DESCRIPTION OF POSITION: - The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for providing comprehensive care to both well and sick patients across the age span. The Practitioner educates patients and/or their families in order to promote wellness, prevent health problems, maintain current health and intervene in acute or chronic illness.
SUPERVISION: Reports directly to the assigned hospitalist
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: - Obtain history, perform physical exams of acute hospitalized patients. Follow-up and interpret results.
- Discuss treatment options, initiate and/or collaborate plan of care.
- Responsible for patient phone calls.
- Preview pre-op lab work, order pre-op clearance when necessary; Assist in pre-op patient education for patient and family.
- Provides patient education.
- Identifies community health resources and refers patients as necessary.
- Handles other duties as assigned.
The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description. EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE - Graduate of an approved formal education program preparing nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
- Extensive knowledge of physical assessment, differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, pharmacology and management of acute and chronic patient/family problems; Twelve hours continuing education or in-service hours required annually.
- Currently licensed in the State of Louisiana as an Advanced Practice Nurse or Physician's Assistant; Certified or certification eligible by the American Nurses Association as a primary care nurse practitioner or the National Committee on Certification of Physician Assistants; BCLS certification required, ACLS, NALS preferred.
- Ability to communicate with patient, family, peers and medical personnel.
- Requires emotional stability and resilience. Must be adaptable to change, be decisive and demonstrate foresight.
- Exhibits organizational and leadership ability.
Physical Demands/Work Environment - Work requires a variety of physical activities, including moving about within and outside of all hospital properties for long periods of time.
- Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to emergency and non-emergent situations.
- May be required to assist in controlling disorderly conduct or combative patients.
- Must be able to exchange accurate information with patient, family, peers and medical personnel.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
