FNP Family Nurse Practitioner or PA Physician Assistant - Urgent Care

Job Description

Physician Assistant or FNP/ NURSE PRACTITIONER RESPONSIBILITIES AND STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES

This document establishes the legal authority for the PA or NP role at AFC Urgent Care Ladera Ranch or Anaheim, to perform certain functions and procedures conducted at an Urgent Care Clinic.

These standardized procedures are in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act and PA Act in the California Business and Professions.

The Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant is authorized to do the following patient related activities without the Physician’s approval or observation:

• Obtain patient medical history and perform physical examinations for presenting problem(s) within the established scope of practice
  • Perform DOT and Other Physicals as needed
• Laboratory tests:
  Blood finger sticks, throat swabs, nasal swabs, skin/wound swabs for culture, swabs for STI testing, urine tests, hemoccult test, and serum blood draws. This also includes all Clia-Waived laboratory tests offered as POC testing at AFC Urgent Care Ladera Ranch.
• Counsel patients and their families on health promotion, diagnosis, and medical management
• Evaluate, diagnose, and treat conditions within the established scope of practice
• Maintain medical records in electronic medical record
• Perform EKG
• Perform X-Ray
  • Initial soft read
• Perform Spirometry
• Perform Audiometry
• Perform IV placement
• Administration of IV medication
• IM injection of medications
• Administration of Vaccines

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are authorized to evaluate, diagnose, and treat minor medical injuries and illnesses for adults and children over the age of two weeks, including but not limited to:

• Animal Bites (minor)
• Ear infections
• Otitis Externa
• Otitis Media
• Eye disorders
  • Blepharitis
  • Chalazion
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Hordeolum
• Headaches (minor)
• Sinusitis
• Health screening
  • Blood pressure evaluation/treatment
  • Diabetes screening/treatment
  • Pregnancy screening (urine test)
  • STI screening/treatment
• Respiratory disorders
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Covid
  • Bronchitis
  • Influenza
  • Pharyngitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Viral URI
  • RSV
• Skin, hair, and soft tissue disorders
  • Acne
  • Burns (minor)
  • Cellulitis
  • Dermatitis
  • Herpes Simplex
  • Impetigo
  • Insect bites and stings
  • Pediculosis
  • Tinea pedis
  • Tinea corpus
  • Laceration evaluation and repair
    • Simple Interrupted
    • Running Stitch
    • Corner Stitch
• Strains and sprains (minor)
  • To include all extremities and trunk/back/neck
  • Splinting/sling
• Urinary tract infection
  • Male and Female

Whenever necessary, the Nurse Practitioner shall attempt to sustain life. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Establishing and maintaining airway
• Assist breathing
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Control of hemorrhage by external pressure
• Injection (subcutaneous) of epinephrine for anaphylactic shock
• MD must be made aware of all patients requiring ER follow up/care

• The Nurse Practitioner may order/prescribe drugs and medical devices pursuant to B&P Code Section 2836.1 and must include the following criteria:
  • Include the furnisher’s name and furnishing number on the prescription transmittal order form for drugs, devices, or both. Prescription pads and electronic prescription may be used as a transmittal order form as long as they contain the furnisher’s name and furnishing number. The NP’s DEA number is also required on the prescription transmittal form for Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substance.
  • The drugs and devices furnished by Nurse Practitioners are in accordance with the standardized procedures, and established formulary.
  • California law (Health and Safety Code Section 11165.1) requires all California licensed prescribers authorized to prescribe scheduled drugs to register for access to CURES 2.0 by July 1, 2016 or upon issuance of a Drug Enforcement Administration Controlled Substance Registration Certificate, whichever occurs later.
  • California Law (Health and Safety Code Section 11165.4) requires all California authorized licensed prescribers of scheduled drugs to consult CURES before prescribing, ordering, administering, or furnishing a Schedule II–IV controlled substance:
    • The first time a patient is prescribed, ordered, administered, or…