Excellence

The Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced health assessment and decision-making skills, prepared through a formal educational program that meets criteria established by the profession. Nurse practitioners are certified by examination of an approved certifying body. This individual works independently and in collaboration with physicians and other health care professionals to provide health care across the continuum of care for assigned patients. The Nurse Practitioner provides clinical services in an ambulatory clinic setting greater than 50% of the time. Clinical services include primary health and specialty-specific care to new and established patients, assess and manage common acute and chronic illnesses, consult, and make referrals, and collaborate with physicians and other members of the health care team. The Nurse Practitioner will be involved in patient and family education of disease management and treatments and may also be involved in research or educational activities within their department. Responsible for combining nursing care with aspects of medical care, focusing on the patient as a whole person. 
The provision of care includes, but is not limited to comprehensive assessment, ordering, conducting and interpreting diagnostic tests, prescription of pharmacological agents and treatments, and non-pharmacological therapies. Teaching and counseling individuals, families, and groups are an important part of the Nurse Practitioner's practice. Flexibility to adjust schedule to meet patient and staff needs. Ability to manage time and stress effectively and adapt to unpredictable situations within the patient care setting. -This individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span. The ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and appropriately interpret information relative to the patient's age-specific needs is required. The Nurse Practitioner demonstrates leadership through involvement on committees and team projects, education, and research and actively seeks to improve the practice of nursing through performance improvement initiatives. The Nurse Practitioner is active in professional organizations and participates in community activities. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing: Scope and Standards of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing, the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, Rules of the Arizona State Board of Nursing are the basis for practice. May be required to participate in on-call rotation, provide shift, holiday and weekend coverage.

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing and nurse practitioner program. Effective verbal, written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated leadership ability. Two (2) to five (5) years of clinical experience preferred. Primary care, acute care, and/or surgical experience preferred. Demonstrated proficiency with computer skills in an Electronic Medical Record preferred. Must attest to ability to care for adolescent patients. Current RN licensure from Arizona, or valid compact state license with Arizona license obtained within 90 days of start date, Advanced Practice Certificate, and Prescribing and Dispensing Certificate in Arizona. Certification as nurse practitioner by an approved certifying organization. Basic Life Support certification from American Heart Association or American Red Cross is required upon hire and must be valid for 90 days or greater from start date. Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) competency. Must provide evidence of application for DEA certificate upon hire, obtain DEA certificate within 90 days of hire, and maintain certificate thereafter unless waived by department/division. Maintains ACLS and PALS from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross as required by specific department or division. Maintains specialty certification as required for specific areas.