DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:
The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for providing comprehensive care to both well and sick patients across the age span. The Practitioner educates patients and/or their families in order to promote wellness, prevent health problems, maintain current health and intervene in acute or chronic illness.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
Obtain history, perform physical exams of new clinic patients and follow-up patients.
Discuss treatment options, initiate and/or collaborate plan of care.
Responsible for patient phone calls.
Remove staples and/or sutures on post-op patients.
Preview pre-op lab work, order pre-op clearance when necessary; Assist in pre-op patient education for patient and family.
Provides patient education.
Identifies community health resources and refers patients as necessary.
Handles other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Graduate of an approved formal education program preparing nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Extensive knowledge of physical assessment, differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, pharmacology and management of acute and chronic patient/family problems; Twelve hours continuing education or in-service hours required annually.
Currently licensed in the State of Louisiana as an Advanced Practice Nurse or Physician's Assistant; Certified or certification eligible by the American Nurses Association as a primary care nurse practitioner or the National Committee on Certification of Physician Assistants; BCLS certification required, ACLS, NALS preferred.
Ability to communicate with patient, family, peers and medical personnel.
Requires emotional stability and resilience. Must be adaptable to change, be decisive and demonstrate foresight.
Exhibits organizational and leadership ability.
Physical Demands/Work Environment
Work requires a variety of physical activities, including moving about within and outside of all hospital properties for long periods of time.
Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to emergency and non-emergent situations.
May be required to assist in controlling disorderly conduct or combative patients.
Must be able to exchange accurate information with patient, family, peers and medical personnel.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
