APRN (Behavioral Health)

APRN -ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Institute a plan of care for patients, including ordering diagnostic tests, medications and medical/nursing treatments.  Physician consultation may or may not be utilized. Decision-making process is guided by:

•      The boundaries of the nurse practitioner’s education, clinical experience, and applicable laws.

•      The medical history, and signs and symptoms of the individual patient.

•      Standard protocol and medical/nursing texts.

•      Treatment/protocol preferences of patients and individual collaborating physicians.

Order diagnostic testing, when applicable, to support patient care.  Common diagnostic tests may be ordered without prior physician consultation, including but not limited to:

•      Lab tests such as chemistry, thyroid, hematology, serology, urine, and microbiology studies.

•      Non-invasive x-rays.

•      Pulmonary function tests and pulse oximetry.

•      Immunizations and other PPD testing.

•      Reports positive results of contagious diseases and other items to governmental authorities as required.

Order medical/nursing procedures commonly done at Grace Community Health Center, and refer patients as necessary to subspecialty evaluation, home health care and other allied health services (e.g. social services).

Makes house and emergency calls within the scope of service to attend to patients unable to visit the center or to whom doing so would be a hardship.

Obtain physician consultation in complex patient situations, when the patient is not responding to the standard therapy or whenever there is any doubt as to the optimal evaluation and treatment for a particular patient.

Provides emergency medical treatment as presented up to level of license, training, facilities, and resources available.

Seek out ongoing physician supervision for delegated medical acts, peer review and continuing medical/nursing education.

Comply with all Grace Health policies and procedures.

Represent the organization during outreach and other events.

Strives to meet the spiritual, mental and emotional needs of patients as appropriate and available.

Grace Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.