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POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

JOB TITLE &CODE:

Advanced Practice Professional (APP) – Congestive Heart Failure

DEPARTMENT:

Heart and Vascular Institute

REPORTS TO:

Congestive Heart Failure Medical Director/Director of Advanced Practice Professional of the Heart and Vascular Institute

FLSA STATUS:

Exempt

                                   

 

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Advanced Practice Professional (APP) is a registered professional nurse practitioner or certified Physician Assistant who uses specialized skills in the care of Congestive Heart Failure patients and families. Completes comprehensive patient health evaluations in collaboration and consultation with the Cardiologists, Specialists and colleagues. Assesses and coordinates the educational and psychosocial needs of the patient and family. Reviews the plan of care in collaboration with Clinical Care Coordinator and Outcomes Manager to ensure comprehensive long-term care for patients managed by the CHF service.   The APP will transition care of patients from the inpatient setting to the outpatient setting and from the outpatient to the inpatient setting.  The APP will continue to follow the patient throughout the continuum of care for this patient population.  The provider will work with the team to ensure adherence to protocol requirements and regulatory guidelines. Manages the implementation, system administration and maintenance of patient list to include but not limited to the collection, analysis, and reporting of patient outcomes data. This provider will ensure protocol compliance and close monitoring of order sets. In order to provide a multidisciplinary approach to care the APP will work with the team to share information and provide education to continually develop the team and to engage the team in quality patient care. 

 

Provide healthcare services consistent with state law and the requirements of the professional licensing or certification authority and/or hospital privileges, where applicable.  Such service may include, but are not limited to. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR NURSE PRACTITIONER:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1.

 Graduate of a CCNE accredited nursing program with Master’s Degree in Nursing

2.

National Certification by one of the recognized APRN Certification Centers

3.

Licensure or eligibility for licensure, as a professional Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in West Virginia.

4.

BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.

5.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) at the discretion of the department.

EXPERIENCE:

1.

Eligible new graduates will be considered.

 

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EXPERIENCE:

1.

Previous congestive heart failure, cardiology or acute care experience preferred. 

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1.

Bachelor’s Degree as a Medical/Surgical (as applicable) Physician Assistant required. 

2.

Graduate of an ARC-PA approved Physician Assistant (PA) training program required.

3.

Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants required.

4.

Must be licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine.

5.

BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.

6.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) at the discretion of the department.

EXPERIENCE:

1.

Eligible new graduates will be considered.

 

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EXPERIENCE:

1.

Previous congestive heart failure, cardiology or acute care experience preferred. 

 

 

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties.  Other duties may be assigned.

1.

Manages comprehensive and individualized care for CHF patients and families in the inpatient phase of hospitalization

2.

Completes daily rounds and/or pre-procedure evaluations.

3.

Completes integrated assessments

4.

With the collaboration of Cardiology/Medicine and the CHF Unit nursing staff, or by following established CHF clinical Guidelines and Protocols, orders additional tests or consults.

5.

Performs, interprets and communicates results of common diagnostic tests in the clinic and hospital setting.

6.

Consults and communicates with Cardiologist/Medicine, clinic and hospital staff regarding abnormal findings in the evaluations of patients

7.

Performs history and physical examinations and documents findings in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

8.

Facilitates patient discharge by coordinating appropriate services and tests prior to scheduled outpatient follow-up appointments in the clinic

9.

Manages comprehensive and individualized care through the inpatient and immediate post-discharge phase of the patient’s hospitalization experience.

10.

Develops a comprehensive individualized plan of care for patients, which includes teaching, discharge planning and necessary referral to other members of the health care team

11.

Identifies unstable or complex patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention with the Cardiologist in the clinic and hospital setting

12.

Evaluates patients in the outpatient setting in CHF clinic in conjunction with the Cardiologist. Acts as a coordinator for follow up procedures and tests in the outpatient setting

13.

Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision making by the identification, evaluation and management of the individual needs of patients/families

14.

Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care

15.

Bases decisions made/actions taken on relevant scientific principles, established standards of care and/or research findings

16.

Utilizes teaching/learning theory and appropriate teaching strategies in the provision of education to nursing staff, hospital staff, patients and families

17.

Evaluates the effectiveness of patient/family teaching and collaborates with the nursing staff in the completion of education plan.

18.

Promotes an environment that facilitates learning by responding to appropriate patient/family preferences, priorities and readiness to learn

19.

Updates own knowledge base throughout the year, Completes all identified clinical competencies

20.

Serves as a resource person for staff caring for the CHF population

21.

Collaborates with other leaders and staff to effectively achieve needed change

22.

Provides leadership in the development and implementation of changes in practice that positively impact patient outcomes

23.

Participates and initiates inter-disciplinary approaches to patient care, program development and education. Serves as a professional role model

24.

Participates in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator

25.

Assists Cardiologists/Internists, Director of Adult Cardiac Nursing and the Administrator of the Heart & Vascular Institute in the collection of outcome measures

 

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.

Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, carrying of patients

2.

Heavy/Hard work: materials and equipment weighing 40+ pounds.

 

 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.

Working closely with others.

2.

Protracted or irregular hours.

3.

Working around biohazards.

4.

Working around infectious diseases.

5.

Working with or near the deceased.

6.

Working with hands in water.

7.

Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

 

 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1.

Proficiency with computers.

2.

Strong communication skills.

 

 

 

 

Date Reviewed/Revised: October 2017