At Houston Methodist, the Lead Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant (NP/PA) position is responsible for functioning as a clinical leader and scholar at the Expert level of Benner's model of clinical practice or according to the Board of Physician Assistant Examiners. This position leads and coordinates interprofessional activities, focusing on clinical practice, consultation, education, and research, incorporating evidence into practice. The Lead NP/PA position conducts comprehensive assessments, identifying normal and abnormal health characteristics, develops a plan of care, initiates appropriate interventions, and evaluates care outcomes on a defined patient population. This position uses expert communication skills to serve as patient and family advocate to educate, mentor, and coach staff in clinical practice, assuming an advanced leadership role in analyzing systems to anticipate and or reduce risk and improve patient safety and quality. In addition to responsibilities which include contributions at the unit/department, with expectations to collaborate, manage, and lead system-wide and national initiatives, this position functions as a clinical provider maintaining and promoting the health of the patient requiring care. The Lead NP/PA position affects direct patient care according to the Nurse Practice Act of the state of Texas or the Board of Physician Assistant Examiners.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Actively participates in the interviewing process of Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant candidates in department or service line. Coordinates the orientation schedule of newly hired Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, as appropriate. Collaborates in the preparation of annual evaluations with supporting physicians and management personnel to ensure all paperwork is in compliance with all HR policies and guidelines.
- Leads education and training of professional students through collaboration with department Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants and supervising clinical activity. Supports and provides coordination and direction to other physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other staff by proactively offering assistance. Serves as a preceptor by mentoring others regarding care of defined populations in resource utilization and time management.
- Provides clinical guidance as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant subject matter expert to administrative and operations personnel. Includes the patient and family as a part of the team regarding their plan of care. Partners with the interprofessional health care team to facilitate communication with patient and family across the continuum of care. Fosters staff engagement by demonstrating active listening, requesting, and acknowledging feedback, making equitable decisions, providing rationale when appropriate, and supporting organizational goals. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of employee engagement.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Conducts quality, timely, license-appropriate patient care, under physician supervision, for a defined patient population(s), identifying normal/abnormal health characteristics, recognizing subtle cues to change in patient condition and focusing on identified expected unit/department/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient. Prioritizes care based on the patient's needs, abilities, and preferences. Advocates for patients/families concerning ethical conflicts; develops supportive policies and guidelines, offers educational resources; empowers patients/families to speak/represent selves when possible.
- Teaches coworkers to develop comprehensive plans of care in collaboration with patients and families, incorporating individual differences and preventive planning. Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.
- Partners with leaders to coordinate scheduling of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants for staffing optimization of department or service line, prior to manager approval. Oversees patient assignment and distribution among Advanced Practice Providers, as appropriate.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Leads care rounds to assure patient safety and satisfaction. Manages assignment of complex patient and other department demands, rounding on service lines weekly, as appropriate. Reports 'near misses' as well as errors promptly and consistently to improve systems and processes and identify trends; role models situational awareness using 'teachable moments' to improve safety.
- Anticipates routine and unexpected changes based on evidence. Elevates emergent situations and leads/coordinates team to achieve issue resolution.
- Provides safe and effective care by leading and initiating areas for improvement in patient care or unit/department operations, outcome, quality, and patient safety improvement activities in alignment with organizational goals. Integrates, modifies, and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols by participating in unit/department projects, shared governance activities or interprofessional team activities.
- Leads and supports colleagues and staff in conducting evidence-based practice/performance improvement projects and implementing findings. Facilitates active involvement of others in team meetings, unit/department activities and process improvement.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to departmental specifications, e.g., decreasing length of stay.
- Measures and analyzes resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge, and skills; contributes to unit/department plans for resource utilization and capital needs. Identifies cost-saving or revenue opportunities.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Promotes quality health care by initiating, applying, and presenting research in collaboration with the Education Department, Research and Evidenced-Based Practice Council, nursing, physician assistant or medical schools, as appropriate. Contributes to professional practice standards at hospital/regional/national level.
- Demonstrates leadership as clinical resource, interprofessional consultant, and patient advocate by serving as an instructor in continuing education, formal program, or expert consultation. Identifies leadership opportunities for professional growth of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants; coaches/mentors individuals to accomplishment of goals. Identifies, plans, and implements education for the unit, department, and/or service line in collaboration with team members and Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant leadership.
- Generates and communicates new ideas to lead team to creative strategies that improve quality or service and impact the department and address organization or department priorities. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.
EDUCATION
- Master's degree in either: Nursing and graduate from an accredited Nurse Practitioners program OR Physician Assistant AND graduate from accredited Physician Assistant program by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Three years of clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioners or a Physician Assistant in multi-specialty practice
- Progressive management experience preferred
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
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