Registered Nurse-Medical Group

Job Title

Performs an age specific plan of care for a designated group of patients using the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care. Collaborates with providers and other health team members in coordinating and implementing procedures and treatments. Uses leadership skills/clinical judgment in coordinating patient care and directing/delegating activities of the patient care unit team.

Responsibilities

Perform prior authorizations and otherwise coordinate with insurance companies, durable medical equipment companies and pharmacies to assist patients in obtaining equipment needed to manage their diabetes or other endocrine disorders. Assist patients in finding appropriate financial aid resources to obtain medications and equipment. Advise provider if financial constraints are preventing optimal patient care. Teach patients how to use injection devices, continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps and other equipment needed for endocrine care. Download CGMs and insulin pumps. Analyze data from CGMs and pumps and assist patients in making changes to their insulin pumps. Assess safety of patients in utilizing their insulin and/or insulin pumps. During office hours, R.N. may be asked to evaluate patients on insulin pumps who are currently inpatient and provide a safety assessment for the inpatient provider. Triage/Assessment. Conducts patient interviews, explains policies and procedures to patient, reviews patient's chart and answers basic questions.

• Assess safety of patient based upon their current medical and social situation and either assist with care of acute illness over phone/offer televideo with RN/ schedule with provider/ advise to go to emergency room.
• Watch over patients performing prolonged in office fast for diagnosis of hypoglycemia.
• Perform diabetic foot exams and discuss the importance with patients.
• Perform basic dressing changes.
• Potential to expand office offerings by offering in office retinal scans to detect diabetic retinopathy
• Follow up with patients who were hospitalized due to DKA and other diabetes related disorders in order to prevent rehospitalization.

Documentation Document all patient interactions as appropriate. Educational role

• Continuous Glucose Monitors
• Insulin pump training and reassessment
• Help to coordinate and train RN/CDE led DSME courses
• Use of insulin pens.

Medications

• Administer injections in the office, such as but not limited to Prolia.
• Potentially administer once weekly medications to diabetic patients in order to help with compliance.
• Administer annual flu shots.

Sick Day Management

• Assist patients with diabetes who are acutely ill but do not need to go to the hospital.

Demonstrates ability to measure effectiveness of care provided and documents same; performs variance analysis related to outcome data for performance improvement; designs, implements, and evaluates systems to improve care in unit; keeps accurate documentation of patient's treatment, activity and condition; uses appropriate methods of documentation according to departmental policy; collaborates with other care team members in planning and carrying out treatment regimen; provides direction to other members of the care team; collaborates with the appropriate provider on patient's plan of care. Accurately interprets and implements treatment regimen as prescribed by the Provider; assists the Provider during treatments and/or diagnostic procedures; keeps team abreast of changes in patient's condition and/or treatments, as appropriate; uses clinical judgment in delegating assignments in providing patient care, and ensures that assignments are completed in a timely fashion; performs preventive skin care measures; applies simple dressings, maintaining principles of aseptic technique. Performs other procedures related to skin care, as necessary; administers medications correctly and safely; correctly identifies medication in terms of action, dosage, side effects, and implications for the patient. Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

Current license to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State required. Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing required. Bachelor's Degree in Nursing preferred. Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) preferred. Must complete Certified Diabetes Education program within four years of hire. Experience in teaching diabetic self-management preferred. Experience with insulin pumps preferred. If not CDE, minimum of 15 hours of certified continuing education credit related to Diabetes Management in the past year required. Outpatient experience preferred.

As applicable, the individual has training/competency in attending to the special needs and/or behaviors appropriate to the age of patients for which care is being provided.