Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

The Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant provides a wide range of primary care services, which encompasses health promotion, injury and illness prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of commonly encountered health problems and injuries, as well as the management of stable chronic health conditions. Services will be provided at the organization's main office and at a satellite clinic located within a partner homeless services agency.

The Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant performs testing, refers to specialty providers as needed, writes prescriptions, and performs office procedures within the scope of expertise, protocols, and available equipment.
The Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant behaves in a professional manner, and consistently demonstrates and promotes the values of Cape Fear Clinic and the principles of a Patient Centered Medical Home.

• Determines and assesses the health status of patients by reviewing records, taking comprehensive medical histories, and performing physical examinations; and records findings.
• Initiates and performs screening and diagnostic tests, including blood draws, cultures, skin tests, pap smears, and other procedures appropriate for patient’s condition.
• Orders routine laboratory work and other tests, and interprets results; or arranges for such procedures at other facilities.
• Plans and oversees on-going treatment and clinical management of patients in stable phases of chronic illness, and general health maintenance of non-chronic, non acute patients.
• Informs, counsels and instructs individuals and families on their specific health problems, test results, and general health-related matters such as nutrition, social behavior, aging and substance abuse.
• Acts as a clinical consultant to medical, nursing, paramedical personnel; consults and confers with a wide variety of health and related care providers, such as public health nurses, social workers and mental health workers.
• Consults with physicians regarding patient’s conditions, diagnosis, treatment plan, medication orders and need for specialty care; keeps physician advised of patient status as necessary.
• Prescribes medications according to proper clinical care and standards of practice.
• Recognizes situations requiring physician consult, such as acute conditions requiring immediate attention, changes in chronic conditions, mental and emotional disturbances, and communicable disease cases; consults with and makes appointments with physicians for patients.
• Provides emergency medical treatment when necessary.
• Prepares and maintains complete and accurate charts, case files, records and other documents; reviews material prepared by other staff for completeness and accuracy.
• Attends, participates in, and contributes to in-services education and staff training sessions to maintain and increase skills, and to teach others.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work is performed under the general direction of the CMO/Supervising Physician. This position requires consistent, sound judgment and the ability to work independently with minimum direct supervision. The Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant will work within the context of standing orders, protocols, collaborative agreements and state regulations. The supervisor outlines the overall program objectives and priorities, time limit, and financial resources available. The employee plans and schedules recurring work, handles routine problems, and completes work using own initiative.

Exercise professional knowledge and judgment in interpreting appropriate guidelines and applicability. Work is reviewed from an overall standpoint in terms of meeting objectives, effectiveness, and compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of state laws and regulations and scope of work of nursing and nurse practitioner or physician assistant; responsibilities, professional principles, procedures and techniques as applicable within specific licensure.
• Knowledge of symptoms and normal course of acute and chronic illnesses, and their treatment.
• Knowledge of standard medical record-keeping…