Opthalmic Nurse Practitioner

jer_sd · Jul 6, 2007

This would be on the job training since there is not an established specilty for this field right now.

I know that the local teaching hospital uses NPs in the opth surgery center to do H+Ps and preops.

One intersting topic for this is that in many states NPs can not rx for glasses or contacts. In california we can not even refract. But you can manage glaucoma and other significant medical conditions. It does not make sense to me, I would love to see a structured postgraduate educational program in vision care NPs and removal of restrictions on the state level but given the number of ODs and MD/DO I doubt it will happen.

Here is a page with approved independant study courses that can meed part of the requirements for certification as an optghalmic assistant. This might be a good way to gain some training in vision care to compliment a NP program.

http://www.jcahpo.org/newsite/homestudycourses.htm

Jeremy

caldje · Jul 11, 2007

mdanderseon hires PAs and NPs in ophtho. Seems like more PAs but the take NPs.

Req #: mdac-00016280

Job Title: Physician Assistant

Job Category:

Sub Category:

Department: Ophthalmology

Salary:SALARY_LOW=0;SALARY_LOW=69600; if(SALARY_LOW==0) document.write('Not Available'); else document.write('$69600 - $104400'); $69600 - $104400

Employment Status: Full Time

Work Week:

Shift:

SUMMARY

To provide direct and indirect medical services to patients in a clinic setting within the scope of the education, training and experience of the Physician Assistant (PA) that are delegated by the supervising physician and in accordance with policies established by the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff and consistent with the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners guidelines and existing state laws.

Responsible for the performance of increasingly independent and complex tasks which would otherwise be performed by a physician. To provide expert direct and/or indirect patient care clinically, administratively, and/or academically.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

A. Patient Care ' Direct (65%)

1. Provide advanced patient care in a clinical setting, to include evaluation of new patients, existing patients, and in-patients; to provide immediate preoperative and postoperative assessment of patients.

2. Perform routine patient care and advanced technical studies in a clinical setting to include but not limited to:

a. Fluorescien angiography

b. Epilation of lashes

c. local excision of skin lesions

d. probing and irrigation of canalicular system

e. placement of punctual plugs / thermal cautery of puncta

f. appropriate wound care management

g. tarsorrhaphy

h. corneal & conjunctival scrapping / culture

B. Patient Care ' Indirect (25%)

1. Provide counseling and education (including surgical consent) to the patient and their family concerning their health care and sensitive ethical situations.

2. Provide a direct link from the supervising physician to other physicians/departments to facilitate optimal patient care and timeliness of appropriate care.

3. Provide a contact for patients, families, referring physicians, pharmacists, and other allied health personnel concerning the immediate and long term patient care plans.

4. Review all diagnostic testing on consultative and primary ophthalmic patients.

C. Administrative (5%)

1. Process correspondence with patients, physicians, third party carriers and other entities as delegated by the supervising physician.

2. Assist supervising physician with routine chart follow-ups and order appropriate referrals, laboratory, radiological or supportive care as needed.

3. Assist with and maintain patient records in compliance with UTMDACC guidelines.

D. Research (5%)

1. Review patient charts carefully, input data into computer database.

2. Assist research nurses in identifying patients who may benefit by protocol registration.

MARGINAL OR PERIODIC FUNCTIONS:

May assist physician in clinic administration. Other duties as required.

EDUCATION:

Required: Graduate of a Physician Assistant training program approved by the Council of Medical Education of the American Medical Association.

EXPERIENCE:

Required: None

Preferred: Two years Ophthalmology experience.

SUPERVISION

Received: Clinic Director, Supervising Physician or Interim Section Chief

Given: None

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

Required: All of the following:

' PA certification by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants.

' Licensed by the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners.

' Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification (CPR), Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) OR Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

MAY BE REQUIRED:

Eligible to be granted limited prescriptive authority by the State of Texas.