At Houston Methodist, the Student Professional Nurse Practitioner (NP) position in the Leading Education and Advancing Professional (LEAP) program is an experienced clinician that functions at the competent stage of Benner’s model of clinical practice. The Student Professional NP position will function as a clinical provider maintaining and promoting the health of the patient requiring complex care. Role modeling compassionate communication with physicians and the interprofessional health care team, this position demonstrates leadership as a clinical resource with high level contributions at the bedside, unit, service line, and across the institution. The Student Professional NP affects direct patient care according to the nurse practice act of the State of Texas and Houston Methodist Standards of Nursing Care policies and procedures.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Coordinates patient care between healthcare providers. ÂżRoundsÂż with clinical staff and attends interdisciplinary rounds as required. Contributes to teamwork by awareness of overall unit acuity, consistently offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for assistance.
- Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional health care team to collaborate on the plan of care. Communicates in an active, positive and effective manner to all interprofessional team members and reports pertinent patient care and family data in a comprehensive and unbiased manner, listens and responds to the ideas of others.
- Demonstrates leadership as clinical resource, and patient advocate. Implements staff education specific to patient populations and unit processes; coaches and mentors other staff as appropriate.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Follows the patient and family-centered care standards, as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Plans and updates plan of care in partnership with the patient and family using the nursing process, incorporating the patient’s priorities and abilities.
- Provides patient teaching based on learning needs, uses appropriate resources, incorporating planning for care after discharge. Consistently evaluates the patient’s comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly.
- Prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities and preferences. Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns, utilizing appropriate resources.
- Contributes towards departmental score for turnover/retention/employee satisfaction on department dashboard/scorecard, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Follows the standards of care related to the nursing process, as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Collaborates with healthcare team members to manage/coordinate patient care.
- Follows the standards related to regulatory requirements and professional practice as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Manages usual patient assignment and other unit demands.
- Contributes towards improving quality and safety scores on the unit-based scorecard, through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the interprofessional health care team. Implements unit and hospital initiatives to achieve National Patient Safety Goals.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks. Provides input into the unit resource utilization including unit capital and operational budget needs.
- Contributes towards meeting department financial target on unit-based scorecard through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency and other areas according to department specifications.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Identifies and presents areas for innovation, efficiency and improvement in patient care or unit operations using evidence-based practice literature. Offers innovative solutions through evidence-based practice/performance improvement projects and shared governance activities.
- Champions new care pathways or service line implementation to improve service to the community. Identifies own learning needs, consults with healthcare team experts and seeks continuing education opportunities to meet those needs. Pursues educational opportunities for professional growth and benefits the department through knowledge dissemination.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
- Enrolled in an accredited Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Family Nurse Practitioner Program, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program
- Completed two semesters of graduate program and have completed Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology and Advanced Physical Exam/ Health Assessment courses
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Two years of clinical nursing experience
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS – REQUIRED
- RN – Registered Nurse – Texas State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure within 60 days OR
- RN-Temp – Registered Nurse – Temporary State Licensure within 60 days AND
- BLS – Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
- ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support (AHA)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles.
- Follows the standards related to regulatory requirements and professional practice as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document.
- Demonstrates proficient time management skills
- Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families
- Strong assessment, organizational and problem solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
- Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act to provide care to increasingly complex patients
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform No
- Scrubs Yes
- Business professional Yes
- Other (department approved) No
ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist Hospital is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Texas and one of America’s “Best Hospitals.” As a full-service, acute-care hospital located in the Texas Medical Center and the flagship hospital of Houston Methodist, it has evolved into one of the nation’s largest nonprofit teaching hospitals and a leader in innovative medical research with a comprehensive residency program. Two of Houston Methodist’s primary academic affiliates are among the nation’s leading health care organizations: Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Houston Methodist also has affiliations with Texas A&M University and the University of Houston. With 948 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and more than 8,400 employees, Houston Methodist Hospital offers unparalleled care for thousands of patients from around the world.
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested.