Job Summary

The nurse practitioner provides comprehensive direct patient care and scholarly practice including obtaining comprehensive patient histories, performing complete physical examination, ordering and performing diagnostic testing and screening, diagnosing illness, prescribing both pharmacological and other treatments for patients, and providing health maintenance and promotion interventions such as patient and family education and counseling.  Also, the NP assumes accountability for indirect care responsibilities, which support patient care including staff and student education, clinical research, program development, and quality improvement.

Demonstrates through behavior Decatur Morgan Hospital’s mission, vision and values.

Key Responsibilities / Essential Functions

1. Collects patient data through integration from a wide variety of sources to formulate clinical judgments and decisions regarding appropriate recommendations and treatments.
2. Analyzes the assessment data by prioritizing actual and/or potential health care problems in determining the diagnosis as the basis for designing interventions to promote the restoration of health.
3. Collaborates with the health care team for developing the multidisciplinary plan of care.
4. Participates in the development of a plan of care to guide the multidisciplinary team toward restoration of health for patients.
5. Is accountable for planning, implementing, and delegating therapeutic interventions identified in the multidisciplinary plan of care.
6. Evaluates the patient’s response to therapeutic interventions and modifies the plan of care to optimize clinical outcomes.
7. Establishes and monitors standards of practice to improve patient care in collaboration with other clinical experts.
8. Facilitates organizational resources that promote optimal patient outcomes.

Assess and examine patients to formulate history and physical as well as discharge

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Experience Required

Education:  Completion of Nurse Practitioner Masters of Science in Nursing from an accredited college or university.  Successful completion of a National Certification Exam for NP, current registration through the Alabama board of Nursing and Board of Medical Examiners, and approval of the Decatur Morgan Hospital credentialing board.

Additional Skill/Abilities:  BLS and ACLS are required before the conclusion of the orientation period.