Nurse Practitioner

POSITION OVERVIEW

As a key member of the RGA healthcare team, the APN is a healthcare provider who works collaboratively with the healthcare team comprised of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals and is responsible for providing comprehensive, high-quality, exceptional care to a specified group of clinic patients with gastrointestinal disorders and conditions. In a team-based environment, recognizing the value of your co-workers and developing their skill levels will be critical to the success of the team in delivering the best care possible to our patients. The scope of responsibilities includes collaborating and coordinating with physicians and other health professionals regarding clinical practice, education, consultation, research and program development. She / He will demonstrate a high degree of clinical expertise in providing comprehensive, patient-centered preventative illness management to patients in the outpatient setting. The nurse practitioner will provide care autonomously to patients, functioning interdependently and collaboratively with physicians and the healthcare team. She / He will focus on the patient’s needs and seek to educate patients and their families in order to promote wellness, prevent health problems, maintain current health status and intervene in acute chronic illness. The role involves a combination of direct patient care, coordination of diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient and family education, and support. All duties and responsibilities must be accomplished within the guidelines of Rockford Gastroenterology Associates and developed in collaboration with physicians and administrators.

The nurse practitioner will carry out the following responsibilities in performing their duties:

• Maintain confidentiality of all patient information.
• Retain a current knowledge of trends and developments in the field through active engagement in professional training and development activities to expand your knowledge base and stay updated with the latest advancements in the field of gastrointestinal care. This may be accomplished through reviewing appropriate articles, journals and other relevant material and by attending seminars and conferences (whether virtual or in person).
• Maintain good standing with all relevant licenses and certifications.
• Carry out the duties of the position with clinical competency and adherence to best practice.
• Demonstrate an ability to work alongside and communicate effectively with other care providers.
• Focus on process design and improvement to deliver care in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Participation in and leadership of performance improvement efforts is expected of the nurse practitioner as an integral leader of other clinical staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Identify and establish clinical learning opportunities for nursing and other clinical staff.
• Act as a resource to staff and implement educational programs to improve care provided to patients/ families. Identify areas of learning need and develop teaching tools or training sessions and assist individuals to increase their skills.
• Develop, conduct, and evaluate formal or informal in-services and continuing education programs.
• Develop protocols and guidelines for management of certain GI patient diagnosis in collaboration with the RGA physicians.
• Relate to all in a polite and professional manner; communicate in a positive way with patients and co-workers; use time effectively and efficiently; and demonstrate an overall high level of performance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Patient Assessment and Diagnosis

• Complete initial and follow up consultation with patients in the clinical setting through collaboration with an RGA gastroenterologist as needed.
• Conduct comprehensive or episodic health history and physical assessment and pre-procedure work-ups of patients with acute or chronic gastrointestinal health problems.
• Order and interpret diagnostic studies
• Assess psycho-social, cognitive and functional assets and limitations of the patient/family and plan care to incorporate those needs.

Treatment and Management

• In accordance with the Nurse Practitioner - Physician written agreement, establish a medical diagnosis; order and evaluate diagnostic studies; perform and monitor therapeutic procedures; and assess and monitor follow-up plans based on the history, physical exam, and clinical findings.
• Initiation and management of medications, treatments, and therapies for preventative and chronic GI disease
• In collaboration with physicians, develop written guidelines for the medical management of assigned groups of patients. Meet regularly with physicians; work collaboratively to effect changes and develop protocols.
• Record and document health appraisal data necessary to maintain, coordinate and / or expedite required services.
• Monitor patient’s progress and adjusts patient care plan by reviewing, monitoring, and modifying treatments and therapy plans
• Seek appropriate consultation according to approved guidelines.
• Prescribe, recommend and regulate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies and treatments across multiple care settings, including controlled medications that are warranted by patient's diagnosis or changing medical condition.
• Evaluate patients to determine their need for further health care.
• Refer to other disciplines as appropriate.
• Coordinate care for optimal continuity of care across the health care continuum.
• Serve as consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise.
• Issue prescription orders for medications and complete prescription refill requests in a timely manner.
• Review and sign off labs in a timely manner.

Patient Education

• Develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive patient education programs that assure quality and appropriateness of care.
• Facilitate patient/family participation in health care by identifying learning needs and providing specialized education to enhance decision making.
• Counsel, instruct and educate patients and their families about their conditions, treatment options, and recommended lifestyle modifications.
• Provide guidance on physical and mental health factors that influence the patient’s condition including: diet, preventive health measures, health behaviors, self-care skills, disease, treatment options, and normal growth and development.
• Offer emotional support and address patient’s concerns to enhance their understanding and compliance with the prescribed treatments.
• Manage patient health concerns through telephone triage and consultation as needed.

Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborate with patients to determine physiologic, emotional, and environmental needs and priorities.
• Use formularies and guidelines to help patients manage the cost of their care.
• Collaborate closely with other physicians involved in the patient’s care, nurses, and other involved healthcare professionals to ensure seamless patient care.

Research and Continuous Learning

• Stay current with the latest advancements in gastroenterology.
• Integrate new knowledge into patient care to enhance outcomes.
• Engage in the development of evidence-based practice guidelines and utilize them to provide consistent, high-quality care.

Compliance and Quality Performance

• Adhere to legal and ethical standards of practice.
• Analyze clinical practice and identify opportunities to increase effectiveness and efficiency.
• Participate in quality assessment and improvement activities. Identify important aspects of care and assure findings are used to improve practice and operations.
• Contribute to quality improvement initiatives by providing feedback and taking an active role on process improvement teams.
• Develop collaborative practice relationships to serve as a model for the nursing staff.
• Document patient encounters, assessments, treatments, and outcomes appropriately and in a timely manner to ensure consistency of care and adequate billing. Use the electronic medical record system to maintain accurate and up-to-date medical records.
• Demonstrate organizational skills that allow timely patient appointments and appropriate required follow up.
• Operate with high integrity and accountability for results.
• Exhibit professionalism by performing research, education, and leadership in clinical practice.
• Membership in local, State, and National societies is encouraged.
• Meets company expectations of APN onboarding and orientation process within the timeframes allotted.

Qualification Requirements: The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in Nursing with specialization and licensure as a Nurse Practitioner.
• Previous experience in gastroenterology or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage, collaborate, and establish relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Proven organizational skills, effective time management, and an ability to prioritize effectively.
• Ability to work independently, make sound clinical decisions, and collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Computer literacy and proficiency in electronic health record (EHR) systems.
• Commitment to professional development and continuous learning.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to walk, sit, reach overhead, bend to the floor, and to stand for long periods of time. The employee is regularly required to talk and hear within normal range. The employee is required to use dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other clinic equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. Vision must be correctable to 20/30.
• Must be able to:
• Operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• Perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Will be exposed to the following hazards: mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation as well as blood and body fluids. Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and training will be provided. The employee is exposed to a computer monitor daily.
• The employee may be required to travel by automobile and exposed to changing weather conditions while performing the duties of this position.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee must be alert to conditions that may impact the safety of patients, employees, and visitors.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

• Because we serve diverse populations, our colleagues are trained to recognize the cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of the communities that we serve and to apply that knowledge to produce positive health outcomes. We also recognize that each of us has a different way of thinking and perceiving our world and that these differences often lead to innovative solutions.