Stroke Nurse Practitioner - Stroke Program - Full Time/Days - Req#2080679449

Job Objective:

The Stroke Nurse Practitioner is licensed to independently perform a variety of primary healthcare and intensive care services that require a high degree of clinical judgment in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. Under the oversight from a physician and in accordance with standardized procedures and protocols the Stroke Nurse Practitioner serves as coordinator of the multidisciplinary team in the implementation of an established plan of care and is responsible for ensuring continuity of patient care, communicating the plan of care with patients and families, and facilitating discharge.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Stroke Nurse Practitioner meets all the essential duty requirements of a Nurse Practitioner with experience in treating stroke patients. Additionally, the Stroke Nurse Practitioner must exemplify expert clinical skills, effective planning, leadership abilities, and ensure appropriate delivery of patient care according to the established standards. They must work effectively with an interdisciplinary team and possess strong communication skills.

• Stroke / Acute Care Administration
• • Rounds on acute care stroke patients with a focus on development and coordination of the plan of care.
  • Facilitates early discharge planning and problem solving of patient care issues in collaboration with the multidisciplinary Hospitalist team.
  • Reviews diagnostic tests, medications, and plan progress.
  • Assess and reassesses patient needs.
  • Documents in progress notes and writes orders, including medication orders, transfer and discharge orders and discharge summary in collaboration with the primary physician.
  • Serves as a liaison between the acute care stroke patient and the multidisciplinary team.
  • Responds to in-patient units assisting in acute care stroke patient evaluation and resuscitation/stabilization.
  • Assists in procedures and performs procedures as credentialed.
  • Facilitates Performance Improvement and Patient Safety (PIPS) process. This may include monitoring trends in care and adherence to practice guidelines, identifying complications or deviations from standards of care and PI indicators for further review.
  • Participates in comprehensive stroke center research, research selection, analysis and distribution of findings, and assists with guideline development.
  • Serves as expert resource and consultant on latest evidence supporting cost-effective, safe nursing practice.
  • Serves as resource to nursing personnel in the care planning of complex or unusual stroke patients.
  • Conducts comprehensive assessments using evidence-based tools and techniques.
  • Analyzes the ethical impact of scientific advances, including cost and clinical effectiveness, on patient and family values and preferences.
  • Participates in research selection, analysis and distribution of findings, and assist with guideline development.
  • Responds to all “Code Stroke” events in the Emergency Department as well as inpatient units.
• Stroke Team: Primary Focus
• • Respond to Code Stroke events in the main hospital, ED and Women and Infants Pavilion (WIP).
  • Evaluate and facilitate, with MD, treatment plan for stroke patients.
  • Working knowledge of proper level of care placement.
  • Provide expert consult for deteriorating patients in the main hospital, ED or WIP.
  • Round on all stroke inpatient care areas throughout the shift (main hospital, ED and WIP).
  • Respond to calls for change in patient’s condition relating to stroke.
  • Collaborates with Executive Director, Managers, and Educators to identify priority trends, patterns and opportunities to improve practice for stroke patients.
  • Leads or facilitates system-wide initiatives and changes in practice for stroke patients.
  • Collaborates with teams to identify and resolve issues related to patient care, policies and procedures and resources as related to the stroke population.
• Stroke Team: Secondary Focus / Regulatory
• • Assist with bedside procedures as requested.
  • Collaborate with stroke program and education department leadership to develop and disseminate acute stroke continuing education programs.
  • Will collaborate with Stroke Manager, Education Specialist and or stroke coordinators on content and design for orientation, competency and education program development for stroke patients.
  • Promotes an environment that supports professional development and accountability.
  • Collects data required for clinical reports for the Hospital.
  • Facilitates compliance with regulatory agency standards, i.e. Joint Commission (TJC), CMS, OSHA.
• Nursing Care Delivery Process
• • Meets skills and abilities of a Registered Nurse.
  • Collaborates with Directors and managers on identification of trends/patterns and opportunities to improve care for the stroke patient population.
  • Consults with other units and health professionals to improve care.
  • Supports groups to improve nursing practice and patient outcomes for the stroke patient.
  • Participates in community outreach programs and stroke support groups.

