JOB SUMMARY

At Houston Methodist, the Nurse Practitioner Acute Care (NP-AC) PRN is responsible for functioning as a licensed registered nurse and care provider to provide all aspects of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment and consultation while maintaining and promoting the health of the patient. This position may work in both inpatient and outpatient situations and performs according to the nurse practice act of the State of Texas and as part of a treatment team. Role models compassionate communication with patients, physicians and the interprofessional health care team. The NP-AC PRN position provides education to patients about preventative care and prescribed treatments. This position may also conduct physicals, order tests and serve as a patient's healthcare provider, prescribing medications as appropriate. The NP-AC PRN position effects direct patient care according to the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance policies and procedures.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Job responsibilities labeled EF capture those duties that are essential functions of the job.

PEOPLE - 25%

• Demonstrates leadership as a clinical resource, interprofessional consultant, and patient advocate. Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals. (EF)
• Communicates organizational information and aspects of administrative and clinical practice in a respectful and positive manner when interacting with staff. Advocates for a balanced workload, promotes positive behaviors, and peer-to-peer accountability. Facilitates the promotion of teamwork. (EF)
• Collaborates with the interprofessional healthcare team members to manage/coordinate patient care. Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns. (EF)
• Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Acts as a role model and coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Serves as preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students and medical resident(s), as applicable. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of department score for employee engagement. (EF)

SERVICE - 20%

• Coordinates appropriate, timely patient care under physician supervision, for a defined patient population(s), focusing on identified expected unit/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient. Prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities and preferences. (EF)
• Coordinates patient care between healthcare providers. Attends and participates in interdisciplinary rounds, as appropriate. (EF)
• Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards. (EF)

QUALITY/SAFETY - 30%

• Functions as a quality care provider, coordinating, maintaining, and promoting the health of the patient. Assist the interprofessional healthcare team in the development and implementation of protocols to ensure patient safety. Affects direct patient care according to the nurse practice act of the State of Texas and the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance. (EF)
• Conducts health assessments (initial, ongoing, discharge, as appropriate). Identifies normal/abnormal health characteristics, develops plan of care, initiates appropriate interventions, and evaluates care outcomes on defined patient populations(s). (EF)
• Performs invasive, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures necessary for defined patient population(s) based on licensure and credentialed privileges. (EF)
• Provides safe and effective care by leading and initiating outcome, quality, and safety improvement activities in alignment with organizational goals. Demonstrates highly developed assessment, clinical, documentation, leadership, and analytical skills; integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety-related processes. (EF)

FINANCE - 15%

• Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to departmental specifications. (EF)
• Projects awareness and understanding of resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge, and skills. (EF)

GROWTH/INNOVATION - 10%

• Promotes quality health care through integration of current research into practice and participation in research/evidence-based activities. Leads and identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement. (EF)
• Provides education of information/knowledge in professional activities such as research, presentations, and publications. Expands individual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. (EF)

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

o Master’s degree in Nursing

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

o Two years advanced practice or nurse practitioner clinical experience

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

o Texas RN license or temporary Texas RN license, should obtain permanent license within 90 days. Compact license acceptable according to current Board of Nursing requirements

o Licensed as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN) in the State of Texas

o Certified by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, based on applicable patient population, i.e. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP), Acute Care Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (ACNPC-AG)

o American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS)

o American Heart Association ACLS (not required for Employee Health, Primary Care and Telemedicine departments)

o Prescriptive authority privileges through the State of Texas

o Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration must be obtained within 6 months of hire

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

o Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

o Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

o Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

o Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional team to collaborate on the plan of care

o Strong assessment, organizational and problem solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components

o Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families

o Demonstrates proficient time management skills

o Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Work Attire Yes/No

Uniform Yes

Scrubs Yes

Business professional Yes

Other (dept approved) Yes

On-Call* Yes, as required by entity/department for operational need

Travel**

May require travel within Yes

Houston Metropolitan area

May require travel outside No

of Houston Metropolitan area

**Travel specifications may vary by department.

Please note any other special considerations to this job: __________________________