POSITION DESCRIPTION Nurse Practitioner (AGED CARE) THE ORGANISATION Rural Northwest Health is a public health service funded by State and Commonwealth Government and supported by the local community. This support includes Board of Management membership, fundraising activities, and the provision of volunteer hours and support for health and community events. Rural Northwest Health provides responsive quality care and community services by empowering a vibrant and committed group of staff working across three campuses; Warracknabeal, Beulah and Hopetoun. Services are provided in the community at local halls and parks and in the community members own home. The key focus of Rural Northwest Health is caring and providing. Our logo represents this by the carer reaching out and embracing its community over the broad horizon. Our staff provides services that offer wide reaching community support and a warm and comforting approach. Programs delivered by staff include acute and urgent care, residential aged care, district nursing, allied health programs including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, dietary advice, podiatry, social work, exercise physiology, health promotion, planned activity groups, health education and a range of preventative health activities. Rural Northwest Health is committed to delivering care that demonstrates innovation in every element of the health service. Our focus is C Capability, innovation and service expansion A Accreditation and governance R Relationships and alliances E Engagement and Education All staff are accountable for Key results across the four CARE areas and will be required to work with all stakeholders and team members to support the community to receive services that are innovative, excellent and of a high quality. A key focus for Rural Northwest Health is that all staff members demonstrate the FISH principles. The FISH principles include four simple interconnected practices: Be There is being emotionally present for people. It s a powerful message of respect that improves communication and strengthens relationships. Play taps into your natural way of being creative, enthusiastic, and having fun. Play is the spirit that drives the curious mind, as in let s play with that idea. It s a mindset you can bring to everything you do Make Their Day is finding simple ways to serve or delight people in a meaningful, memorable way. It s about contributing to someone else s life, not because you want something out of it, but because that s the person you want to be. Choose Your Attitude means taking responsibility for how you respond to what life throws at you. Once you are aware that your choice impacts everyone around you, you can ask yourself is my attitude helping my team or my customers? Is it helping me to be the person I want to be? Through the FISH principles Rural Northwest Health staff will build stronger relationships with the team members they work with, the patients, clients and residents we serve, and the community we work with to empower and improve their health PD.23 Position Description Aged Care Nurse Practitioner 1 of 7
Classification Award Responsible to Direct Reports Key Relationships Hours of Work ROLE: Nurse Practitioner (Year as Awarded) Individual Contract based on Registered Nurse Award Warracknabeal Campus Manager Nil Executive managers, Leadership and Management team members, Visiting Medical Officers, Aged Care staff, Aged Care NUM, Registered Nurses, Pharmacist, Ambulance Victoria, Wimmera Health Care Group, patients, clients, residents and carers Permanent 0.6 1.0EFT Mon Fri 0830 1700 (negotiable) The primary objective of all staff who work at Rural Northwest Health is to undertake their duties and work together provide safe and high quality services. A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse educated and authorised to function autonomously and collaboratively in an advanced and extended clinical nursing role. The Scope of Practice of this position is an acute and primary health model of care for the older person and will be determined by the advanced clinical practice skills of the individual Nurse Practitioner and the service needs of the community. Within their scope of practice the Aged Care Nurse Practitioner enhances health care delivery and strengthens the capacity to manage residents, patients, clients locally within a safety and quality framework. Duties include undertaking advanced holistic health assessment and history taking ordering and/or performing diagnostic tests and responsible for the interpretation of results and follow up on appropriate course of action formulating a diagnosis and treatment plan with consideration of differential diagnosis using evidence-based therapeutic guidelines communicating the plan of care to direct care staff, residents, clients and significant others prescribing medicines within a Quality Use of Medicines framework and under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances (DPCS) Act 1981 category Acute and Supportive Care drug formulary collaborating with and/or directly referring to other health professionals across a multidisciplinary team including liaising with local GPs, the regional/metro hospitals when episode of care exceeds scope of practice or local resources. admitting low acuity patients to Rural Northwest Health in collaboration with direct care staff based on adequate resources to meet the client s individual needs ensuring residents, clients are appropriately followed up to ensure positive health outcomes supporting residents to receive health care and applying the principles of primary health in providing education and health promotion actively participating in evaluating the Nurse Practitioner role by monitoring and reporting measurable outcomes provide clinical leadership in the care needs of the older person. Supporting residents in fulfilling their end-of-life wishes. QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE: MANDATORY Current general registration as a Registered Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Nurse Practitioner endorsement with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, with an Aged Care Notation, including mandatory Therapeutic Medication Management PD.23 Position Description Aged Care Nurse Practitioner 2 of 7
