The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) - Gerontology represents and supports the mission, philosophy and goals of the Cancer Center. He/she is responsible for promoting quality geriatric patient care through the spheres of influence: patient/family, nursing/ nursing practice and organization/systems.

The APRN – Gerontology assesses the health status of geriatric patients and families, diagnoses human responses to actual or potential health problems; plans for health promotion and disease prevention in collaboration with the patient and family; and implements therapeutic interventions including direct nursing care, counseling, teaching and collaboration with other licensed healthcare providers.

If licensed as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), the APRN – Gerontology may diagnose and treat patients, under protocol with a physician and assists physicians in the evaluation, management and treatment of patients within the physician's scope of practice.

Responsibilities:

1. SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: DIRECT CARE OF PATIENTS OR CLIENTS

• Demonstrates advanced cognitive and psychomotor capabilities in the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential life-threatening problems for the geriatric population.
• Applies advanced knowledge of functional health patterns, physiology, pathophysiology, and psychosociology in the assessment and care planning of geriatric patients.
• Collaborates and engages in mutual problem solving with the complex geriatric patient, his/her family, and health care providers in achieving optimal patient outcomes.
• Provides direction, support, human respect, and appreciation of unique meaning in obtaining proper assistance to the complex geratric patient and family, and health care provider, seeking information in ethical and/or legal concerns.
• If licensed as ARNP, adheres to all medical staff bylaws, rules, and regulations.
• If licensed as an ARNP, performs comprehensive, problem-focused H&P exams. Assessments of patients are logical, reliable, complete and concise. Exercises judgment on conditions requiring consultation, referral or evaluation by other healthcare professionals. Provides input into patient treatment plans. Considers the patient's physical, psychosocial, educational and safety needs.
• If licensed as an ARNP, formulates treatment plans for medical conditions, including prescribing oral and intravenous medications when appropriate and within scope of practice.
• Documents patient care in accordance with medical staff rules.
• If licensed as ARNP, Integrates medical facts and clinical data. Considers benefits and risks regarding patient care. Understands the limitations of his/her knowledge and skills. Establishes priorities. Acts decisively in difficult patient management situations.

2. SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: NURSES AND NURSING PRACTICE

• Promotes quality patient care and a healing environment.
• Assists and/or provides direction to staff with clinical decision making and management of
• geratric patient care problems utilizing mutual problem solving and independent decision making.
• Serves as a clinical resource for nursing staff and health care providers.
• Applies knowledge of new therapies, Duffy's Caring Factors, and evidence-based nursing to educate providers and improve nurse sensitive patient outcomes.
• Provides consultation to staff in the planning and provision of nursing care to geriatric patients.
• Facilitates the acquisition and application of clinical knowledge, theoretical knowledge, and decision making skills by staff nurses and nursing students.
• Plans and presents CE programs annually to meet staff learning needs.
• Participates in EBP/PI/Research activities to improve patient care and/or advance nursing knowledge.
• Assists and supports staff in the identification and investigation of relevant EBP/PI and nursing research topics in the following ways:
• Collaborates with staff in identifying clinical issues and Nursing Sensitive Indicators for inquiry.
• Identifies and integrates appropriate evidence into patient care and nursing practice.
• Engages staff in clinical inquiry.
• Assists and supports staff in developing Evidence Based Practice standards and policies throughout the practice setting.
• Monitors clinical practice via audits to determine outcomes of specific nursing practices.
• Mentors and guides nursing staff in program and poster presentations, abstract writing, manuscript development, writing, and publication.

3. SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: ORGANIZATIONS AND SYSTEMS

• Responds to consult requests for patients care standards and inservice programs from other departments, professional organizations, healthcare team members, department nurses and others.
• Utilizes principles of communication, mutual problem solving, and change theory in providing consultation.
• Collaborates with clinical specialists to identify strategies to improve quality of patient care and to develop and disseminate new knowledge.
• Assists with the review, revision and/or creation of clinical standards and policies.
• Contributes to the cost-effectiveness of care.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of departmental and institutional goals.
• Implement initiatives to improve the care provided to older adults leading to NICHE designation (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders).
• Represents nursing on at least two departmental committees, hospital committees, or task forces.
• Chair NICHE Steering Committee.

4. Professional Development

• Keeps abreast of current nursing trends and best practices by maintaining membership in a professional nursing organization.
• Completes at least 30 contact hours annually.
• Seeks out and identifies opportunities to engage in professional program presentations and publication.

Credentials and Qualifications:

• Minimum of three years relevant nursing experience; advanced gerontology nursing knowledge base
• Specialty certification required.
• Thorough familiarity with nursing process and principles of adult education.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• If licensed as an ARNP, a minimum of 1 year experience working in ARNP role

An applicant for this position, who will be or is seeking Florida licensure by endorsement, must not have any National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) reports, unless the applicant has successfully appealed to have their name removed from the NPDB. An applicant is encouraged to conduct a NPDB Self-Query before proceeding with an employment application: https://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/pract/howToGetStarted.jsp