WOMENS HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER

Position Summary

Provides advanced nursing care to El Centro de Corazon (El Centro) patients, specifically in the women’s health department.  Performs professional duties as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner in a community health center setting.  Duties include direct clinical care in collaboration with the department Section Lead Physician.  Primary activities include diagnosing and treating common women’s health diseases.  This position encompasses health promotion, health maintenance and disease prevention, management of minor acute illness and chronic health conditions for all life cycles. 

Essential Functions

• Provide direct clinical care of prenatal patients in accordance with specialty standards and departmental protocols.
• Provide direct clinical care of patients seeking routine gynecological care including well woman exams, family planning and treatment for acute conditions.
• Perform routine procedures related to family planning, including, but not limited to insertion and removal of long-acting reversible contraceptives.
• Work collaboratively with peers and take direction from departmental lead and Chief Clinical Officer. 
• Obtain histories and performs physical examinations and performs documentation according to El Centro’s provider standards. 
• Effectively maintain patient records in the electronic health record. 
• Identify high-risk patients and refer to appropriate medical providers, both internally and external to El Centro providers
• Assure continuity of care by providing comprehensive medical services
• Use evidence-based guidelines to diagnose and treat common women’s health diseases and conditions
•  Review all pertinent radiologic studies, laboratory tests and other diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to aid in formulating a diagnosis and treatment plan
• Provide patient education and counseling according to diagnosis and treatment plan 
• Participate in peer review, quality improvement, risk management and other committee activities as required
• Participate in the development and periodic review of patient care policies and procedures, clinical protocols, and desk procedures
• Attend and participate in staff meetings
• Demonstrate a willingness to participate and follow through with special projects and committees
• Perform all other duties as assigned in support of El Centro’s mission, vision and values

• Graduation from an accredited nursing school, obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing and certification from a women’s health nurse practitioner program.
• Current license as an APRN-NP to practice in the state of Texas.  National accreditation preferred.
• Basic Life Support certification required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of medical diagnoses, procedures and accepted treatment patterns and primary medical care in out-patient setting. 
• Adequate assessment skills and knowledge of basic community health and medical care principles, practices, and processes.
• Knowledge of the principles and practice of modern medicine. 
• Must be able to treat patients from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds and to work creatively as a member of a health-oriented team composed of health care professionals from a variety of disciplines.

Physical Requirements

Required to sit, stand, walk and move about throughout the day; manual dexterity to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with arms and hands; occasionally climb stairs; balance, stoop, kneel or crouch occasionally; talk and hear; vision abilities required include close vision, distance, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus.  Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions

For the most part, ambient room temperatures, lighting and a traditional office environment exists.  May experience traumatic situations including psychiatric and medical crisis situations within the environment; some exposure to hazardous materials or physical risks requiring basic safety precautions; exposure to blood borne pathogens requiring PPE.  Frequent exposure to communicable disease, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, radiation and other conditions common to a clinical environment may routinely be encountered .