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA: Registered as a Nurse Practitioner by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Demonstrated clinical leadership, mentorship and support to clinical staff in a rural health setting. Demonstrated advanced nursing skills in assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of client-centred care within scope of practice Demonstrated ability to think critically, problem solve and make sound clinical decisions utilising evidence based guidelines both autonomously and collaboratively Demonstrated passion and advocate for the older person, including palliative care and end of life wishes. Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills with the ability to work autonomously and as a part of a multidisciplinary team. Excellent written, verbal and computer skills. Hold a current Drivers Licence valid in Victoria. BEHAVIOURS: EMPLOYEE OBLIGATIONS: INDUSTRY STANDARDS: All staff plays a key role in shaping and influencing work place culture. All staff must Be a team member and provide support to one another, Working co-operatively, respecting one another s views and making the workplace fun and enjoyable Treat everyone with respect and dignity and value people for who they are and their unique contribution, irrespective of their role or level in the organisation, resident, client or visitor of Rural Northwest Health Have a key role in representing the team/service to the community and for positively promoting the organisation to the team or in any external environment Recognise that RNH core business is the enhanced quality of life of our residents and clients and all behaviour and conduct will portray values that support this primary objective Strive for high standards in all areas of the position Ensure all decisions are made with the customer in focus. Working in partnership, aim to add value for residents, clients, visitors and staff Go above and beyond for clients, residents and each other and meet needs with actions that are timely, responsive and proactive Be prepared to listen and learn from everyone Take a proactive approach to workplace health, safety, staff wellbeing and the environment Participate in staff learning and development and recognise the value of personal ongoing professional development Actively encourage feedback from all stakeholders Role model positive behaviour at all time and ensure a chosen positive attitude at work Always behave ethically and with integrity. Recognise that Rural Northwest Health s core business is the enhanced quality of life of our Residents, and Clients and all behaviour and conduct will portray values that support this primary objective. Understand and adhere to RNH policy, in particular, confidentiality, security, OH&S, essential training and quality improvement. Understand and adhere to relevant industry Standards, Acts and Regulations specifically: Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009 National Health Act 1953 PD.23 Position Description Aged Care Nurse Practitioner 3 of 7
Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances (DPCS) Act 1981 section 14 Acute and Supportive Care category Medicare Australia Act 1973 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice 2015. PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: Feedback on the Nurse Practitioner s performance will be given in a timely and constructive manner across the period of employment Actively undertakes internal and external continuing professional development and maintains professional portfolio of evidence Participates in an annual Professional Development Plan Compiled: Jan 2011 Issue No: 3 Authorised: Warracknabeal Campus Manager Review Date: June 2017 Re-issue Date: 30 June 2014 PD.23 Position Description Aged Care Nurse Practitioner 4 of 7
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES POSITION TITLE: Nurse Practitioner FUNCTIONAL AREA C- Capability, innovation and service expansion strategic goals of clinical governance, primary and community care, acute and urgent care, aged care, and training and development DESCRIPTION Work with Executive in implementing and embedding an effective Aged Care Nurse Practitioner model of care Within the Nurse Practitioner s scope of practice respond autonomously and collaboratively to manage residential care. Provide a model of care that is trans-boundary by collaborating and supporting other registered nurses in response to clinical deterioration and/or providing ongoing care needs to residents admitted in Acute. Acts as a clinical leader and mentor to provide high quality, timely and evidence-based clinical care Ensure direct care staff understand and adhere to RNH clinical policies and work practices Identify continuous improvement opportunities and evidence based developments that Rural Northwest Health could introduce Works with the Wimmera Southern Mallee Health Alliance and Wimmera Health Care Group to introduce clinical pathways applicable at a local level Supports the Pallative approach in aged care Understanding of the principles of advance care planning and relevant legislation surrounding limitation of treatment The Nurse Practitioner provides appropriate care across the RNH RACFs as required. Residents of Rural Northwest Health RACFs receive timely, appropriate, evidence-based health care. A- Accreditation and governance strategic goals of clinical governance, staff engagement and leadership and adherence to Rural Northwest Health policies and protocols The clinician provides services in line with RNH policy and protocols, legislative requirements, accreditation and national standards and scope of practice to ensure safety and quality of the client/resident Medication management is conducted in line with RNH policies and protocols, legislative requirements and scope of practice to ensure safety and quality of the resident Undertake audits as directed - against the Aged Care and National Standards Reviews agreed clinical indicators and participates actively in the RNH quality and safety program. Attend training and review and update policies and protocols to ensure That there is alignment with scope of practice and responsibilities in line with relevant legislation and accreditation standards Monitor use of ISBAR handover tool across the organisation -for all clinical communication PD.23 Position Description Aged Care Nurse Practitioner 5 of 7
Support and encourage staff to ensure that they implement the falls prevention and pressure relieving strategies to improve client and resident outcomes Contribute to policy and protocols appropriate to context of the RNH Aged Care Nurse Practitioner model of care and takes a leadership role in relation to Standard 9 : Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration Ensure Urgent Care meets minimum standards by actively participating in the Emergency Room portfolio Nurse Practitioner model of care is embedded and effective National Standards action plan is met for all areas of responsibility ISBAR communication tool is embedded in all clinical areas Audits demonstrate compliance with RNH policies R-Relationships and alliances strategic goals of training and development, alliances and partnerships with Wimmera Southern Mallee Health alliance, other health services and providers and staff engagement and leadership E- Engagement and Education strategic goals of clinical governance, enhancing teaching an training and developing a skilled workforce development Work and collaborate with the Visiting Medical Officers to improve the provision of health care of all community members Liaise and communicate effectively with external health providers when care requirements exceed local skill and/or resource Mentor registered nurses and nursing students to provide a high standard of clinical care Support and liaise with the Link Nurses to embed the Palliative approach in aged care Work collaboratively with Advanced Care Planning staff to ensure end of life wishes are accurately documented and current Articulate and promote the Nurse Practitioner role in clinical and professional contexts Member of the Victorian Older Persons Nurse Practitioner Collaborative. Actively involved with the Wimmera Southern Mallee Health Alliance working group and Wimmera Health Care Group Registered nurses feel supported in the provision of health care Attendance at Stakeholder and Alliance partnership meetings and contributes to the implementation of projects Respect the right of individuals to make informed decisions about actively participating in their episode of care Use appropriate teaching and learning strategies to inform health care Work to meet identified needs for educating others Recognise and seek support from other relevant staff including medical officers and external health providers when a client s episode of care falls outside Nurse Practitioner s ability and scope of practice Residents are supported in making informed health care decisions Participate in clinical supervision and review PD.23 Position Description Aged Care Nurse Practitioner 6 of 7
Personal and Professional Development Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to personal and professional development Understands and adheres to Nurse Practitioner Standards of Practice and relevant Codes of Conduct. Meets Continuing Professional Development required for Nurse Practitioner Mandatory training is undertaken Participation in Professional Development Plan Information Management Maintains confidentiality and privacy of clients Complies with medico-legal, professional and RNH standards regarding client documentation Utilises information technology in undertaking Nurse Practitioner role Audits demonstrate compliance with RNH policies Demonstrated IT proficiency. Safe Practice & Environment Works in accordance with relevant legislation and regulations Understands and adheres to Rural Northwest Health OH&S policies and work practices Ensure clients receive timely, appropriate health care to reduce adverse events Reports adverse incidents and near misses in a timely and professional manner Understands and adheres to all aspects of emergency management. Reviews agreed clinical indicators and supports staff to introduce appropriate strategies to minimise the risk of an adverse event occurring Research-based innovations are implemented to improve quality of care Quality reports and analysis across key identified areas I have read, understand and accept the above position description. (print name) Staff Member: Signature: Date: Manager: Signature: Date: PD.23 Position Description Aged Care Nurse Practitioner 7 of 7