APRN Neurosurgery

The Advanced Practice Nurse will provide services to the designated Service Line to promote Nursing knowledge by functioning as a clinical resource to the Nursing Staff.  The APN will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to lead and facilitate programs and teams to improve the process of care delivery to the indentified patient population. The Advanced Nurse Practitioner will provide direct, comprehensive, therapeutic and preventive healthcare service to the patients and their families. These functions will include, but are not limited to the following: assessment of health status, ordering and evaluating tests, diagnosing and initiating appropriate therapeutic interventions, providing instruction and counseling to patients and their families, collaborating with other health care providers to provide and coordinate services to patients, and prescribing medications. The APN will provide health care within the Advanced Nurse Practitioner scope of practice for those patients and MD’s in which they have a collaborative Practice Agreement with. The APN may also be asked to perform other duties as assigned.

Patient Assessment

• Accurately assesses the health status of individuals and families through history taking, physical examination, and establishes accurate diagnosis of health/developmental problems.
• Documents assessment accurately to support charges and to communicate with other health care providers.

Patient Treatment

• Orders and interprets diagnostic tests
• Independently develops and initiates appropriate therapeutic interventions in a timely manner.
• Evaluates patient’s health outcomes and adjusts treatment plan accordingly
• Provides instruction and counseling to individuals, families and groups in the area of health promotion and maintenance
• Institutes and provides continuity of health care for patients and works with the patient to enhance understanding of compliance with the therapeutic regimen
• Seeks consultation from collaborating physician or consults other health care providers as needed/deemed appropriate
• Prescribes, delivers, or distributes prescription drugs, devices and medical gases, utilized within the professional’s recognized nursing specialty. Dispenses only samples within the approved schedules of drugs authorized to prescribe (in clinic setting only). Registration with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the Arkansas Board of Nursing extends this authority to controlled substances to include schedules III, IV, V, and VI and all other medications as permitted by §17-87-310 of the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act; including prescribing physical, occupational and speech therapies.
• Performs medically delegated functions under the direction of the physician (outlined in collaborative practice agreement)

Program Development/Leadership

• Identifies program weaknesses/gaps in service
• Develops solutions to improve patient care, customer service and health outcomes
• Provides professional presentations and training for staff/community as appropriate
• Participates in community service events as needed
• Assists in development and revision of current health care policies/procedures
• Actively participates in clinic/hospital department projects and committees as appropriate
• Leads/Facilitates multidisciplinary teams for process improvement
• Functions a clinical resource for nursing staff

Supervision

• Possesses leadership skills and knowledge to provide supervision to clinical staff as needed
• May serve as preceptor for student nurses, student nurse practitioners or student physician assistants as needed
• May serve as clinical mentor for new nurse practitioner or physician assistant hires

Education: Current RN and APN licensure in Arkansas. Completion of an organized graduate program in nursing and preceptorship, including supporting documentation. Eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid provider number. Eligibility for DEA registration. Current BLS certification. Current ACLS certification (for in-patient setting) is preferred.

Current RNP and/or APN licensure in Arkansas.  Documentation compliant with the State Nursing Board of satisfactory completion of a nurse practitioner educational program and completion of preceptorship.  Eligibility for a Medicare provider number and DEA registration.

Experience: Three to five years of clinical experience preferred.  One year experience in an APN Role preferred.  

Physical Requirements: This job requires, at various times, the following physical activities; climbing, balancing, stopping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, carrying, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, and hearing, and sometimes exerting 20-100 pounds of force.  The professional is required to have close visual acuity to perform daily activities.  The individual may be subject to inside environmental conditions, hazards (including electrical currents high heat and chemicals), infectious diseases, and may be required to work with prisoners and mentally incapacitated patients.