Neurology Nurse Practitioner - Epilepsy

Major Responsibilities:

1. Provides diagnostic and assessment services in Epilepsy Clinic. Secures a health history from patient and/or family, records findings, and evaluates them. Performs a complete in-depth physical examination. Orders/performs pertinent diagnostic tests based on age and history.

2. Analyzes data collected to determine health status and identify differential diagnoses based on history, physical exam, and clinical findings.

3. Partners with physicians regarding proposed plan of care. Formulates this plan of care with the patient.

4. Manages therapeutic regime as outlined by established protocols for patients with acute illnesses. (Protocols are guidelines concerning patient care that are established between the physician and nurse practitioner. The guidelines outline subjective and objective findings, treatment plan and follow-up). Reassesses and modifies plan as necessary to achieve medical and health goals. Confers with physician for clinical direction as outlined by protocols.

5. Documents patient care outcomes to determine effectiveness of plan of care. Communicates outcomes with physician.

6. Signed delineation of privileges at hire between NP and collaborating physician. Must renew delineation of privileges each credentialing cycle including:

• scope of departmental practice
• treatment of emergencies
• physician consultation
• writing orders/prescription

7. Prescribes medications from Schedules II-VI. The form of prescription may be written or verbal via telephone order. Written prescriptions may be initiated by the nurse practitioner after obtaining proper registration numbers from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Drug Enforcement Agency.

8. Provides patient education. Acts as coordinator for admitting and discharging assigned patients. Works collaboratively with other health agencies and families of patients in the transition from admission to discharge. Confers with other health care providers including consultations and referrals to prepare a comprehensive patient care plan.

9. Within established protocols, under the supervision of the physician, nurse practitioners will assist with procedures in the operating room and with endoscopic procedures.

10. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meeting and workshops.

11. Participates in department driven practices including on call scheduling, rotating weekends, etc.

Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education:

Required:

• Master's or doctoral degree.
• Graduate of approved Nurse Practitioner program with certification.
• Current Massachusetts license.

Experience/Skills:

Preferred:

• 3-5 years of experience as a nurse practitioner, preferably some years in Neurology
• Able to see urgent patients
• Assist answering calls, addressing tasks, documentation requests
• Competent to see stable annual follow up (initially with precepting, after 3 months, slowly weaning with the understanding that the midlevel should have a good judgement of calling us when needed) need to figure out a way to identify and batch these patients
• Able to coordinate or willing to learn how to manage vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), responsive neurostimulator (RNS) and deep brain stimulator (DBS) patients
• Competent in coordinating pre-surgical workup
• May consider coordinating patient support group in collaboration with Epilepsy Foundation of New England
• Able and willing to work as a team and able to work with different providers in a professional manner
• Respectful to other support staff
• Able to do things in an organized manner
• Proficient in basic Excel, Word and Power Point
• Basic competency training should be completed within 3 months for midlevel who newly join us. For ones who have been with us for >3 months, should be able to complete this within 1-2 months.

Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

Department-specific competencies and their measurements will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.