Surgical Nurse Practitioner

JOB PURPOSE:
Serves as a member of a surgical service line team by assisting in management of post-operative and critically ill patients in the hospital, as well as evaluating pre and post-operative patients in the office setting. Applies specialized skills and knowledge related to the care of patients in the CVOR, ICU, CCU and CVICU areas. Contributes to excellence in patient care, research, teaching, consulting and provides leadership to the organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Provides direct clinical services for pre-operative and post-operative patients, within institutional guidelines and utilizing evidence-based clinical practice standards under the supervision of the patients physician.
2. Obtains patient health histories and complete physical examinations and documents findings in accordance with hospital requirements.
3. Orders appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests, explaining the necessity, preparation, nature and anticipated effects of procedure(s) to patients, patients family, staff and healthcare learners.
4. Performs approved therapeutic or diagnostic procedures based upon patients clinical status and documents procedures in accordance with hospital requirements, including obtaining arterial, venous, and capillary blood samples, urine samples, sputum samples and cultures; performing cardiac output measurements, other hemodynamic measurements and EKGs; assisting with the performance of radiographic studies; assisting physician with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; etc.
5. Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and external cardiac massage; airway management including bag and mask ventilation, endotracheal intubation and extubation, changing, positioning and repositioning endotracheal tubes; administration of life supporting drugs according to established protocols; and defibrillation according to Advanced Cardiac Life Support standards.
6. Under physician direction and within the credentialing standards of the Hospital, manages arterial catheters, central venous catheters, pulmonary artery catheters, temporary pacemakers, intra-aortic balloon pump catheters and chest tube placement, management, and removal.
7. Interfaces patients with monitoring and instrumentation equipment, and directs and educates others in performing the same functions.
8. Formulates and implements a treatment plan for acute illness management in collaboration with the designated primary supervising physician and/or attending back-up physician(s) and documents in medical records and appropriate narrative summaries.
9. Assesses patients for changes in status and institutes appropriate interventions, including initiation of necessary emergency interventions to stabilize patient.
10. Incorporates clinical research findings in the development and implementation of standards of care.
11. Supports IRB approved clinical research/trials though a variety of activities including but not limited to: obtaining consent; ordering diagnostic tests; recording laboratory and diagnostic results; administering therapeutic interventions; and documenting and reporting patient outcomes including toxicities or adverse events.
12. Participates and assists with the pre-, peri-, and postoperative management of the surgical patients in the OR and ICUs. This includes minimally invasive vein harvest, thoracoscopy, and Robotic assisted surgeries.
13. Performs and participates in quality/performance improvement activities and clinical research.
14. Serves as a clinical expert and education consultant to nursing, members of the healthcare team and to the larger community.
15. Identifies educational needs of the family and participates in teaching opportunities.
16. Assesses educational needs, plan, provide, and evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, interdisciplinary healthcare team, and community.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES
- Skill and ability in electronic medical records applications.
- Ability to work as a member of a team.
- Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and verbally with team members and patients.
- Skill and ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Ability to understand legal issues that influence the practice of the extenders.
- Ability to lead a team maintaining professional demeanor
- Ability to build effective relationships within and outside PHC.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
- Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
- Ability to verbally communicate effectively with team members and patients.
Disclaimer
The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED:
Graduate from an accredited school of nursing with current Georgia license for Advanced Practice Nursing and a Masters degree in Nursing, OR graduate of an accredited Physician Assistants program with current license for the Georgia State Composite Board.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
None.
MINIMUM LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY LAW:
Licensed Physician Assistant in the State of Georgia. OR Licensed for Advanced Practice Nursing (ACNP, FNP, and WHNP).
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
None.