Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - General Surgery - Full Time

Primary Healthcare Provider

Responsible for providing primary healthcare to patients and families, focusing on health maintenance, disease prevention, patient education and counseling. Follows established guidelines as required and within established scope of practice.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs physical exams on all patients, neonate through the geriatric population.
• Obtains and documents patient's medical history. Identifies health risk factors.
• Diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and treat chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
• Orders and interprets diagnostic tests, i.e., laboratory work, x-rays, EKG.
• Provides well child care; women's healthcare, family planning.
• Demonstrates the ability to prescribe medications (see individual state laws) and non-pharmacological therapies based on the patient's diagnoses, health history and age.
• Encourages positive health behaviors for the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease. This is done through education and counseling.
• Always applies standardized care guidelines in clinical practice.
• Provides patient and/or family with health education, counseling and referrals to other healthcare professionals and community resources when appropriate.
• Assesses and documents patient and/or family psychosocial issues.
• Treats patients and families with respect and dignity.
• Collaborates with physicians and other members of the health team to plan optimal care for the patient, and for development of clinic documentation tools in EHR and other.
• Works with the patient and family to formulate a patient treatment and education plan.
• Actively engage in quality improvement activities.
• Provides follow-up care, determines effectiveness of the treatment plan, reassesses and changes the plan as needed.
• Evaluate and treat trauma patients (stabilize/transfer.)
• 1st Assist in the operating room.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or related field
• Master's Degree - Licensed/Registered as a NP
• BLS Certification

Preferred Requirements

• Two (2) years NP work experience
• Bilingual (English and Spanish)

Professional Requirements

• Completes annual educational requirements
• Maintains regulatory requirements
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner

Skills/Competencies

• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to maintain proper levels of confidentiality
• Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with patients (and their families), co-workers, hospital staff and the physician.
• Demonstrates the ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Stays current with medical advancements, new technology, new drugs through continuing education classes, society meetings, professional journals etc.
• Follows the seven (7) medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
• Able to make efficient use of Clinical Assistants and Medical Assistants skills and abilities.

Physical Requirements

Perceive the nature of sounds by the ear, express or exchange ideas by means of spoken word, perceive characteristics of objects through the eyes, extend arms and hands in any direction, seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise work with hands, pick, pinch, or otherwise work with fingers, perceive such attributes of objects or materials as size, shape, temperature, or texture; and stoop, kneel crouch, and crawl. Must be able to lift 25 pounds maximum with frequent lifting, carrying pushing, and pulling of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Continuous walking and standing. Must be able to identify, match, and distinguish colors.