JOB SUMMARY

At Houston Methodist, the Lead Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant (NP/PA) position is responsible for functioning as a clinical leader and scholar at the Expert level of Benner’s model of clinical practice or according to the Board of Physician Assistant Examiners. This position leads and coordinates interprofessional activities, focusing on clinical practice, consultation, education, and research, incorporating evidence into practice. The Lead NP/PA position conducts comprehensive assessments, identifying normal and abnormal health characteristics, develops plan of care initiates appropriate interventions, and evaluates care outcomes on a defined patient population. This position uses expert communication skills to serve as patient and family advocate to educate, mentor and coach staff in clinical practice, assuming an advanced leadership role in analyzing systems to anticipate and or reduce risk and improve patient safety and quality. In addition to responsibilities which include contributions at the unit/department, with expectation to collaborate, manage, and lead system wide and national initiatives, this position functions as a clinical provider maintaining and promoting health of the patient requiring care. The Lead NP/PA position affects direct patient care according to the Nurse Practice Act of the state of Texas or the Board of Physician Assistant Examiners.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.
• Focuses on patient/customer safety
• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards
• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)
• Intentionally rounds with patients/customers to ensure their needs are being met
• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports byenabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Job responsibilities labeled EF capture those duties that are essential functions of the job.

PEOPLE - 20%

1. Actively participates in the interviewing process of Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant candidates in department or service line. Coordinates the orientation schedule of newly hired Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, as appropriate. Collaborates in the preparation of annual evaluations with supporting physicians and management personnel to ensure all paperwork is in compliance with all HR policies and guidelines. (EF)
2. Leads education and training of professional students through collaboration with department Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants and supervising clinical activity. Supports and provides coordination and direction to other physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other staff by proactively offering assistance. Serves as a preceptor by mentoring others regarding care of defined populations in resource utilization and time management. (EF)
3. Provides clinical guidance as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant subject matter expert to administrative and operations personnel. Includes the patient and family as a part of the team regarding their plan of care. Partners with the interprofessional health care team to facilitate communication with patient and family across the continuum of care. Fosters staff engagement by demonstrating active listening, requesting, and acknowledging feedback, making equitable decisions, providing rationale when appropriate, and supporting organizational goals. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of employee engagement. (EF)

SERVICE - 20%

1. Conducts quality, timely, license-appropriate, patient care, under physician supervision, for a defined patient population(s), identifying normal/abnormal health characteristics, recognizing subtle cues to change in patient condition and focusing on identified expected unit/department/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient. Prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities, and preferences. Advocates for patients/families concerning ethical conflicts; develops supportive policies and guidelines, offers educational resources; empowers patients/families to speak/represent selves when possible. (EF)
2. Teaches coworkers to develop comprehensive plans of care in collaboration with patients and families, incorporating individual differences and preventive planning. Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards. (EF)
3. Partners with leaders to coordinate scheduling of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants for staffing optimization of department or service line, prior to manager approval. Oversees patient assignment and distribution among Advanced Practice Providers, as appropriate. (EF)

QUALITY/SAFETY - 35%

1. Leads care rounds to assure patient safety and satisfaction. Manages assignment of complex patient and other department demands, rounding on service lines weekly, as appropriate. Reports “near misses” as well as errors promptly and consistently to improve systems and processes and identify trends; role models situational awareness using “teachable moments” to improve safety. (EF)
2. Anticipates routine and unexpected changes based on evidence. Elevates emergent situations and leads/coordinates team to achieve issue resolution. (EF)
3. Provides safe and effective care by leading and initiating areas for improvement in patient care or unit/department operations, outcome, quality, and patient safety improvement activities in alignment with organizational goals. Integrates, modifies, and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols by participating in unit/department projects, shared governance activities or interprofessional team activities. (EF)
4. Leads and supports colleagues and staff in conducting evidence-based practice/ performance improvement projects and implementing findings. Facilitates active involvement of others in team meetings, unit/department activities and process improvement. (EF)

FINANCE - 10%

1. Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to departmental specifications, e.g., decreasing length of stay. (EF)
2. Measures and analyzes resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge, and skills; contributes to unit/department plans for resource utilization and capital needs. Identifies cost saving or revenue opportunities. (EF)

GROWTH/INNOVATION - 15%

1. Promotes quality health care by initiating, applying, and presenting research in collaboration with the Education Department, Research and Evidenced-Based Practice Council, nursing, physician assistant or medical schools, as appropriate. Contributes to professional practice standards at hospital/regional/national level. (EF)
2. Demonstrates leadership as clinical resource, interprofessional consultant, and patient advocate by serving as an instructor in continuing education, formal program, or expert consultation. Identifies leadership opportunities for professional growth of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants; coaches/mentors individuals to accomplishment of goals. Identifies, plans, and implements education for the unit, department, and/or service line in collaboration with team members and Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant leadership. (EF)
3. Generates and communicates new ideas to lead team to creative strategies that improve quality or service and impact the department and address organization or department priorities. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. (EF)

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 REQUIREMENTS

o Master’s degree in Nursing and Graduate from an accredited Nurse Practitioners program OR Bachelor’s degree for Physician Assistant AND Graduate from accredited Physician Assistant program by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

o Three years of clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioners or five years of experience as a Physician Assistant in multi-specialty practice; May consider HM employee with three years’ experience, one year who demonstrates progressive leadership abilities

o Progressive management experience preferred

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

o Texas RN license or temporary Texas RN license, should obtain permanent license within 90 days. Compact license acceptable according to current Board of Nursing requirements AND Licensed as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN) in the State of Texas OR Licensed and credentialed by the Texas Board of Physician Assistants

o Certified by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) as Nurse Practitioner OR Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)

o American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS)

o American Heart Association Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

o Prescriptive authority privileges through the State of Texas

o Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration within six months of hire

o American Heart Association Pediatric Life Support (PALS) within 6 months of hire preferred

o Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (FCCS) certification within 6 months of hire preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

o Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

o 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

o 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

o Demonstrates highly developed assessment, clinical, documentation, leadership, and analytical skills

o Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional team to collaborate on the plan of care

o Ability to adapt to unexpected changes. Ability to facilitate and lead the change process

o Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in the face of changing demand

o Knowledge of clinical and operational improvement processes

o Proficiency in Microsoft office software, as well as the ability to learn new software programs

o Proven problem-solving and analysis skills

o Active member in pertinent professional organizations

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Work Attire Yes/No

Uniform No

Scrubs Yes

Business professional Yes

Other (dept approved) Yes

On-Call* Yes, as required by entity/department for operational need

*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (i.e., Disaster, Severe Weather Event, etc.) regardless of selection above

Travel**

May require travel within Yes

Houston Metropolitan area

May require travel outside No

of Houston Metropolitan area

**Travel specifications may vary by department.

Please note any other special considerations to this job: _________________________

Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group - As one of the nation’s leading hospitals and academic medical centers Houston Methodist has brought together some of the nation’s leading experts in multiple specialties to serve our patients.  As part of Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group (HMSPG), these specialists not only provide excellent clinical care, but are on the forefront of research, developing leading-edge technologies and treatments, and teaching the medical pioneers of tomorrow.  This combination of clinical service, research and academics ensures patients have access to the latest in treatments and technologies while providing the best in comprehensive patient care.  Established as a non-profit corporation and certified by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, HMSPG enables physicians to maintain autonomy with respect to their clinical practice while growing their practice within an academic environment.