Nurse Practitioner - General / Thoracic Surgery

JOB SUMMARY

The Nurse Practitioner - Surgery (NP) is a licensed practitioner who is responsible for managing health problems and coordinating age-appropriate health care for the patient. S/he is part of the innovative care team that will meet the individual needs of the patient and their family. The NP practices in accordance with MOPH Department of Healthcare Practitioner rules and regulations and the NPs professional body’s standards of care providing evidence-based best practice care in an age-appropriate care model. Included in their scope of practice is performing histories, examinations, ordering appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic tests and procedures along with prescribing pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The NP manages acute and chronic patient conditions. S/he is instrumental in providing patient and family education. The NP is an active and respected member of the Healthcare team designed to meet the individual needs of the patient and her family. The NP takes key responsibility as a patient advocate and ensures referral of the patient when necessary.

KEY ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Knowledge of nursing practice must be at a formal level of education including board certification. Applicant must have a professional mastery of the scope of professional practice. 

• Undertakes considerable independent judgment with direct impact on the patient’s health, well-being and satisfaction within authority and own job scope.

• Works as part of the provider team, the NP sees patients within their scope of practice creating other care opportunities for the physicians.

Clinical Practice

• Functions independently to evaluate and treat patients with complex acute, critical and chronically ill patients, according to written guidelines as defined by the nurse practitioner’s professional scope of practice as defined by the MOPH Department of Healthcare Practitioner and in adherence with Sidra’s agreed upon scopes of practice. 

• Performs age-appropriate histories on new patients. 

• Performs pertinent physical exams with assessment of the normal and abnormal findings on new patients. 

• Obtains age-appropriate interval histories on return patients.

• Performs focused examinations on return patients. 

• Performs or requests and evaluates diagnostic studies as indicated upon evaluation of the patient.

• Prescribes appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities. (Obtains countersignature on prescription from the supervising physician for medications not included in the approved formulary)

• Where appropriate and skilled prescribes physical therapy and other rehabilitation treatments as required.

• Performs designated procedures approved by the Division Chief of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery after demonstrating competency and according to written standardized procedure where applicable.

• Facilitates the patient’s transition within and between health care settings: admissions, transfers and discharges and completes appropriate documentation.

• Works across all service lines by collaborating with multidisciplinary team members and making appropriate referrals.

• Applies critical thinking to make independent determinations on process and policy exceptions that need to be defined on a case-by-case judgment.

• Evaluates the effectiveness of interventions. Individualizes the plan of care and treatment based upon the desired treatment outcomes.

• Recognizes and considers the age-specific needs of the patient prenatal care, well-childcare including screening and immunizations), health-maintenance.

• Utilizes effective communication and interactions with patients, family, staff, and members of the community from diverse backgrounds.

• Acts as advisor and facilitates staff, patient and family decision making by providing educational tools.

• Provides counseling/anticipatory guidance to patients, family, and/or staff regarding physical, psychological or developmental needs.

• Recognizes situations which require the immediate attention of a physician and initiates life-saving procedures when necessary.

• Provides expert education, consultation, advocacy research, leadership, and mentorship. 

• Promotes the advancement of the NP profession at Sidra and the community-at-large. This may include publication, participation in professional organizations and providing educational support to the nursing staff.

• In consultation with the collaborating physician, enrolls patients in investigational studies approved by the Investigational Review Board (IRB), and orders necessary tests and medications. 

• Participates in research design, implementation, and interpretation.

• Meets Sidra’s core measures of performance related to patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice.

Fiscal and Human Resources Management

• Takes into consideration the appropriateness and cost effectiveness of services utilized (both human and material resources) in providing care.

Professional and Educational Accountability

• Performs job functions adhering to service principles with customer service focus of innovation, service excellence, and teamwork to provide the highest quality care and service to our patients, families, co-workers and others.

• Assesses the learning needs of patients and families and develops and/or implements teaching programs to meet these identified needs in the hospital or community.

• Provides formal and informal consultation to members of the multidisciplinary team in the hospital and ambulatory setting as well as to the community at large.

• Initiates and/or participates in the development of hospital policies, procedures, and protocols regarding patient care.

• Is active in Departmental, Divisional and hospital committees.

• Maintains knowledge of current/new evidence-based practices and incorporates findings into clinical practice.

• Takes accountability for their own clinical and professional growth based on evaluation and feedback. In collaboration with leadership, sets realistic goals for performance plans.

• Maintains competence and professional development in alignment with the Departments of Medicine and Nursing.

• Maintains license, certification or registration as required.

• Performs other duties when appropriate.

Customer Relations and Communication

• Consistently utilizes and facilitates effective communication strategies giving appropriate and constructive feedback to individual patients, families, and other members of the health care team regarding behavior that is detrimental to the achievement of hospital and patient care goals and outcomes.

• Through teamwork and accountability, it exhibits behaviors and attitudes of courtesy and respect to patients, families and to all members of the health care team.

• Consistently presents and conducts oneself in a professional manner.

• Consistently acts in a proactive manner to assist the consumer through all facets of the Sidra system.

• Demonstrates behaviors that support performance improvement activities.

• Performs other duties as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education

• Master’s degree from an accredited school of nursing. 

• Holds the appropriate Board Certification on for specialty.

• Registered Nurse

   

Experience

• 5+ years of clinical experience 

• 2+ years of experience in the Nurse Practitioner role                                                   

• 3+ years of clinical experience as a registered general nurse and 2 years of experience in the same specialization after Master’s degree or PhD