Nurse Practitioner Resident

This 12-month post-graduate Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) residency provides additional skills training as well as independent mentorship experience in a community health center. The intensive clinical program prepares Family Nurse Practitioners to meet the needs of the culturally diverse and clinically complex patients who are typical of a community health center practice. Following the completion of the residency, the resident agrees to work a second year as a full-time nurse practitioner at the health center.

Responsibilities Include:

• A) Residency Program Objectives:

Clinical Competence

• Work within their professional scope of practice and demonstrate adequate fund of knowledge in the application of evidence-based medicine.
• Demonstrate competency by prioritizing acute illness and chronic disease states appropriately, by correctly ordering diagnostic and screening tests, and through safe and effective prescribing of pharmacotherapy, treatments, and procedures.
• Obtain appropriate and relevant history and demonstrate proficient physical exam skills, provide documentation that is organized, concise, thorough, and timely, and maintain an appropriate level of efficiency in clinical practice.

Professional Leadership

• Demonstrate dedication to the CHC multidisciplinary model of providing comprehensive, effective, and compassionate care to all patients, with an expressed focus on our underserved populations.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues and other multidisciplinary team members, including support staff.
• Delegate appropriately so that all team members function at the fullest scope of their professional practice.
• Provide feedback that is respectful, timely, and constructive.
• Recognize and participate in quality improvement initiatives to improve health systems.

Cultural Competence

• Provide patient-centered care, recognizing the impact of psychosocial factors.
• Recognize cultural diversity and include the patient as a full decision-making partner.
• Provide appropriate, culturally competent, and relevant education and instruction within the context of the patient's health literacy and culture, including anticipatory guidance.

Professional Confidence

• Demonstrate an appropriate level of confidence through commitment to a working diagnosis and plan of care.

• Reflect on and evaluate clinical progress, strengths, and areas for improvement.

• Receive and integrate constructive and respectful feedback to continually improve clinical practice.

• Express needs for professional and clinical growth effectively with colleagues, including supervisors and support staff.

• Operate as a full member of the care team with all the rights, benefits, and responsibilities of CHC staff.

• B) Nurse Practitioner Clinical Responsibilities:

• Assess patients physical and psychosocial health/illness status through history taking and physical examination.

• Practices within the collaborative model with physicians, nurse practitioners, and clinical psychologists

• Diagnoses, manages, and appropriately refers patients with acute, episodic, or chronic illness according to department protocols.

• Orders appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests according to established guidelines.

• Prescribes pharmaceuticals, other medications, and treatment regimens as appropriate to assessed medical conditions.

• Follows established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, environmental, and/or infection control standards.

• As appropriate to the position, participates in specified health promotion, education, and/or prevention programs.

• Ability to observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress.

• Ability to maintain and follow quality, safety, and/or infection control standards.

• Facilitates and coordinates patient care referrals to specialists and outside agencies.

• Develops and provides educational materials and programs to patients, families, and other healthcare professionals at the Center.

• May participate in approved medical and/or nursing research.

• Participates in defining nursing standards, practices, and educational needs of patient care staff.

• Managing patient care is a team effort that involves clinical and non-clinical staff interacting with patients.

Requirements and Eligibility:

• Applicants must agree to a full-time, 12-month residency and commit to a second year of full-time employment at their employing health center.
• Applicants must be a citizen of the US or a foreign national with a visa permitting permanent residency in the US or a non-citizen national. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
• All applicants are required to have go through the full credentialing process prior to starting clinical sessions. This process can take anywhere from 60-120 days.
• (3) Letters of Recommendation and a Personal Statement will be required.

Education and Experience:

• Massachusetts Licensed Registered Nurse required.
• Licensed in Massachusetts to practice in the expanded role as a Family Nurse Practitioner required.
• Certified in CPR/AED or equivalent.
• Demonstrated mastery of a specialty area or other related field normally acquired by 3 -5 years of progressively responsible nursing experience preferred.
• Master's or Doctoral Degree and board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
• DEA, MCSR, and NPI # required.