General Surgery - Part-Time PA/NP

Patient Assessments 

• Provides diagnosis and treatment for common acute illnesses, prevention and maintenance care to patients with stable chronic illnesses and performs interim physical exams for healthy patients within nurse protocol. 

• Nurse Protocol means a written document mutually agreed upon and signed by a nurse and Licensed MD where the physician delegates to the nurse the authority to perform certain medical acts 

• Separates patients with suspected infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and varicella-zoster from well patients by immediately placing them in exam room utilizing personal protective equipment and confidentially communicating the condition to other clinical staff. 

• Elicits appropriate present and past medical history and review of symptoms. 

• Performs appropriate physical examination and orders appropriate diagnostic studies. Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings in history and physical. 

• Establishes the appropriate differential diagnosis. 

• Assesses the stability of chronic illness and compliance with present therapy; monitors complication of disease or therapy. Establishes appropriate treatment plan and assesses need for hospitalization or physician intervention. 

• Determines timing for follow up and orders appropriate referrals. 

• Counsels regarding health promotion and disease prevention and provides anticipated guidance as appropriate. 

Provides Health Education to Patients 

• Educates patient on ways to improve, promote and maintain health status including providing educational information on disease, self- care practices and positive lifestyle choices. 

• Assesses learning readiness and capabilities of population or individuals; tailors education to meet age, developmental and educational needs. 

• Prioritizes learning needs and documents them accordingly. 

• Ensures that time frame and subject matter is appropriate for target audience/individual. 

• Utilizes appropriate teaching materials (handouts, demonstration and audiovisuals) and document use; documents patient learning outcomes. 

• Initiates, designs and completes educational programs for patients, target audiences and families. 

Documentation 

•   Adheres to policy and procedure for documentation of records. 

•   Maintains appropriate level of documentation to promote/support level of complexity when compared against/to service fee charges. 

• Reviews and updates problem list at least on annual visit/episodic visit by patient and initiates problem and medication list on new patients. 

• Documents phone calls with patients and specialists. 

• Documents visit in concise, clear, logical and legible manner. 

• Accepts after hour calls and handles after hours problem (on a rotating schedule). 

Maintains Competence in Clinical Practice 

• Identifies knowledge and skills needed through self-assessment and peer review. 

• Participates in a variety of education activities to maintain and increase competency. 

• Utilizes continuing education as a basis for expanding medical knowledge and improving clinical skill and incorporates these into daily practice. 

• Participates in and completes annual educational requirements for Floyd Medical Center and/or the Primary Care Network. Approved to order and administer flu vaccines for off-site locations. 

Management Responsibilities 

• Supervises and intervenes with clinical issues and supports/directs triage by clinical staff when necessary. Implements clinical education and training of clinical staff when necessary. 

• Provides constructive feedback as it relates to performance, patient flow and patient issues. Provides in services and clinical education for staff members on as needed basis. 

• Available for feedback on call back and triage issues as needed. 

• Identifies barriers to patient care flow/delivery and assists with implementing corrective action. Serves as role model for patient interaction. 

•   Works collaboratively with health care team members to ensure continuity of care and complete delivery of prescribed care. 

Drug Protocols 

• Adheres to the drug protocols which are reviewed annually, developed by the supervising physician in collaboration with the NP. Prescribes within the practice agreement agreed on by the delegating physician 100% of the time 

• Ensures 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 and representatives of other organizations and coworkers, volunteers and medical staff in support of the practice/organization mission. 

• 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 in performing duties to ensure a safe environment. 

• Regularly performs tasks in accordance with policy and procedure including safe use of equipment and machines and appropriate use/wear of personal protective equipment and other safely equipment. 

• Completes all required safety in service updates. 

Quality and Performance Improvement 

• Completes duties timely and promotes financial viability through the provision of services at a reasonable cost and efficient utilization of products, supplies, equipment and time. 

• Actively participates in continuing education, professional memberships and other scholarly and community outreach and marketing activities to enhance the NP role and image of nursing in all aspects of patient, community and professional relations. 

Continuing Education 

• Completes competency checklists and unit specific recommendations Completes unit and departmental annual skills checklists 

• Completes annual training on generating, preparing and/or submitting accurate requests for reimbursement from Federal Health Care programs for professional services 

• Utilizes continuing education to expand medical knowledge and improve clinical skills and incorporates into daily practice