Nurse Practitioner

Job Title

The successful applicant should be able to perform all of the following functions at a pace and level of performance consistent with the actual job performance requirements.

• Provide comprehensive nursing care to include, but not limited to, executing physician's orders, dispensing, and administering medications and performing examinations and treatment of patients; perform a variety of procedures and treatments.
• Order, interpret and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's clinical problems and health care needs.
• Record physical findings, formulate prognosis based on patient's condition, and discuss case with physician and other health professionals to prepare comprehensive patient care plan.
• Recommend drugs and other forms of treatment within the scope of licensure.
• Monitor inmate/resident inpatient hospitalizations and ensure early release whenever appropriate.
• Verify the cleanliness of equipment and work area through own efforts and supervision.
• Assist with monitoring the provision of all required contractual services.
• Maintain a good working relationship with facility staff, nursing staff, contract providers and outside provider agencies.
• Utilize established corporate, facility and correctional policies and procedures in making decisions, but use sound independent judgment in meeting the responsibilities and performing the duties of the position.
• Regularly evaluate the provision of medical services to prevent the inappropriate use or duplication of those services.
• Maintain absolute security and confidentiality of all medical records. Review medical files to determine all provided services are documented.
• Closely monitor all potential catastrophic illnesses.
• Recommend methods of improving operational efficiency and cost effectiveness of health-related services.
• Audit pharmacy use for adherence to formulary, as directed or required.
• Comply with all applicable pharmacy laws, especially those covering controlled substances.
• Observe and record inmate/resident behavior.
• Provide health counseling and health education on individual or group basis, as required.
• Read, analyze, comprehend, and interpret medical and technical procedures, governmental regulations, legal and non-legal documents, including the processing of such documents as medical instructions, commitment orders, summons and other legal writs.
• Review, process and respond (via corporate counsel) to lawsuits; attend court hearings, when necessary; conduct research of charts; review status of inmates/residents with serious health problems for completion of all necessary intervention and treatment.
• Communicate effectively and coherently to administration, staff, inmates/residents, visitors and the general public, particularly in situations requiring tact, diplomacy, understanding, fairness, firmness and good judgment.
• Attend scheduled staff meetings, promote communications and the proper flow of relevant information in the medical unit.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary committee meetings to promote and monitor quality of healthcare services.
• Engage in functions in confined areas including working rotating shifts and physically checking the doors windows and other areas to verify they are secure.
• Evaluate and recommend physical safety requirements necessary to provide a safe working environment for both patients and staff.
• Facilitate, where applicable, NCCHC/ACA/JCAHO accreditation of the medical program by providing the required level of efficiency and approved, appropriate medical services.
• Prepare and disseminate safety and accident reports as required by policies and procedures; take appropriate action in cases of serious and unusual incidents and emergencies.
• Comply with the requirements of applicable regulations, laws, rules, procedures, policies, standards and/or contract.
• Perform rescue functions at accidents, emergencies and disasters to include administering basic emergency medical aid.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with others and handle difficult interpersonal contacts.
• Be aware that verbal abuse may be present with the hostile views and opinions of inmates/residents and others encountered in an antagonistic environment.
• Take appropriate action to prevent or diffuse potentially disruptive situations.
• Properly chart medical care.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals; apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
• Interpret an extensive variety of medical and technical instructions in the form of handwritten text, correspondence, policies, regulations, procedures, reports, directions for forms completion and other simple or complex documents.
• Remain alert at all times and react quickly, efficiently and calmly in emergency and other high stress situations.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited college or university's nursing program with a degree and possess a current licensure and/or certification as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with training in family practice in the state of employment.
• One year of professional nursing experience required.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• Minimum age requirement: Must be at least 18 years of age.