NURSE PRACTITIONER / PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT WOMENS HEALTH CARE

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

Promotes and maintains patients’ health by providing OB/GYN medical services to the extent to which she/he is licensed and/or certified.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Plan, direct, and evaluate patients in ambulatory health services
• Identify short-term and long-range patient care issues that must be addressed; providing information and commentary pertinent to deliberations; recommend options and course of action
• Assess patient health by interviewing patients, performing physical examinations, obtaining, updating and studying medical histories
• See ambulatory patients in the Clinic for selected laboratory testing, examination, diagnosis, and treatment of both chronic and acute episodic illnesses and minor injuries
• Perform physical examinations to include Pap smears. Determine abnormal conditions by administering or ordering diagnostic tests such as Pap smears and laboratory studies and interpreting test results
• Perform referrals to physicians as needed, write prescriptions, and perform office procedures within the scope of expertise, protocols, and available equipment
• Work with the OB/GYN Chair in the care and treatment of patients
• Schedule follow-up visits in office as needed
• Confer with patient’s private physicians as needed
• Instruct and counsel patients by describing therapeutic regimens, giving normal and abnormal development information, discussing family planning, providing counseling on sexually transmitted diseases, discussing prenatal and postpartum issues and promoting wellness and health maintenance
• Provide continuity of care by developing and implementing patient management plans
• Act as a resource person for decisions, planning, and policies affecting the health of patients
• Develop the health care team by providing information, educational and experiential growth opportunities
• Maintain outpatient records by documenting patient care services.
• Record statistics and conduct research as deemed necessary by the organization
• Compile necessary reports concerning ambulatory care at the facility as required or requested
• Collaborate with staff to identify patient needs and help develop plans to meet these needs
• Follow the patient’s health care as needed for continuity of care
• Serve as a member of committees dealing with health care

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

• Successful completion of an approved nurse practitioner program
• Current approval by the Board of Nursing to perform medical acts
• Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the state of Arizona
• Licensed as an advanced practice Nurse by the State Board of Nursing

Physician’s Assistant (PA)

• Completion of a four-year accredited physician assistant baccalaureate program and a year of clinical training, OR
• Completion of a two-year accredited physician assistant program (which, in turn, requires two years of undergraduate study) plus two years of clinical training following completion of PA program
• State accreditation based on certifying exam. Continued employment requires 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and passing a recertification examination every 6 years