SAMPLE
JOB DESCRIPTION

10/00

Advanced Practice Nurse/ Nurse Practitioner

FLSA: EXEMPT

JOB CODE: XXX

GENERAL SUMMARY

Assumes responsibility and accountability for the nursing assessment and/or primary care for a selected population of patients. Provides 24 hour service by appointment, telephone consultation, and after hours answering service. As a faculty/practitioner, serves as preceptor and clinical instructor for graduate nursing students. Maintains currency of licensure and certification. Functions under the collaborative practice agreement for delegated medical aspects of care with collaborating physician(s). Participates in nursing and health related research.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides anticipatory guidance, screening and health education to patients to promote and maintain health.
• Initiates treatment for patients with commonly occurring health problems which lie within the nurse specialist's scope of practice by using a systematic approach to history and physical appraisal of patients and/or families through clinical judgement of evaluated data. Prescribes, coordinates, delegates and evaluates care.
• Prescribes medications listed in the approved institutional formulary as a function delegated by the physician consultant(s) to the practice.
• Monitors patients with stabilized long term or chronic illness and aids and supports individuals and their families during the dying process.
• Plans appropriate care utilizing community resources and acts as a liaison by relaying information necessary for continuity of care to other health professionals and agencies.
• Instructs individual and/or families or groups about health or defined health problems.
• Participates in Quality Assurance activities.
• Participates in research projects.
• Participates in education of graduate nursing students as assigned.
• Promotes guest relations; anticipates and responds to the needs of others; provides assistance in a courteous, quick manner; treats others with care and respect maintaining privacy, confidentiality and dignity. Maintains a professional appearance and a clean, safe environment.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to work productively with patient, families, nursing staff, and other departments.

MINIMUM LEVEL OF PREPARATION AND TRAINING

• Master's degree in nursing with advanced skills in physical assessment.
• Minimum of three years clinical nursing experience and/or two years post masters clinical nursing experience desirable.
• ANA Certification desirable within one year of employment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Good surroundings. Negligible disagreeable working conditions.
• Refer to employment contract for other conditions of employment (salary, benefits, etc.).

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

• Reports to the Director, Nursing Services.
• May acts as charge nurse or practitioner.
• Supervises nursing students.
• Consults with collaborating physician according to the collaborative practice agreement.

NOTE: This is an example of a nurse practitioner job description. Permission is given to download, copy or modify. Each practice may have different job expectations that may be incorporated into a job description.

Copyright: Judith C.D. Longworth, 1998, 2001