consult services. Oversees the work of team members including team development, mentoring, and skill building.
• Participates in the development and implementation of appropriate measures of patient care quality and satisfaction. Develops and updates appropriate clinical protocols and processes that support referral and consistent care. Coordinates and conducts regular team meetings to review current patient cases, and to review Palliative Care clinical and operational outcomes.
• Collaborates with the Medical Director to ensure appropriate communication between the Palliative Care Service and referring physicians and that patient status reports and documentation are timely, accurate and consistent. Conducts initial chart review and patient and family assessments, conducts interviews with the nursing staff and primary physician to explore goals of care, contacts the other PCS Team members (physician; social worker; chaplain) and collaborates and assists Case Management with the discharge plan.
• Provides or coordinates Palliative Care education and training for physician, nursing and other health care staff, and the community. Coordinates outreach to community agencies and health care settings (such as hospices, skilled nursing facilities) as appropriate. Works closely with the hospital leadership to enhance PCS outreach to physicians, the public, healthcare facilities and other appropriate organizations in the community. Develops and delivers appropriate educational initiatives within the hospital and appropriate community settings.
• Utilizes staff resources as appropriate to patient care needs and service activity. Participates with nursing, pharmacy, and other leaders to identify quality or cost improvement opportunities. Participates in work teams, and in developing and implementing care pathways that support complex patient care throughout the system.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Organizational Requirements:

Adventist Health is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our associates and patients. Therefore, we require that all associates receive all required vaccinations as a condition of employment and annually thereafter, where applicable. Medical and religious exemptions may apply.

Adventist Health participates in E-Verify. Visit https://adventisthealth.org/careers/everify/ for more information about E-Verify. By choosing to apply, you acknowledge that you have accessed and read the E-Verify Participation and Right to Work notices and understand the contents therein.

Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit, integrated health system serving more than 100 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii with over 440 sites of care, including 27 acute care facilities. Founded on Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides care in hospitals, clinics, home care, and hospice agencies in both rural and urban communities. Our compassionate and talented team of more than 38,000 includes employees, physicians, Medical Staff, and volunteers driven in pursuit of one mission: living God's love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope.