Description

NURSE PRACTITIONER 

JOB DESCRIPTION:  

A Nurse Practitioner working in an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) is responsible for providing comprehensive, patient-centered care to individuals undergoing surgical procedures in an outpatient setting, including conducting pre-operative assessments, managing post-operative care, diagnosing and treating complications, educating patients on their conditions, and collaborating with the surgical team to ensure smooth patient flow and optimal outcomes; they may also perform minor surgical procedures depending on their specialization and state regulations.

Key responsibilities of a Nurse Practitioner in an ASC:

•        Pre-operative assessment:

Thoroughly review patient medical history, perform physical examinations, order necessary lab tests, and assess surgical risk factors. 

•        Patient education:

Explain surgical procedures, potential risks and benefits, post-operative care instructions, and pain management strategies to patients. 

•        Informed consent process:

Ensure patients fully understand the surgical procedure and provide necessary documentation. 

•        Post-operative care:

Monitor patients' vital signs, manage pain, assess wound healing, and address any complications that may arise after surgery. 

•        Medication management:

Prescribe and administer medications as needed, including pain medication and post-operative antibiotics. 

•        Discharge planning:

Provide detailed discharge instructions, follow-up appointment scheduling, and address any patient concerns.  

•        Collaboration with surgical team:

Communicate effectively with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated patient care. 

•        Clinical documentation:

Maintain accurate and detailed patient records, including pre-operative assessments, surgical details, post-operative progress, and discharge summaries. 

•        Quality improvement initiatives:

Participate in quality improvement activities to optimize patient care standards within the ASC. 

Required skills and qualifications:

•        Advanced practice nursing license:

Must be a licensed Nurse Practitioner with current certification in their area of specialty (e.g., Acute Care NP, Surgical NP). 

•        Surgical experience:

Ideally, experience in a surgical setting, including knowledge of surgical procedures and post-operative management. 

•        Clinical assessment skills:

Ability to perform comprehensive physical examinations, interpret diagnostic tests, and accurately assess patient conditions. 

•        Excellent communication skills:

Effective communication with patients, families, and healthcare team members to ensure a clear understanding of treatment plans. 

•        Strong critical thinking abilities:

Capability to quickly analyze patient situations, make informed decisions, and respond to emergencies. 

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS:      

•     Minimum of 1-year professional work experience as Nurse Practitioner.
•        Demonstrated leadership competencies and skills for the position, including ability to teach, strong organizational skills, excellent communication, customer service, relationship development, results orientation, team building and decision-making.
•        Independent practitioner.
•        Basic computer skills required. Experience with EHR preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in a health clinic setting. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Will work with blood-borne pathogens and will require OSHA training. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, telephones, photocopiers, and fax machines. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.