Nephrology - NP/PA - Full-Time

Responsibilities

• Patient Assessments
  • Provides diagnosis and treatment for common acute illnesses, prevention, and maintenance care to patients with stable chronic illnesses.
  • Performs interim physical exams for healthy patients within nurse protocol (a written document mutually agreed upon and signed by a nurse and Licensed MD, delegating authority to perform certain medical acts).
  • Separates patients with suspected infectious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, varicella-zoster) from well patients by immediately placing them in an exam room, using personal protective equipment, and confidentially communicating the condition to other clinical staff.
  • Elicits appropriate present and past medical history and reviews symptoms.
  • Performs physical examinations and orders diagnostic studies.
  • Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings in history and physical exams.
  • Establishes differential diagnoses and assesses the stability of chronic illness and compliance with therapy.
  • Monitors complications of disease or therapy and establishes appropriate treatment plans.
  • Assesses the need for hospitalization or physician intervention, determines follow-up timing, and orders referrals.
  • Counsels patients on health promotion, disease prevention, and provides anticipatory guidance.
• Health Education to Patients
  • Educates patients on improving, promoting, and maintaining health status, including information on disease, self-care practices, and positive lifestyle choices.
  • Assesses learning readiness and tailors education to meet age, developmental, and educational needs.
  • Prioritizes learning needs and documents them accordingly.
  • Ensures time frame and subject matter are appropriate for the target audience/individual.
  • Utilizes appropriate teaching materials (handouts, demonstrations, audiovisuals) and documents their use and patient learning outcomes.
  • Designs and completes educational programs for patients, families, and target audiences.
• Documentation
  • Maintains accurate records, medication lists, and documentation of care follow-up for administrative and reimbursement purposes.
  • Adheres to documentation policies and procedures.
  • Ensures documentation supports the level of complexity relative to service fee charges.
  • Reviews and updates problem lists at least annually or during episodic visits; initiates problem and medication lists for new patients.
  • Documents phone calls with patients and specialists.
  • Documents visits concisely, clearly, logically, and legibly.
  • Handles after-hours calls and problems on a rotating schedule.
• Maintains Competence in Clinical Practice
  • Identifies knowledge and skills needed through self-assessment and peer review.
  • Participates in continuing education to maintain and increase competency.
  • Incorporates continuing education into daily practice to expand medical knowledge and improve clinical skills.
  • Completes annual educational requirements for Floyd Medical Center and/or the Primary Care Network.
  • Approved to order and administer flu vaccines at off-site locations.
• Management Responsibilities
  • Supervises and intervenes with clinical issues, supporting and directing triage by clinical staff.
  • Implements clinical education and training for staff as necessary.
  • Provides constructive feedback on performance, patient flow, and patient issues.
  • Conducts in-services and clinical education for staff on an as-needed basis.
  • Available for feedback on callback and triage issues.
  • Identifies barriers to patient care flow/delivery and assists with implementing corrective actions.
  • Serves as a role model for patient interaction.
  • Collaborates with healthcare team members to ensure continuity of care.
• Drug Protocols
  • Adheres to drug protocols reviewed annually and developed by the supervising physician in collaboration with the NP.
  • Prescribes within the practice agreement agreed upon by the delegating physician 100% of the time.
  • Ensures an updated and accurate practice agreement each year as set forth in state statutes for prescribing authority.
• Quality Care
  • Demonstrates regard for the dignity and respect of all patients, families, guests, coworkers, volunteers, and medical staff.
  • Codes radiologic procedures accurately.
  • Maintains patient and practice confidentiality.
  • Represents the practice positively and consistently displays a caring attitude.
  • Conducts all activities with respect for patient/customer rights and expectations.
• Safety/Security
  • Follows established safety precautions and procedures to ensure a safe environment.
  • Performs tasks in accordance with policy and procedure, including safe use of equipment and personal protective equipment.
  • Completes all required safety in-service updates.
• Quality and Performance Improvement
  • Completes duties timely and promotes financial viability through reasonable cost and efficient utilization of resources.
  • Actively participates in continuing education, professional memberships, and community outreach to enhance the NP role.
• Continuing Education
  • Completes competency checklists and unit-specific recommendations.
  • Completes unit and departmental annual skills checklists.
  • Completes annual training on generating, preparing, and submitting accurate reimbursement requests from Federal Health Care programs.
  • Utilizes continuing education to expand medical knowledge and improve clinical skills, incorporating them into daily practice.

Requirements

• Licensure, Registration, and Certification
  • Certification in a related specialty.
  • Membership in a related organization.
• Education
  • Master’s degree from an accredited school of Nursing.
• Experience
  • Nursing experience in a clinical setting.
• Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
  • Full range of body motion, including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
  • Standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
  • Occasionally lifts and carries weight up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to distinguish letters, numbers, and symbols with vision and hearing within normal range to respond to Code alerts and equipment alarms.
  • Work-related stress due to volume and time constraints with irregular working hours.