NURSE PRACTITION-GASTROENTEROLOGY

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides comprehensive, evidence-informed outpatient gastroenterology care to both new and established patients in the Gastroenterology Clinic. The NP evaluates patients referred by the gastroenterologist and independently manages assigned new and established patients, including diagnostic evaluation, treatment planning, medication management, patient education, and longitudinal follow-up, within applicable Mississippi APRN practice requirements, required physician collaboration, organizational policy, and individual competency. The NP collaborates with gastroenterologists and the interdisciplinary team and may assume approved GI Ambulatory Surgery Center responsibilities in the future, following any required credentialing, privileging, training, and authorization.

Performance Expectations – Clinical Assessment and Management

• Independently conduct and document comprehensive and focused histories, examinations, risk assessments, and individualized plans for assigned new and established GI patients, including patients referred by the gastroenterologist, within authorized scope and required collaborative arrangements.
• Evaluate and manage common and complex GI conditions appropriate to training and scope, including reflux, dyspepsia, bowel habit changes, functional bowel disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, GI bleeding follow-up, anemia evaluation, and chronic liver disorders; consult or refer when indicated.
• Order, review, interpret, communicate, and follow up on laboratory tests, imaging, stool studies, and other diagnostic findings; establish closed-loop tracking of clinically significant results.
• Prescribe, reconcile, monitor, and adjust medications within applicable prescribing authority; counsel patients regarding benefits, risks, interactions, and adherence.
• Identify red-flag symptoms and clinical deterioration; initiate appropriate urgent evaluation, escalation, emergency response, or transfer consistent with clinic protocols.
• Provide preventive counseling and guideline-based screening recommendations, including colorectal cancer screening and surveillance as clinically appropriate.

Performance Expectations – Procedures and Continuity of Care

• Evaluate new and established patients for indications and readiness for colonoscopy, EGD, and other GI procedures; initiate appropriate referrals and coordinate with the gastroenterologist and scheduling team.
• Provide clinical bowel-preparation and medication-management instructions within approved protocols, including escalation of anticoagulant, diabetes-medication, and other higher-risk questions to the responsible prescriber as appropriate.
• Review endoscopy and pathology findings, communicate results and next steps within assigned clinical responsibilities, and arrange timely follow-up.
• Provide ongoing management and follow-up for assigned patients, including those referred by the gastroenterologist; coordinate referrals and longitudinal care with gastroenterologists, primary care, surgeons, hepatology, and other specialties and support transitions following emergency or inpatient care.
• Address patient portal messages, refill requests, and telephone encounters within established service and clinical escalation standards.

Performance Expectations – Quality, Documentation, and Teamwork

• Maintain complete, accurate, timely documentation in Epic, including medical decision-making, orders, patient counseling, and follow-up plans.
• Use evidence-based practices, infection prevention, patient identification, medication safety, and privacy safeguards; report safety events and near misses.
• Collaborate respectfully with physicians, RNs, medical assistants, schedulers, and administrative personnel; delegate only tasks legally and organizationally permitted.
• Participate in clinical quality improvement, patient access initiatives, professional education, and required competency activities.
• Promote Forrest Health’s purpose, “A life devoted to the care of others,” and promise, “To care in all ways, for all people, always.”
• Perform other related duties consistent with licensure, privileges, competency, and organizational policy.

Future GI Ambulatory Surgery Center Responsibilities – Conditional

• Upon formal approval, may provide designated ASC pre-procedure clinical evaluations, medical-history review, risk identification, and post-procedure follow-up within approved scope and privileges.
• Any future ASC assignment requires an updated role delineation, applicable facility privileges, orientation, documented competency, and confirmation of medical staff and regulatory requirements.
• This description does not authorize independent endoscopy, sedation administration, anesthesia services, or procedural discharge decisions absent separate authorization and privileges.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduate of an accredited nurse practitioner educational program; master’s or doctoral degree appropriate to the NP role.

Work Experience: Previous work experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner preferred.

Certification/ Licensure -DUE UPON HIRE

• Licensed as an APRN by MS State Board of Nursing.

Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification required.