PACE Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (Merced PACE)

PACE Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

The PACE Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) provides high-quality, compassionate medical care to participants of the Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC) PACE program. This position works under the direct supervision of the PACE Medical Director and/or designated primary care physicians and is responsible for assessments, treatment planning, coordination, and delivery of care in the clinic, day center, homes, and residential settings.

Location and Schedule: This position will work at our Central Valley Merced PACE Center, scheduled Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm. Flexibility to work scheduled evening clinic hours, and when appropriate, act independently as a solo provider of services under telephone communication with a physician supervisor.

Compensation: $170,000 - $197,000 Annual Salary; Sign On Bonus and Relocation Assistance Eligible

Golden Valley Health Centers offers excellent benefits including Medical: (0 Deductible / $2,000 Individual; $4,000 Family Out-of-Pocket Max), excellent PPO coverages; Dental; Vision; Pet Insurance, 403(b) with match, 457b FSA plans, gym discounts, and so much more!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Consistently adheres and/or exceeds GVHC's communication guidelines and expectations with patients, peers, and supervisors.
• Communicate effectively by using welcoming words, proper tone of voice, appropriate body language, eye contact and smiling with every interaction.
• Listens skillfully and displays a willingness and ability to acknowledge the needs, expectations and values of others through the use of reflective listening and empathy conveyance. Responds to needs in ways that are helpful and beyond expectation.
• Obtain an appropriate medical history and perform a physical examination for any presenting problem(s).
• Order specific laboratory studies and x-rays, and other studies as appropriate for the patient.
• Perform or assist in laboratory or screening procedures routinely performed at the clinic site indicating the collection of body fluid and tissue specimens.
• Assess and interview in the common development and behavioral problems of the family and its individual members.
• Diagnose and treat common primary care problems according to accepted criteria and norms described in the Nurse Practitioner standardized procedure manual.
• Collect, record, and interpret clinical data in a "problem oriented SOAP" format.
• Maintain a current problem list, medication list and immunization record on all patient records.
• Promote health and disease prevention in all patients through age group specific interventions including immunizations, counseling, physical examinations, and accepted screening procedures.
• Observe all existing Golden Valley Health Centers medical protocols, personnel policies and Principles of Practice.
• Participate regularly in quality assurance and peer review activities, as well as medical and general staff meetings.
• May administer medication to patient, or transmit orally a prescription from the supervisory physician to pharmacist. This may be based either on a patient specific order by the supervising physician or on protocols specified in the Nurse Practitioner standardized procedures and process protocols.
• Satisfactorily works towards achieving productivity goals established by the Golden Valley Health Centers.
• Obtain 30 units of CME biannually, submit annual report to supervisor, and maintain national certification status.
• Performs health histories, physical exams and PACE Participant teaching. Orders, interprets and follows up on lab tests and results. Performs selected procedures and documents care in writing in EMR. Initiates emergency measures as indicated. Recognizes abnormalities that justify immediate referral for intervention by others.
• Initiates, evaluates, reviews and changes orders for selected medications and diagnostic studies/treatments within attending physician approved protocols.
• Assesses, initiates and coordinates participant care on a daily basis under the supervision of the attending physician. Makes referral to other physicians including specialists with staff PCP approval.
• Requests consultations from other services as needed in collaboration with attending physician and/or established protocols.
• Acts as liaison with physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals providing education, communication and support for healthcare staff, participants and families. Directs participant management in conjunction with physician staff.
• Participates in the PACE provider call schedule.
• Participates as a member of the Interdisciplinary Team. Attends staff meetings and takes part in participant care planning.
• Assists the IDT in formulating a plan for the coordination of 24 hour care
• Documents participant changes appropriately in the medical record and communicates participant changes to team members.
• Observe each participant for any change in physical, mental, emotional and social functioning and shall report such changes to the licensed nurse.
• Evaluates and treats participants in their homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals when medically indicated.
• Precepts medical students and residents during their PACE rotation.
• Encourages all participants to have Advanced Directives and provides education as needed; may discuss the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) option with the participant and/or family members and may complete the Health Care Wishes form and write DNR orders in the medical record, in collaboration with a physician.

Physical Demands

• The employee must occasionally lift up to 40 pounds and/or move up to 100 pounds (on wheels). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to hear staff on the phone and those who are served in-person, and speak clearly in order to communicate information to clients and staff. Must have vision with or without lenses that are adequate to read memos, a computer screen, personnel forms and clinical and administrative documents. Must have high manual dexterity.
• Must be able to reach above the shoulder level to work, must be able to bend, squat and sit, stand, stoop, crouching, reaching, kneeling, twisting/turning, fingering and feeling.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually average.

Education/Experience Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bilingual English/Spanish highly preferred.
• Work experience as a Registered Nurse.
• Current basic CPR certification. Meet a standardized set of competencies for the specific position description established by Central Valley PACE and approved by CMS before working independently.
• A high level of autonomy is required for clinical management decisions while reporting to PCP and Center Manager.
• Knowledge of physical, mental and social needs of frail older adults.
• Effective skills in physical assessment and chronic disease management for frail older adults. Able to work within the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) setting.

Education/Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Graduation from an accredited school of Registered Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner program.
• Current unencumbered licensure by the Board of Registered Nursing of California as a Nurse Practitioner.
• Working experience as a Registered Nurse.
• Current BLS or ACLS CPR Card Certified by American Heart Association.
• One (1) year of experience with a frail or elderly population.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.