Description

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) performs a variety of advanced clinical duties involved in assessing, treating, controlling, and preventing patient illness and disease within the facility. The NP provides general medical care and treatment to facility patients/residents under the direction of the medical director. The NP, independently and/or in collaboration with the treatment team, participates in the observation, assessment, diagnosis, intervention, evaluation, rehabilitation, care and counsel, and health education of patients/residents.

JOB SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures that services provided are consistent and within the guidelines of the Nursing Practice Act

• Obtains detailed history and performs physical examinations on assigned patients; assesses and treats acute/chronic medical problems and provides direct patient care to a specified patient population

• Performs emergency, life-saving procedures

• Notifies attending physician on call, house physician on call, or supervising physician regarding any unusual or unexpected events or problems requiring direct physician consultation

• Practices proper safety, environmental, and/or infection control methods

• Writes progress notes on patients’ charts indicating patient status and treatment procedures performed; maintains other records as required

• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, and workshops

• Performs complete physical and neurological exam of patients/residents by means of interview, health history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests

• Orders appropriate laboratory and diagnostic procedures; interprets results and intervenes appropriately

• Prescribes and administers medications in compliance with the Texas Physician Assistant Practice Act requirements and Facility guidelines

• Recommends and refers to institutional and community resources to meet patient and family needs

• Collaborates with physicians and other health care providers (within the facility and in the community) in managing acute and long-term medical needs of patients

• Provides monitoring and ensures continuity of care between physician visits

• Provides 24-hour medical call coverage on a rotating schedule

• Provides continuing education and serves as a resource to staff

• Discusses case with physician and other health professionals

• Submits health care plan and goals of individual patients for periodic review and evaluation by physician

• Prescribes or recommends drugs, as allowed per prescriptive authority, or other forms of treatment such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.

• Attends admissions meetings

• Attends weekly treatment team meetings

• Performs other duties as assigned

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:

• Master’s in nursing as NP or master’s degree in Nursing with completion of a post-masters Nurse Practitioner Certification Program.

EXPERIENCE:

• Preferably three (3) to five (5) years of experience in long term rehabilitation with neurobehavioral clients

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

• Current Texas Licensure as a Registered Nurse

• Current Texas Advance Practice Registered Nurse licensure (APRN-NP)

• Certified in BLS Current certification and in good standing during employment

• Attend behavioral management and de-escalation techniques training as required by the facility.

• Certification in behavior management or related (SAMA, ABA, PIP, etc.)