ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDER

The GEO Group•Big Spring, TX

2d•$175,000 - $175,000

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Provider diagnoses and treats acute, episodic, and chronic illnesses, independently or as part of a healthcare team. The role also focuses on health promotion and disease prevention, and includes ordering, performing, or interpreting diagnostic tests and prescribing medication. The position provides medical care to inmates or detainees under established guidelines and in conjunction with a physician, while following applicable standards of care, clinical practice guidelines, and state and DEA licensing requirements. The provider develops and documents patient assessments, treatment plans, and prognoses; counsels patients on medications and health risks; educates them on managing illnesses and preventing disease; and arranges referrals and follow-up care as appropriate. The provider also performs primary care procedures, maintains safety and infection-control practices, and is available for after-hours coverage when assigned by the facility.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited school of nursing or physician assistant studies.
Hold a current, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner, or as a Physician Assistant, in the state where the facility is located.
Hold a current DEA license and maintain a current copy of applicable licenses at the facility.
Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
Skill in performing uncomplicated surgical procedures.
Ability to administer prescribed medications.
Ability to perform complete physical appraisals of patients.
Ability to identify and evaluate illnesses.
Ability to initiate diagnostic laboratory tests and evaluate the results.
Ability to manage patient care and work with patients with a variety of physical problems.
Ability to compile and evaluate medical histories and other clinical and laboratory data.
Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to communicate effectively and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Ability to work with computers and department software.
Must be at least 21 years old.

Nice To Haves

Two years of advanced practice experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform routine medical examinations on inmates or detainees under established guidelines.
Diagnose and treat acute and chronic medical illnesses.
Provide basic health care services in conjunction with a physician.
Formulate comprehensive treatment plans and prognoses based on patients’ health conditions.
Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies in accordance with patient diagnoses and applicable state and DEA licensure.
Order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests, including CBCs, EKGs, and radiographs, with physician oversight as needed.
Analyze patient histories, symptoms, physical findings, and diagnostic information to develop clinical assessments and treatment plans.
Develop treatment plans based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and clinical practice guidelines.
Document health care services, plans, and prognoses in patients’ medical records.
Counsel patients on prescribed medication regimens and possible side effects or interactions.
Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.
Educate patients on self-management of acute and chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to individual circumstances.
Provide information to promote good health, reduce risk factors, and prevent disease or disability.
Consult with or refer patients to appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the provider’s scope or expertise.
Keep abreast of developments in nursing by reading current literature, consulting colleagues, and participating in professional organizations or conferences.
Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to clinical indication, safety, patient acceptability, and compliance with the treatment plan.
Schedule follow-up visits to monitor patients or evaluate health and illness care.
Maintain current knowledge of state legal regulations for nurse practitioner or physician assistant practice and licensure requirements.
Perform primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, administering immunizations, taking specimen cultures, and providing appropriate wound care and debridement as necessary.
Maintain departmental policies and procedures, including those related to safety and infection control.
Provide 24-hour coverage as needed and assigned, advising nursing staff after hours on the care of detainees, inmates, or residents.
Perform other duties as assigned.