Title: Nurse Practitioner/Advance Practice Registered Nurse
Supervisor(s): Supervising physician/Chief Medical Officer
Department: Carevide Cooper Clinic
FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Summary
The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice nurse who performs a variety of direct patient services including assessment, diagnosis, implementation of treatment, evaluation, and monitors the general patient management plan for Center patients. The NP is responsible for delivery of quality medical care to the patients of the Center and functions as a member of a multi-disciplinary health care team within the scope of his or her medical practice. The NP performs these functions under the general supervision of a licensed physician in a primary health care setting.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
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Provide direct clinical services and management of patients as defined in the standing orders, policies, procedures and protocols for the nurse practitioner.
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The NP will act as a member of the care team and work in collaboration with other health team members and is responsible for assisting in the promotion of the health and well-being of a panel of patients.
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Obtain patient health histories and complete physical examinations. Document findings, noting pertinent normal and abnormal findings.
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Order and interpret appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests.
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Explain the necessity, preparation, nature and anticipated effects of procedure(s) to patient, family and staff.
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Perform approved therapeutic procedures based upon patient’s clinical status. Document patient preparation and response to procedure(s).
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Collaborate with physician and nursing colleagues and document in medical records and appropriate narrative summaries.
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Utilize prescriptive privileges as allowed by the Texas Board of Nursing. Document all prescriptions in patient’s medical record.
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Assess patient for change in status and institute appropriate interventions.
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Initiate necessary emergency interventions to stabilize patient.
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Maintain clinical expertise and competency (to include age specific competency) as well as demonstrate thorough knowledge of procedures to deliver quality primary health care.
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Provide clinic sessions, as scheduled, in direct patient care at Center site, including extended hours clinics if applicable.
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Provide an average of 12 primary care encounters per half-day session (4 hours) and provides services equaling to at least forty (40) hours per week in Center in addition to weekly telephone on-call coverage as determined by the Chief Medical Officer and as part of a shared call rotation between Center providers.
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Review all lab and x-ray reports for patients under his/her care on a timely basis and makes medical management decisions appropriately. Follows appropriate standards of care for each patient.
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Participate in specified health promotion, education and/or prevention programs as needed i.e. diabetes collaborative/health fairs etc.; attends and participates in Center meetings / departmental meetings and other Center functions as required by the Center.
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Provider is responsible for practicing accepted infection control procedures at all times to include attending individual/group infection control training, and to comply with infection control monitoring.
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
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Provide clinical oversight under the supervision of the Supervising Physician and/or the Chief Medical Officer.
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Assume responsibility/accountability for delegating, directing, and supervising patient care activities. Trains, mentors and supervises students and clinical support staff engaged in activities and procedures, as appropriate.
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Participate in Compliance and Performance Improvement activities for continuous care quality improvement and risk management purposes.
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Participate in and support accreditation, compliance and regulatory activities of the organization.
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Participate in the review and development of patient care policies, including health maintenance schedules and continuity of care.
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Participate in the review and development of protocols and standing orders.
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Implement the plans, procedures and protocols for the medical team.
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Serve as a resource and positive, proactive leader for the department.
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Accept responsibility for remaining current with medical and health care trends and information that impact the medical practice.
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Lead the health care team in identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing patient and family needs to develop a plan of care.
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Participate in the evaluation of products, procedures, and patient care standards.
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Participate in ongoing training activities as provided by the organization related to assigned tasks and providing patient-centered care.
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Comply with CHSA, state and federal policies, procedures, and standards.
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Maintains professional courtesy at all times.
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Performs all other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Required
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Knowledge of professional nursing theory.
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The ability to relate with effectiveness to patients and providers.
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Knowledge of clinical practice standards.
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Able to independently seek out resources and solve complex problems.
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Able to communicate effectively with patients, families, visitors, health care team, physicians, administrators, leadership and others.
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Able to use sensory and cognitive functions to process and prioritize information, perform health assessments, treatment and follow-up.
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Able to use fine motor skills.
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Able to record activities, document assessments & interventions; prepare reports and presentations as needed.
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Able to use the computer and new software programs, particularly the electronic health record of the organization.
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Able to provide leadership in clinical area of expertise and in meeting organizational goals.
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Knowledge of protocols in general and an ability to quickly gain specific knowledge of the Center’s current operational protocols.
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Knowledge of medical terminology and appropriate abbreviations.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the Texas Medical Practice Act.
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Ability to use office equipment including but not limited to computers, fax machines, telephones and copiers.
Preferred
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Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred but not required.
Credentials and Experience
Required
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Graduation from an accredited school of nursing and an accredited APRN Program.
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Current certification from the Texas Board of Nursing Examiners to practice as an Advance Practice Nurse in the State of Texas.
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Annual continuing education as required by Board specialty.
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Must be registered and have current DEA, DPS and other such certificates to legally operate as an Advance Practice Nurse.
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Current CPR Certification.
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Must demonstrate and maintain credentialing and licensing requirements of Community Health Service Agency, Inc.
Preferred
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One (1) year of practice experience as an Advance Practice Nurse giving direct patient care in a primary care setting.
Special Requirements
The employee must be able to lift and/or move more than 50 pounds. Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity and eye/hand coordination. Requires sitting, standing and walking for extensive periods of time. Requires working under stressful conditions or working irregular hours. Requires frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to work with a moderate noise level in the work environment is required.
The above information is intended to describe the most important aspects of the job. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties and skills required in order to perform the work. The health center reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the business need arises. Additionally, this job description is not intended as an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and the Center continues to maintain its status as an at-will employer. If the essential functions of this position cannot be performed in a satisfactory manner by the employee, reasonable accommodations may be made.
