Nurse Practitioner

Definition

Definition: Under general supervision from the Service Line Chief for Primary Care and administrative direction by the Director of Health Services in the Health and Human Services Department, provides preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic health care services to members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) and other qualified Native Americans in the health center walk-in clinic, primary care clinic, home or community settings as directed. This job class is treated as FLSA Exempt.

Essential Functions: Essential functions may vary among positions and may include the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, skills, and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of tasks performed by all positions in this classification.

Examples of Tasks

1. Provides diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic health services to patients and family members in the clinic, walk-in clinic, home or community settings as directed.
2. Obtains health history from each patient.

• Conducts health intake questionnaires, performs physical examinations and orders necessary laboratory tests as needed.
• Physical exams may include: Evaluation of the body and its functions using inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, collection of specimens for laboratory examination.
• Carefully documents history, all findings, treatments and education provided in accordance with current medical practice standards.

3. Interprets results of laboratory, x-ray and other results.

• Diagnoses and treats illnesses within current professional standards for Nurse Practitioners, conferring with Physicians and specialists as needed.
• Initiates actions for further tests and procedures as needed.

4. Distinguishes between normal and abnormal findings to recognize various stages of serious physical, emotional or mental problems.

• Observes appropriate medical practices applied to stabilize chronically ill persons.
• Adjusts treatment within established standards of practice.
• Refers difficult or complicated cases to physicians or other health care providers as appropriate.
• Confers with, and informs, primary care physicians and specialists as needed to provide quality patient care.

5. Writes prescriptions for medications within Nurse Practitioner's scope of practice.

• Instructs patients in the proper use of medications and possible side effects.
• Dispenses non-prescription medicines and other items as needed.
• Monitors medication administration for reactions and side effects in accordance with pharmaceutical information and medical history.

6. Provides education to patients concerning their illnesses, ways to maintain and/or improve their health and researches responses to questions from patients.
7. Provides guidance in child growth and development as well as in child rearing and other appropriate parenting skills for family members.

• Obtains health and developmental history from parent of patient.
• Records findings and makes critical evaluations.
• Performs or requests special screening and developmental tests, laboratory tests or other diagnostic measures and interprets the results.

8. Provides emergency services as needed to stabilize patient for transport to hospital facility.

• Provides emergency services or crises intervention in the absence of the Physician in order to stabilize the patient for transport.
• Ensures appropriate arrangements are made within emergency treatment guidelines.

9. Provides direct medical care in the presence of illness or disability in order to maintain life, provide comfort, reduce distress and enhance coping ability.
10. Maintains records and reports on patients, program activities and status and other required information for use in program operation, quality assurance and other purposes.

• May delegate appropriate components of nursing regimen and clerical regimen to allied personnel to improve clinic operation.

11. Maintains knowledge and proficiency in medical practices through continuing education.

• Attends and participates in staff meetings and staff in-service education.
• Participates in, and conducts, studies relevant to health care needs of patients.
• May serve in a teaching capacity in the development of other health care workers.

12. Plans and participates with other professionals and agencies involved in providing services to families and, where appropriate, coordinates health care and services required to include immunization and disease contact, environmental health and health education.

13. Performs procedures that are recognized as appropriate for treatment, or alleviation, of medical conditions and/or their symptoms. These are done within a scope the provider is comfortable with, and has been granted privileges to perform.

14. Performs other job related duties as assigned by the Chief Medical Officer, Division Chief of Primary Care, or HHS Director.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:

• Knowledge of history and culture of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, and Tribal laws, rules, customs and traditions.
• Knowledge of diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic procedures in a community health program.
• Knowledge of physiology, pharmacology and medical treatment methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of medical and health service resources available to the Community.
• Knowledge of pharmaceuticals in order to recognize their desired effects, side effects and complications of their ruse.
• Knowledge of human behavior during stressful situations in order to exercise emotional control, tact, patience and reliability in carrying out patient care.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of family health care, particularly as it applies to the Nurse Practitioner profession.
• Knowledge of availability and use of resources designated as primary care and referral services.
• Knowledge of resources within, and outside, the Community that may be utilized for patient treatment.
• Knowledge of general policies, procedures and standards followed in the Clinic and within Health and Human Services.
• Knowledge of quality assurance and evaluation process to improve patient care and facilitate monitoring and program planning.
• Knowledge of health record aspects of patient care and ability to accurately and completely document related clinical data.

• Skill providing one-to-one patient care in the most appropriate setting.
• Skill writing reports and maintaining accurate records following standard procedures.
• Skill understanding and interpreting complex directives impacting compliance with medical directives and Nurse Practitioner licensing issues.
• Skill evaluating operations and programs to determine if they meet the Community's needs and established health care standards.
• Skill establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with patients and their families, resource agencies, Tribal officials, subordinates, coworkers, management, personnel from other health providers and the public.
• Skill providing leadership to and training for other medical services staff.
• Skill in use of the electronic health record and knowledge of current ICD-10 coding standards

• Ability to analyze and react to emergency situations quickly, calmly and correctly to adopt effective courses of action, giving due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances.
• Ability to collect, organize, record and communicate, in a meaningful way, data relevant to primary health assessments including a detailed family and medical history, physical examination and selective laboratory tests.
• Ability to perform special screening and developmental tests and selected laboratory services.
• Ability to provide individual and family counseling, guidance and health instructions to help patients understand how to prevent disease and maintain good physical and mental health.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: A Master's degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university and current registration as a professional Family Practice or Adult Nurse Practitioner (depending on assigned work area) in the State of Arizona
• Must have a valid & unexpired Arizona nursing license at time of hire .
• Must maintain current certification and/or licensure appropriate to Nurse Practitioner including national certification (ANCC or AANP) and pursue a minimum of 10 hours annually of related continuing education credits.
• Prescription privileges certificate from the State of Arizona, registered independent DEA member required.
• Experience: Two (2) or more years of experience as a professional Family Practice or Adult Nurse Practitioner preferred.
• Prefer knowledge of Pima and Maricopa culture.

• Equivalency: Any equivalent combination of education and experience that will allow the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the job may be considered.

• Underfill Eligibility: An enrolled Community Member whom closely qualifies for the minimum qualifications for a position may be considered for employment under SRPMIC Policy 2-19, Underfill

Special Requirements

• May be required to work beyond normal business hours including irregular hours, nights, weekends and holidays. May be required to take call. Must have reliable transportation.
  
• Employees in, and applicants applying for, jobs providing direct services to children are subject to the "Community Code of Ordinances", Chapter 11, "Minors", Article X. "Investigation of Persons Working With Children".
  

Prior to hire as an employee, applicants will be subject to drug and alcohol testing. Will be required to pass a pre-employment background/fingerprint check.

"SRPMIC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer" Preference will be given to a qualified : Community Member Veteran, Community Member, Spouse of Community Member, qualified Native American, and then other qualified candidate.

In order to obtain preference, the following is required: 1) Qualified Community Member Veteran (DD-214) will be required at the time of application submission 2) Qualified Community Member (must provide Tribal I.D at time of application submission),3) Spouse of a Community Member (Marriage License/certificate and spouse Tribal ID or CIB is required at time of application submission), and 4) Native American (Tribal ID or CIB required at time of application submission).

Documents may be submitted by one of the following methods:

1) attach to application

2) fax (480) 362-5860

3) mail or hand deliver to Human Resources.

Documentation must be received by position closing date.

The IHS/BIA Form-4432 is not accepted .

Your Tribal ID/CIB must be submitted to HR-Recruitment-Two Waters.

Benefits:

The SRPMIC offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan. In addition employees enjoy vacation and sick leave and 13 paid holidays.