Advanced Practice Practitioner (NP or PA)

Description

Palo Verde Cancer Specialists

P.A. or N.P. Performance Expectations

PAs and NPs employed by Palo Verde should always strive to improve processes and services that support the care of our patients. The following are guidelines of expectations, although they are not inclusive of the exact performance and responsibilities that can arise during the course of care and treatment of a patient.

• Balances the needs of the patient the need to deliver cost-effective care through the efficient utilization of personnel, material, time and resources.
• Uses continuous improvement methods in problem solving and evaluating patient care.
• Facilitates awareness of public and professional policy issues that affect nursing practice.
• Treats others with dignity and values the diversity of our patients and their families, and our staff.
• Provides transcultural care to all patients, which supports their individual beliefs, values, and specific cultural practices.
• Provides patient education which is culturally congruent and in appropriate language whenever possible.
• Fosters teamwork, personal responsibility, innovation, trust and communication throughout the practice.
• Promotes a collaborative team approach between physicians, nurses and other health care professionals.
• Serves as a consultant and role model for other nurses and health care professionals.
• Participates and promotes involvement in professional organizations.
• Fosters a network of colleagues internally and externally to promote professional growth.
• Maintains an environment to practice professional nursing by: supporting a caring environment; coaching, mentoring and educating in professional and clinical practice activities; and providing constructive feedback to promote clinical excellence and professionalism.
• Accepts responsibility and maintains confidentiality.
• Maintains patient, family, staff, and practice confidentiality in verbal, written, and electronic communications.
• Complies with all Palo Verde Hematology/Oncology policies and procedures.
• Utilizes internal and external resources effectively and efficiently.
• Utilizes latest research to keep practice current.
• Utilizes community resources to assist in delivery of patient care services.
• Effectively utilizes the collective expertise of the practice.
• Complies with all safety regulations to promote a safe and secure environment for our patients and the families, each other, and oneself.
• Uses any necessary safety measures to protect the patient, staff, visitors, or self.
• Practices under approved infection control and chemotherapy control guidelines.
• Maintains current licensure / certification / health screening as required for the position.
• Provides evidence of completion of required contact hours of education in pharmacology or clinical management of drug therapy for prescribing and dispensing medications.
• Maintains current DEA registration and follows to all the rules and regulations adherent to this registration.
• When prescribing and dispensing medications, complies with all applicable laws and rules in prescribing, administering, and dispensing medications or controlled substances.
• Maintains current RN and Nurse Practitioner Certification with the Arizona State Board of Nursing.
• Complies with expectations of mandatory/regulatory requirements.
• Utilizes interpersonal communication techniques that achieve acceptable responses.
• Takes ownership in solving problems, listens carefully to the needs and concerns of others; follows through to ensure solutions are the best fit and are properly implemented.
• Interprets verbal and non-verbal behavior, considering others feelings, needs, values and opinions; is sensitive to and aware of personality differences and conflicts.
• Accepts accountability for own actions and ensures that assigned work is completed on time and is of high quality.
• Completes dictations and medical records in a timely manner based on practice guidelines.
• Completes orders and level of service for each patient in a timely manner based on practice guidelines.
• Interacts, communicates and collaborates with team members to maximize group effectiveness.
• Provides clear direction for allied health care professionals assigned to assist in the delivery of patient care.
• Seeks physician consultation when appropriate and when dictated by policy.
• Participates in personal, professional growth and development activities and continuing education programs.
• Assumes responsibility for continual learning and maintaining competence in practice.
• Attends educational programs that are relevant to improving skills and knowledge and for maintaining credentialing and privileges.
• Attends educational programs that are relevant to improving skills and knowledge and for maintaining credentialing and privileges.
• Collects patient health data.
• Performs a comprehensive patient assessment, which includes physical, psychosocial, and spiritual health status.
• Collaboratively appraises the educational needs of patients and families.
• Analyzes the assessment data in determining diagnosis.
• Evaluates the assessment data in order to make prospective decisions about treatment in collaboration with physicians and other health professionals.
• Analyzes the patient and family response to actual and/or potential health problems.
• Determines the patient’s medical diagnosis based on analysis of assessment data.
• Develops a plan of care that prescribes interventions to attain expected outcomes.
• Based on the analysis of assessment data, develops a plan of care to manage acute and chronic hematologic and oncologic related illnesses.
• As appropriate, collaborates with the physician in planning patient interventions.
• Implements the interventions identified in the plan of care.
• Provides advanced patient care management to a caseload of patients.
• Implements teaching strategies to meet patient and family educational needs.
• Performs all required technical procedures as identified within the scope of practice and Palo Verde Hematology/Oncology policy.
• Prescribes and dispenses medications as appropriate.
• Orders all appropriate diagnostic tests.
• Orders all treatments as appropriate. Provides direction and supervision for treatments by allied health personnel as needed.
• Discusses and interprets diagnostic tests with patients and families.
• Provides medication refills as requested and as appropriate.
• Evaluates the patient’s progress toward attainment of outcomes.
• Follows through on all diagnostic test results, notifying the patient in a timely manner and providing appropriate follow-up care.
• Evaluates patient’s response to therapy and/or diagnostic results, and altars the plan of care as appropriate.
• Collaborates with the patient, family, and healthcare providers in providing patient care.
• Serves as a consultant within interdisciplinary groups.
• Networks with other mid-level providers to maximize the effectiveness of patient care provided through the services of these health care professionals.
• Uses research findings in practice.
• Promotes and utilizes nursing and medical research.
• Utilizes a research utilization framework to integrate research into practice.
• Collaborates with other disciplines in research.
• Decisions and actions on behalf of patients are determined in an ethical manner.
• Provides patients with necessary information regarding the drug treatment plans written under the orders of the patient’s attending physician and/or physician covering for the attending physician. This process is for drugs delivered IV, IM, SubQ or PO in our facilities or designated facility and oral drugs dispensed in our facility under PVHO’s Physicians’ dispensing license. Although referred to as chemotherapy teaching, the drugs are not limited to chemotherapy drugs, they can include supportive drugs or others ordered by a PVHO Physician, PA or NP.

Requirements

Education & Experience: Hematology/Oncology Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP)

• Master of Science in Nursing or equivalent PA program degree
• Current valid state medical license
• DEA/DPS license
• Previous Hematology/Oncology experience a plus but, not required.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to work with others and demonstrate leadership qualities

Benefits: Hematology/Oncology Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP)

• The practice is offering an excellent salary and benefits package that includes medical malpractice insurance, 401K and health insurance.