The Palliative Medicine Advanced Practice Provider is part of a multidisciplinary team that focuses on improving the quality of life of people with serious, life limiting illnesses through symptom management, support, and shared medical decision making. Along with Physicians, Palliative Care Nurses, Social Workers and Chaplains, the APPs help manage patients with high symptom burden, poor quality of life, psychosocial distress, and/or complex advanced care planning needs in both the outpatient clinic and the inpatient setting.

The Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant has advanced health assessment and decision-making skills, prepared through a formal educational program that meets criteria established by the profession.  Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants are certified by examination of an approved certifying body.

This individual works in collaboration with physicians and other health care professionals to provide health care across the continuum of care for assigned patients.  Provides primary health care and/or specialty-specific care to individuals and families.  The provision of care includes, but is not limited to: comprehensive assessment, ordering, conducting and interpreting diagnostic tests, prescription of pharmacological agents and treatments, and non-pharmacological therapies.  Nurse Practitioners: Teaching and counseling individuals, families, and groups are an important part of the Nurse Practitioner's practice.  Physician Assistants: Monitors the effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions.  Makes appropriate referrals.  Performs minor procedures as approved by the AZ Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants. 

This individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span. The ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and appropriately interpret information relative to the patient's age-specific needs is required.  The Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant demonstrates leadership through involvement on committees and team projects, education, and research and actively seeks to improve the practice through performance improvement initiatives.  Active in professional organizations and participates in community activities. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing: Scope and Standards of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing, the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, Rules of the Arizona State Board of Nursing are the basis for practice.

Nurse Practitioner (Acute Care, Primary Care, Family, Adult):

• Must be a graduate of an accredited university.
• Master of Science in Nursing required.
• Must be licensed or eligible to practice as an CNP in the State of Arizona. Must have national certification.

Physician Assistant:

• Must be a graduate of an accredited university.
• NCCPA certification required.
• Must be licensed/certified or eligible to practice as PA in the State of Arizona.

Additional Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal, written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Flexibility to adjust schedule to meet patient and staff needs.
• Ability to manage time and stress effectively and adapt to unpredictable situations within the patient care setting.
• Two to five years of clinical experience preferred.
• Primary care, acute care, and/or surgical experience preferred.
• Strong computer skills in an Electronic Medical Record preferred.

License or Certification:

• Must have Arizona licensure as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant under the supervision of a Mayo Clinic physician upon hire.
• Maintains prescribing and dispensing privileges in Arizona.
• Must provide evidence of application for DEA certificate upon hire, obtain DEA certificate within 90 days of hire, and maintain certificate thereafter unless waived by department/division.
• Basic Life Support certification is required upon hire and must be valid for 90 days or greater from start date. Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) competency.