Non-Essential Duties:

• Other duties as needed/assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

• • Advanced knowledge of acute stroke care.
  • Knowledge of state and federal regulations relating to the stroke program.

Skills

• Strong organizational skills, interpersonal skills, and communication skills

• Demonstrated leadership skills

• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills

Abilities

• Ability to work together for the good of the patient at all times.

• Ability to educate staff for patient’s condition and recommended treatment.

• Ability to be self-directed and function autonomously

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships

• Ability to work collaboratively in a self-directed work team environment

• Ability to handle diverse responsibilities concurrently

• Ability to train employees and families

AVMC Values: All AVMC employees will effectively demonstrate these values:

• Patients Come First – We listen actively and communicate with our patients and families, placing safety as a top priority.
• Accountability & Ownership – We fully complete tasks, are transparent, effectively communicate, and recognize that what we do reflects on us.
• Teamwork – We build trusting relationships, promote a sense of community, and are respectful of everyone. Success is about the whole team.
• Integrity & Honesty – We tell the truth at all times, speak up when something is wrong, and do the right thing when no one is looking.
• Excellence – We take pride in our work, are goal-oriented, and on a never-ending quest for top tier quality.
• Initiative & Innovation – Our can-do attitudes, creativity, and resourcefulness empower us to improve the patient’s experience, solve our own problems, make timely decisions, and look for opportunities to add value.
• Tenderness & Compassion – We have genuine empathy, show kindness, and encourage and advocate for each other.

Education and Experience:

Education

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with a master’s degree.

Experience

• Two years’ experience in acute care setting with experience with the stroke patient population.

• One year experience as an Acute Care Stroke Nurse Practitioner preferred.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• Valid and current Registered Nurses license issued by the State of California
• Valid and current Nurse Practitioner license issued by the State of California
• Board Certification as a Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Practitioner Furnishing Number
• ACLS certification Required
• BLS Certification Required
• NIHSS Certification Required
• PALS certification preferred
• National Certification in Specialty Care Nursing (SCRN) highly preferred

AVMC Conduct/Compliance Expectations:

• Ability to adhere with AVMC Attendance and Punctuality Policy.

• Ability to adhere with AVMC Leaves of Absence Policy.

• Ability to adhere with AVMC Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy.

• Ability to adhere to the department dress code.

• Ability to organize work and establish priorities.

• Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties.

• Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards.

• Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters.

• Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers and other hospital staff.

• Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVMC.

• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patients, hospital and department information.

• Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations.

• Safely and effectively use all the equipment necessary to carry out duties.

• Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures.

• Conforms with required and appropriate accreditation and regulatory requirements.

• Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines.

• Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education.

• Display a willingness to work as a team player.

• Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times.

• Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVMC Board of Directors.

• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Compliance & Integrity Program and its established policies.

• Ability to follow the Code of Conduct.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work often performed under stressful, emotional, and physical conditions.
• May be exposed to contaminated instruments that may cause infections, burns, or cuts.
• Requires frequent walking, standing, bending, twisting and reaching, and must be able to speak, see and hear.
• Ability to frequently lift, push and pull up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to occasionally assist, as part of team, in lifting, pushing and/or pulling patients for the transfer of care, requiring exertion of up to and over 50 lbs.
• Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled environment subject to long periods of standing and walking
• Regular exposure to biological products including blood, urine and fixed tissue samples
• Regularly required to bend, stoop, reach, sit, lift, and carry up to 20 pounds.

A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.

Education and Experience:

Education

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with a master’s degree.

Experience

• Two years’ experience in acute care setting with experience with the stroke patient population.

• One year experience as an Acute Care Stroke Nurse Practitioner preferred.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• Valid and current Registered Nurses license issued by the State of California
• Valid and current Nurse Practitioner license issued by the State of California
• Board Certification as a Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Practitioner Furnishing Number
• ACLS certification Required
• BLS Certification Required
• NIHSS Certification Required
• PALS certification preferred
• National Certification in Specialty Care Nursing (SCRN) highly preferred