Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Nutrition Therapy

POSITION DESCRIPTION:  

The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Nutrition Therapy (APRN) provides comprehensive, evidence-based primary care and focused nutrition education to patients . Assesses, diagnoses, treats, and monitors acute and chronic conditions within the APRN’s education, certification, privileges, organizational protocols, and applicable law. Uses culturally responsive education, shared decision-making, and referrals to help patients improve nutrition-related health outcomes and overcome rural barriers to care. Adheres to Corporate Compliance program, by reporting improper or unethical conduct, violation of applicable laws, regulations or program requirements.

DETAILED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides direct nursing to patients through therapeutic and preventative health care with the support and/or supervision of the physician by established protocols (supervisory provider does not need to be on premise, but be available for consult).
• Performs basic physical assessments; requests or performs needed laboratory tests, special screenings (i.e., pregnancy tests, pap smears, ultrasound) and interpret results; manages problems or illness according to established protocols or refers to physician.
• Assesses nutrition-related health risks using relevant history, medications, laboratory results, vital signs, weight trends, body mass index, dietary patterns, health literacy, culture, readiness to change, and social drivers of health.
• Identifies patients who may benefit from focused nutrition education, including those with diabetes or prediabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal conditions, or other nutrition-sensitive conditions.
• Develops and documents individualized care plans that address nutrition, physical activity, medications, monitoring, follow-up intervals, and measurable clinical and patient-reported goals.
• Provides evidence-based nutrition education within the APRN’s scope of practice and competencies, translating clinical recommendations into practical, affordable, and culturally appropriate actions.
• Screens for food insecurity and other barriers common in rural communities, including transportation limitations, limited access to healthy foods, financial constraints, digital access, and limited specialty services; connects patients with appropriate community resources.
• Provides patient-centered primary care, including health histories, physical examinations, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and preventive services, in accordance with approved privileges, organizational policies, and applicable law. Orders, performs, and interprets appropriate diagnostic tests and screenings; develops treatment plans and consults with or refers to a physician or other specialist when indicated. Orders and interprets diagnostic tests and procedures such as urinalysis, blood counts, x-rays, smears and cultures, EKGs, ultrasound, fetal monitoring, etc.
• Recognizes conditions requiring specialized nutrition care and refers to a registered dietitian nutritionist/licensed dietitian-nutritionist or other qualified clinician as appropriate, including suspected eating disorders, malnutrition, complex renal disease, nutrition support needs, or conditions outside the APRN’s competence or scope.
• Responsible for reporting and following up on all communicable diseases, identified per Florida and CDC guidelines.
• Tracks and contributes to Rural Health Project and other performance measures, as applicable, quality-improvement activities, and required reports, including nutrition-related clinical outcomes and patient engagement measures.
• Provides patient and family education across the continuum of care using plain-language materials, interpreter services, and accessible teaching methods appropriate to literacy, language, culture, and learning needs. Coordinates with FHC clinical and non-clinical staff to provide nutrition education and assistance with food insecurity.
• Performs related duties, as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of advanced nursing practice, primary care, population health, preventive care, and chronic disease management.
• Knowledge of evidence-based nutrition principles relevant to common chronic conditions, including balanced eating patterns, portion awareness, label reading, sodium reduction, carbohydrate quality and distribution, heart-healthy fats, hydration, and weight-management principles.
• Knowledge of the relationship among nutrition, medications, laboratory findings, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes, and the limits of the APRN role compared with specialized dietetics practice.
• Knowledge of communicable diseases, incubation period, transmission and prevention.
• Skill in comprehensive history-taking, physical assessment, clinical reasoning, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and evaluation of outcomes.
• Skill in nutrition-risk screening and in interpreting relevant laboratory, medication, and dietary information within scope of practice..
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing and to establish respectful working relationships with patients, families, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients via Telehealth.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from an accredited advanced practice nursing program.
• Current, unrestricted Florida license as a Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or eligibility to obtain required licensure before employment.
• Current national board certification in a population focus appropriate to the assigned patient population, such as Family Nurse Practitioner or Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.
• Current prescriptive authority and eligibility for credentialing and privileging in accordance with organizational policy and applicable law.
• At least three years of professional nursing experience preferred; experience in primary care, chronic disease management, community health, rural health, or care of medically underserved populations strongly preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bilingual skills English/Spanish preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required; additional certification as required by assigned duties.