Family Nurse Practitioner

Summary

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) will be responsible for the assessment, health case management, diagnosis, treatment, follow up, and referral of ambulatory patients seen in the Lake Almanor Clinic under the direction of the Clinic Medical Director. The FNP assists in the development and updating of protocols with the cooperation and input of the Clinic Medical Director, Lake Almanor Clinic Manager, and Assistant Administrator/Patient Care Services.

The FNP takes responsibility for keeping his/her knowledge and credentials current and for upgrading his/her knowledge. Evaluation of the quality of care delivered is accomplished using active Quality Assurance which is reviewed and developed conjointly by the Clinic Medical Director, Clinic Administration, and FNP.

The FNP plans patient care using skills specific to their individual training and experience and works under established protocols. (See protocol manual.) Such care may include but not be limited to:

• Taking patient histories – database gathering.
• Physical assessments – episodic and ongoing.
• Ordering needed laboratory, x-ray, and other testing specific to patients’ problems (diagnoses) and in accordance with established protocols.
• Initiating treatments which are appropriate to patients’ problems and diagnoses and specific to the individual needs of patients, i.e., cultural, ethnic, sociological, religious, emotional, physical needs are taken into consideration in planning of care.
• Establishing a plan of care which will assist patients to move towards better health and healing.
• Educating, counseling, and appropriate referrals to assure the patients’ ongoing needs are met as well as episodic problems cared for.
• Ongoing case management can include discussions of patients’ health care problems with supervising physician and referrals to a physician or specialist when needed.
• Furnishing of appropriate medications and treatments according to established protocols including respiratory therapy, physical or occupational therapy, speech therapy, or other appropriate intervention.

• Works with the Lake Almanor Clinic Manager to assure that clinic hours are covered by adequate staff and arranges schedule so that clinic can be open as designated by Administration.
• Manages time well.
• Supports philosophy and objectives of Administration.
• Acts as a liaison between patients, families and physicians when needed.
• Assumes personal responsibility for providing quality patient care.
• Provides direction to clinic staff to ensure patient care is delivered appropriately.
• Sets an appropriate clinical role model for other nursing personnel.

• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to gather data pertinent to patient plan of care and assessment.
• Per protocol, orders necessary and related lab tests or other diagnostic testing.
• Obtains complaint related history and gathers all other history information needed for complete plans of care.
• Specifically gathers information on adverse drug reactions, allergies and idiosyncratic reactions.
• Attempts to use interpreter via hospital policy to gather data when needed.
• Utilizes patients’ charts, hospital charts, and emergency room records to gather background when needed.
• Organizes and demonstrates ability to arrange data in a problem-oriented fashion when recording.
• Demonstrates knowledge of laboratory reports, x-ray reports, and is able to interpret their effect and influence upon patient care management.
• Discusses unusual data or reports with physician and reviews data with physician if needed.
• Demonstrates good interviewing techniques.

• Completes thorough physical exam on patients from birth to advanced age and understands normal variations.
• Assesses social, economic, spiritual, and mental needs which impact optimal health and documents these findings clearly and concisely in charts demonstrating a knowledge of normal growth and development and how different stages of life affect patients’ abilities.
• Evaluates and reviews assessments with physician when needed to optimize care and change the plan of care as needs change.
• Develops…