NURSE PRACTITIONER/ PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Job Role Summary

Responsible for providing specialized professional medical services that include medical treatment and primary care to patients under the supervision of and in collaboration with designated physicians and nurses.  Ensures the continuity of patient care through health maintenance activities including the evaluation/early detection/management of problems and appropriate referrals.  

Essential Duties

• Enter into a Practice Agreement with Medical Director of the ACTION Health Center; responsible for adhering to guidelines stipulated in Practice Agreement (See attached.)
• Assess the physical/psycho-social status of patients by obtaining medical history and other pertinent information noting deviations from the norm.  Accurately assess patient needs, develop appropriate solutions.
• Develop effective working relationships with patients, families, and health professionals in multi-disciplinary team.
• Use professional judgment; accept responsibilities for decisions in planning/implementation/interpretation.
• Performs and records physical examinations, reviews charts and test results for abnormalities; makes judgment regarding problem disposition, further evaluation, referrals, etc.
• Counsels patient/families and provides guidance concerning health care, diet, medication, therapeutic treatments, health maintenance/education to promote optimum physical/mental health.
• Determines which patients can be served by staff personnel; require physician attention or consultation; referred to other agencies/resources for services.
• Develops care/treatment plan with patient and/or family; determines types of services, with goals/objectives of these services.
• Performs referral, follow-up procedures to ensure continuity, compliance with health care/prescribed therapeutic regimens, medications, etc.
• Maintains appropriate records, charts and prepares statistical/informational reports.
• Has access to confidential patient health information (PHI) and may have the need to transport PHI off sight.
• Maintains appropriate patient/information confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA.
• Adherence to all laws, regulations, policies and procedures, i.e. HIPAA, OSHA, FERPA.
• Reviews/monitors/guides health care activities of appropriate personnel.
• Works as a member of a team of health professionals within specific guidelines to identify, clinically manage, and evaluate patient/family medical problems.
• Initiates and evaluates appropriate diagnostic studies and plans therapy.
• Dispenses/administers medications in accordance with Practice Agreement.

Associated Job Duties

• Assumes responsibility for professional self-growth and continued development in nursing.
• Executes regimens as documented in the Practice Agreement with unlimited license to practice medicine.
• Acts as a role model, resource person in specialty area for staff, department personnel.  Provide leadership and education for all staff as well as educational, clinical update in area of expertise.
• Adheres to protocols, seeks M.D. guidance on matters behind protocols of practitioner.
• Participates in the development/implementation/evaluation of policies, procedures, nursing standards, clinical protocols, and continued professional growth, which will facilitate patient flow and maximize quality of care and services.
• Assists with generation, evaluation, and implementation of clinical paperwork, education materials and handouts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Participates in public health emergency preparedness exercises and in the response to public health emergencies.
• Participates in a minimum of three H.O.P.E events totaling a minimum of  Twelve(12) hours annually.

Qualifications

Education/Licensure/Certifications/Experience:

• For a Nurse Practitioner:  Completion of Master of Science degree from an NLN accredited program that includes nurse practitioner training in one of the following:  Pediatrics, Family Practice, or successful post graduate completion of a formal nurse practitioner educational program in Pediatrics, or Family Practice in an university setting or
• For a Physician Assistant:  Completion of a fifth year college or university program certificate; or two to four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience; or completion of a two (2) year, CAHEA accredited, physician assistant program; current Indiana license as a physician assistant; and a current NCCPA certification as a physician assistant.
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing
• Clinical Experience
• Typing/Computer Skills

Licenses/Certifications Required

• For a Nurse Practitioner:  Completion of Master of Science degree from an NLN accredited program that includes nurse practitioner training in one of the following:  Pediatrics, Family Practice, or successful post graduate completion of a formal nurse practitioner educational program in Pediatrics, or Family Practice in an university setting or
• For a Physician Assistant:  Completion of a fifth year college or university program certificate; or two to four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience; or completion of a two (2) year, CAHEA accredited, physician assistant program; current Indiana license as a physician assistant; and a current NCCPA certification as a physician assistant.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.  Bilingual skills helpful.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using while numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ration, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.  Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Working Environment

• Must be able to perform job duties in environment with moderate noise level (examples:  business office with computers and printers, light traffic).
• Has exposure to communicable diseases; combative patients