Specialty Nurse Practitioner-Inpatient Pain Consultants

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The BPN Specialty Nurse Practitioner provides nursing and medical services to assigned patients according to the Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners as identified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and in accordance with assigned specialty. In addition to diagnosing and managing acute and chronic illnesses, the BPN Nurse Practitioner-Specialty emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention. Services include, but are not limited to: ordering, conducting and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests; prescription of pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic therapies; and teaching and counseling individuals and groups.

The BPN Nurse Practitioner-Specialty practices autonomously and in collaboration with other health care professionals to diagnose, treat and manage health problems.

PRINCIPAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. *Commits to the mission, vision, beliefs and consistently demonstrates our core values.

2. *Conducts patient assessments including obtaining a relevant health and medical history; performs a physical examination based on age and history; performs or orders preventive and diagnostic procedures based on the patient's age and history and identifies health and medical risk factors.

3. *Diagnoses patients by synthesizing and analyzing the collected data; formulates a differential diagnosis based on the history, physical examination, and diagnostic test results.

4. *Identifies and implements a patient treatment plan which may include ordering additional diagnostic tests; selects appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions; develops a patient education plan; makes appropriate treatment referrals.

5. *Implements patient care plans based on scientific principles, theoretical knowledge, and clinical specialty expertise; accurately conducts and interprets diagnostic tests; accurately prescribes pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic therapies; provides relevant patient education; makes referrals to other health professionals and community agencies as needed.

6. *Determines the effectiveness of patient treatment plans; documents patient care outcomes; reassesses and modifies treatment plans as necessary to achieve health and medical goals.

7. Participates as a team member in the provision of health and medical care; interacts and collaborates with professional colleagues to provide comprehensive care.

8. *Accurately documents patient findings, treatment plans and evaluations; documents interventions appropriately to ensure coding compliance for reimbursement purposes.

9. *Maintains patient confidentiality per departmental and facility protocols and procedures.

10. Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

In addition to the principal job functions contained on the primary job descriptions, the following duties are also required in the department noted above.

1. *Develops and implements pain management plans including those with a history of adverse effects with opioids, chronic pain and other medical co-morbidities.

2. *Explains the necessity, preparation, nature and anticipated effects of procedure(s) related to treatment of pain to patients, families and staff.

3. *Prescribes and recommends pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions

4. *Initiates appropriate consultations and referrals as ordered.

5. *Available for consultative visits with the patient and their family; serves as a resource person to the staff and physician; recommends changes in plan of care to facilitate optimum patient outcome.

6. *Communicates with patient's PCP concerning prior opioid agreements or changes in pain management treatment upon discharge.

7. Identifies internal and external resources, in collaboration with the PCP, which will support the patient throughout the care continuum.

8. *Provides complex discharge instructions that include a weaning schedule of post-operative analgesic as needed. Notifies PCP of post-operative changes in analgesics and expected weaning for patients with prior chronic opioid use.

9. Prepares written prescription for complex orders for pain management drugs and controlled substances; may prescribe medications, including Schedule II controlled substances.

10. *Prepares and completes patient discharge specialty sign off notes for consulted patients within 24 hours of dismissal.

11. Provides leadership to the organization- wide pain management program and actively participates in developing educational curriculum and outcomes improvement initiatives.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of 2,000 hours of hours practice as a Nurse Practitioner required. Certification as Adult Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner preferred. Prior adult or family practice experience preferred with an emphasis in pain management. Current certification in pain management (ASPMN through ANCC) preferred.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Current Registered Nurse licensure from the State of Nebraska or approved compact state of residence as defined by the Nebraska Nurse Practice Act required. Master of Science degree in Nursing with current Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure from the State of Nebraska required. Certification in specialty area required. Certification with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for prescriptive authority required. Prior specialty experience preferred. Completion of the Bryan Physician Network credentialing and re-credentialing process required for employment.

OTHER CREDENTIALS / CERTIFICATIONS:

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.