Nurse Practitioner - Cardiology/PreOp - Medical Group APPs - Full Time 10 Hour Days (Exempt) (Union)

Pre-Op Nurse Practitioner (NP)

The Pre-Op Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a NP who works under the direction of the Department's Administrative and Medical Directors to facilitate safe and efficient operational flow of the cardiovascular patient population at Keck Medical Center. The NP is responsible for the application of the nursing process, supervision of clinical practice, education, leadership, and patient care management. The NP will function as a part of inter-professional teams by communicating, planning, and implementing care directly with other healthcare professionals, including but not limited to physicians, pharmacists, office support staff, and clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners. Outpatient duties will include providing Cardiac Clearance for established Cardiology patients for surgery, pre-transplant evaluation as well as independent evaluation of general cardiology patients. This position may provide support to Cardiovascular Medicine physicians in their respective clinics by using a team approach to efficiently evaluate and treat our outpatient Cardiovascular Medicine patient population. Meeting all medical center requirements, the Pre-Op NP will be responsible for appropriate documentation, clinic consults. The NP will be responsible for follow up, coordination of care, assisting in triaging phone calls, clinical questions, and pharmacy. The NP may also be involved in our telemedicine program. The nurse practitioner should demonstrate a knowledge of regulatory requirements in the delivery of patient care. Demonstrates critical thinking in providing care according to the standards of the profession. Resource for RNs, LVNs, and support staff. Works in collaboration with other health care team members, consulting and referring as appropriate, but retains responsibility for ongoing clinical management of the patient (e.g. post-implant VAD care, heart failure, etc.).

Departmental Specific Summary The Nurse Practitioner Cardiology under general supervision and in accordance with standardized procedures, incumbent performs physical examinations and treats common episodic and chronic health care problems, counsels patients and families, monitors patient progress, assists with medical research projects. Resource for RNs, LVNs, and support staff. Works in collaboration with other health care team members, consulting and referring as appropriate, but retains responsibility for ongoing clinical management of the patient (e.g. post-implant VAD care, heart failure, etc.).

Essential Duties

• Conducts in-depth interviews with patients and/or family, constructs comprehensive medical histories, performs initial and periodic physical examinations and explores patient's interpretation of health needs. Identifies and treats patients' diseases (e.g. post-implant VAD care, heart failure, etc.). Manages treatment of hospitalized patients using critical and strategic thinking, analytical and planning skills while demonstrating effective organizational and time management skills.
• Identifies patient's educational needs and provides health related information to enhance patient's and family's understanding of medical condition and related treatments. Obtains informed consent for procedures that will be performed Instructs and counsels patients and families regarding care, medical problems, psychological problems and use of prescribed devices, treatments and drugs.
• Directly performs or orders appropriate diagnostic studies and interprets finished results.
• Develops and implements long and short range treatment plans.
• Performs procedures such as obtaining specimens, performing injections, immunizations, lumbar punctures, skin biopsies, suturing, wound care and management of conditions produced by trauma or infection.
• Writes orders to increase, decrease or change medication, subject to checking and counter-signing by physician.
• Initiates consultations and monitors scheduling of patients for special tests.
• Identifies records pertinent progress of patients, updating and summarizing charts, changing orders when appropriate and notifying the responsible physician of changes in the patient's condition.
• Instructs and counsels patients and families regarding preventive care, medical problems, psychological problems, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
• Acts as the lead in the clinics (e.g. being the resource for RN, LVN, and support staff) and acts as the liaison with governmental agencies such as Center for Disease Control and National Institute of Health. Assists with medical research projects, following medical research protocols. Obtains Investigational Review Board approval for treatment protocols.
• Researches community resources for referral of patients. Refers patients to most appropriate resource based on patients' medical needs and condition.
• Maintains compliance with established University and department policies and procedures, quality assurance, safety, environmental, infection control and complies with requirements of accreditation and regulatory agencies.
• Participates in in-service education programs and professional associations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Req Master's degree Nursing Degree in a related field
• Req 3 years Experience as a NP required
• Req 2 years Experience as NP in general cardiology, cardiothoracic or cardiac surgery experience required.
• Req Must have excellent communication skills, including the ability to speak, read and write English proficiently.
• Req Knowledge of medical procedures and conditions and ability to understand, follow and successfully perform duties, including whole blood collection, and apheresis procedures, in accordance with administrative and clinical policies, regulations and procedures.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Req Registered Nurse - RN (CA DCA) Current & Valid California Registered Nursing license.
• Req Nurse Practitioner - NP (CA DCA) Current & Valid California Nurse Practitioner license. ACNP, AGACNP, FNP, ANP, or AGNP required.
• Req DEA Certificate Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Justice for Schedule II-V controlled substances
• Req NP Board Certified Possession of National Board Certification in Nurse Practitioner area of specialty accredited by Accreditation Board of Specialty Nursing (ABSNC) or National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)