At Houston Methodist, the Nurse Practitioner (NP) First Assist position is responsible for functioning as an advanced practice practitioner maintaining and promoting the health of the patient requiring care. The NP First Assist position will assist the physician in the global management of patient care in all peri-operative settings; the primary role is to assist licensed physicians in patient surgery. This end-to-end involvement enables this position to provide unparalleled continuity of patient care. The NP First Assist position will work in both inpatient and outpatient settings and perform according to the nurse practice act of the State of Texas and as part of a treatment team. In addition, this position examines, diagnoses and decides treatment for patients, including analyzing and interpreting x-rays and lab results, writes prescriptions, takes patients' histories and orders various forms of therapy. The NP First Assist position provides education to patients about preventative care and prescribed treatments. This position will take call as required or as outlined by their supervising physician, manager or lead and should be in the OR a minimum of 30%. The NP First Assist position effects direct patient care according to the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance policies and procedures
Employees in this job code are assigned to nights and/or weekend shifts intermittent with day shifts as part of their regular schedule.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Provides leadership as a clinical resource, interprofessional consultant and patient advocate. Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues and provides coaching to meet identified goals.
- Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Facilitates the promotion of teamwork. Acts as a role model and coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Serves as preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students and medical resident(s), as applicable.
- Fosters staff engagement by demonstrating active listening, requesting and acknowledging feedback, making equitable decisions, providing rationale when appropriate and supporting organizational goals. Anticipates the needs of the staff members and proactively offers assistance. Role models interprofessional communication and assists with staff stress management as needed. Improves department score for turnover/retention/employee satisfaction.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Conducts appropriate, timely patient care under physician supervision, for a defined patient population(s), focusing on identified expected unit/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient. Prioritizes care based on the patient's needs, abilities and preferences.
- Coordinates patient care between healthcare providers. Attends and participates in interprofessional rounds, as appropriate.
- Collaborates with the interprofessional healthcare team members to manage/coordinate patient care. Provides first-assist and/or second-assist surgical services as needed.
- Responds and is available timely to patient questions/issues that arise as triaged by clinical staff and provides assistance for emergencies, as needed. Advocates on patient/family's behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Provides safe and effective care by leading and initiating outcome, quality and safety improvement activities in alignment with organizational goals. Provides highly developed assessments, clinical, documentations, leadership and analytical skills; integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety-related processes.
- Functions as a quality care provider, coordinating, maintaining and promoting the health of the patient. Assist the interprofessional healthcare team in the development and implementation of protocols to ensure patient safety. Affects direct patient care according to the nurse practice act of the State of Texas and the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance.
- Conducts health assessments (initial, ongoing, discharge, as appropriate). Identifies normal/abnormal health characteristics, develops plan of care, initiates appropriate interventions and evaluates care outcomes on defined patient population(s).
- Performs invasive, diagnostic, surgical or therapeutic procedures necessary for defined patient population(s) based on licensure and credentialed privileges.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency and other areas according to department specifications.
- Contributes to department plans for resource utilization and capital needs to meet department financial target. Projects awareness and understanding of resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge and skills and mentors others to do the same.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Promotes quality health care through integration of current research into practice and participation in research/evidence-based activities. Leads and identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement.
- Provides education of information/knowledge in professional activities such as research, presentations and publications. Expands individual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
EDUCATION- Master's degree in Nursing
WORK EXPERIENCE- Two years of registered nurse, advanced practice or nurse practitioner clinical experience
- One year of surgical experience
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED- RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure within 60 days OR
- RN-Temp - Registered Nurse - Temporary State Licensure within 60 days AND
- APRN - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Texas Board of Nursing AND
- Magnet - ANCC Recognized Certification -- as a Nurse Practitioner, based on applicable patient population, e.g., FNP, AGNP, NNP, PMHNP, WHNP OR
- AANP - Credentialed member, American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) -- as a Nurse Practitioner, based on applicable patient population, e.g, FNP, AGNP, NNP, PMHNP, WHNP AND
- CRNFA - Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CCI) AND
- BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (AHA) AND
- AP - Prescriptive Authority - Texas Board of Nursing AND
- DEA - Narcotics License (DEA) within 6 months
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
- Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional team to collaborate on the plan of care
- Strong assessment, organizational and problem-solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
- Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families
- Demonstrates proficient time management skills
- Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform No
- Scrubs Yes
- Business professional Yes
- Other (department approved) Yes
ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group is an integral part of Houston Methodist’s overall strategy to become one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. Established as a nonprofit corporation certified by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, the Specialty Physician Group enables physicians to maintain autonomy with respect to clinical practice while growing their practice within an academic environment.
Houston Methodist is an equal opportunity employer inclusive of women, minorities, disabled persons and veterans.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested.