Job Summary

The Family Nurse Practitioner is responsible for delivery of quality medical care to patients of the Center and functions as a member of the multi-disciplinary health care team within the scope of his or her medical practice.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides clinical services.

   • Maintains clinical expertise and competency (to include age specific competency) as well as demonstrates thorough knowledge of procedures to deliver quality primary health care.

   • Provides clinic sessions, as scheduled, in direct patient care at clinic site, including extended hours clinics.

   • Provides a minimum average of three thousand five hundred (3500) primary care encounters for the contract year and provides services equaling to at least forty (40) hours per week in clinic.

   • Examines, diagnoses, treats and/or refers patients assigned to physician’s panel, on an in-patient and out-patient basis (as per individual employment agreements); prescribes pharmaceuticals, other medications, and treatment regimens as appropriate to assessed medical conditions.

   • Refers clients for appropriate specialty care services, lab and x-ray and any other ancillary services that are appropriate for patient’s management and care. Reviews all lab and x-ray reports for patients under his/her care on a timely basis and makes medical management decisions appropriately. Follows appropriate standards of care for each patient.

   • Provides continuity of care to center patients on his or her patient panel and other patients as assigned, including routine in-patient and nursing home care to center patients. Performs emergency on-call on a scheduled basis with other providers within the clinic.

   • Maintains a problem oriented health record for each patient seen in accordance with the Center’s established Health Information Management policies and procedures.

   • Ensures that patient and family/significant others are educated about diagnosis and the plan of care. Acts as a resource for facilitating communication when necessary.

   • Participates in specified health promotion, education and/or prevention programs as needed i.e. diabetes collaborative/health fairs etc.; attends and participates in clinic meetings / departmental meetings and other clinic functions as required by the Center.

   • Provider is responsible for practicing accepted infection control procedures at all times to include attending individual/group infection control training, and to comply with infection control monitoring.

   • Demonstrating flexibility, enthusiasm and willingness to cooperate while working with others in assigned inter-professional care teams to support PCMH programmatic activities.

   • Participate in population management activities, as directed.

   • Assist the care team by helping to measure quality and identify, refine and implement practice improvements that support the medical home, and assist in performance evaluation and quality improvement.

   • Apply the principles of comprehensive, community-based, patient-centered, developmentally appropriate, and culturally and linguistically sensitive care.

2. Provides clinical oversight under the supervision of the Medical Director.

   • Assumes responsibility/accountability for delegating, directing, and supervising patient care activities. Trains, mentors and supervises students and clinical support staff engaged in activities and procedures, as appropriate.

   • Participates in the analysis of community health problems and assists in the development of the community health care plan.

   • Participates in Compliance and Performance Improvement activities for continuous care quality improvement and risk management purposes.

   • Participates in the review and development of patient care policies, including health maintenance schedules and continuity of care.

   • Participates in the review and development of protocols and standing orders.

   • Implements the plans, procedures and protocols for the medical team.

   • Serves as a resource and positive, proactive leader for the department.

   • Accepts responsibility for remaining current with medical and health care trends and information that impact the medical practice.

   • Leads the health care team in identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing patient and family needs to develop a plan of care.

   • Participates in the evaluation of products, procedures, and patient care standards.

3. Maintains professional courtesy at all times.

4. Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required

• Knowledge of advanced principles of health promotion, prevention and motivation

• Knowledge of protocols in general and an ability to quickly gain specific knowledge of the Center’s current operational protocols

• Knowledge of medical terminology and appropriate abbreviations

• Demonstrates knowledge of the Texas Medical Practice Act

• Ability to document, with clarity, all information relevant to a patient’s needs

• Ability to effectively present information in small group situations to patients, Center staff, and the general public

• Ability to use office equipment including but not limited to computers, fax machines, telephones and copiers

Preferred

• Spanish speaking and writing skills

Credentials and Experience

Required

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing with an Advance Practice Nursing degree in Family Practice.

• Current certification from the Texas Board of Nursing Examiners to practice as an Advance Practice Nurse –Family Nurse Practitioner in the State of Texas

• Annual continuing education as required by Board specialty

• Must be registered and have current DEA, DPS and other such certificates to legally operate as an Advance Nurse Practitioner in the State of Texas

• Hospital privileges at designated area hospitals if required for specialty

• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Healthcare Professionals Certification

Preferred

• One (1) year of practice experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner giving direct patient care