Nurse Practitioner Duties and Responsibilities
Purpose of Classification:
Provides medical care and treatment to clients in areas such as a
student health center, health clinics, and/or a research study.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
This is
first in a series of two classifications and is distinguished from a
related classification titled Physician's Assistant in that
incumbents work with a consulting Physician rather than a
supervising physician as a Physician's Assistant does. Nurse
Practitioners can obtain a Drug Enforcement Agency (D.E.A.) license
to prescribe and dispense medication, while a Physician's Assistant
uses the supervising physician's D.E.A. number to prescribe and
dispense medications.
Examples of Duties:
- Determines and formulates health histories and performs
physical examinations.
- Orders, interprets, and evaluates diagnostic tests to
identify and assess client's clinical problems.
- Determines and manages minor and/or acute illnesses and
initiates symptomatic treatment.
- Conducts initial care for emergency situations, such as
illness or injury and initiates arrangements for continuing
care.
- Conducts on-going health care and clinical management of
stable, chronically ill clients.
- Maintains an on-going health education program with the
assistance and guidance of a health educator.
- Conducts informative educational sessions during client
visit to ensure understanding by the client of his/her condition
and treatment.
- Collaborates with other health care team personnel in
regards to client treatment.
- Prescribes medication or other forms of treatment.
- Documents medical records of client encounters.
- Refers clients to outside medical and support service
facilities.
- Participates in research studies which includes recruiting
and screening potential participants, determining whether
eligibility criteria has been met, and completing required forms
for each study.
- Conducts home visits to perform testing and/or physical
examinations for high risk or complicated cases.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of evaluation plans and treatment of clients with
a variety of illnesses.
- Skill in patient care.
- Skill in the use of medical equipment utilized in area of
assignment.
- Skill in both verbal and written communication.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an accredited nursing program AND
satisfactory completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program.
Current licensure to practice nursing in the State of Arizona;
certification as a Nurse Practitioner by the Arizona State Board of
Nursing.
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