THE POSITION: This position involves performing comprehensive and problem-focused histories and physical examinations for new neurosurgical consults. Additionally, it entails reviewing all scheduled elective neurosurgery cases to ensure completion of preoperative workups, assessing patients' chronic stable medical conditions and medications, providing constructive feedback to the operating room (OR) scheduler, and efficiently placing preoperative order sets. These responsibilities are crucial in ensuring the seamless coordination of patient care and optimizing surgical outcomes within the neurosurgical department.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
This class is distinguished from other nursing classes in that incumbents perform specialized examinations of patients, make basic diagnoses, and decide on a treatment plan as allowable under a State of California Nurse Practitioner License.
EDUCATIONAL/BILINGUAL INCENTIVE:Some positions may be eligible for educational incentive. This incentive may be 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% for incumbents in eligible positions based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.
CERTIFICATION PAY: Incumbents in a Regular classification are eligible for certification pay at a rate of $0.813 per hour based on his or her scheduled work week hours and not to exceed the scheduled work week hours for each qualified certification possessed up to a maximum of five (5) certifications. One of the five certifications may be paid at $2.00 per hour for a National Certification. (List provided in the California Nurses Association MOA, Exhibit 10).
PAYROLL TITLE/APPROXIMATE SALARIES:
Primary Care Clinic Nurse Practitioner: $142,191.88 - $159,031.66 Annually
Per Diem Clinic Nurse Practitioner: $143,188.92 - $160,146.77 Annually
DEPARTMENT/AGENCY: Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center
Primary Care Clinic Nurse Practitioner and Per Diem Clinic Nurse Practitioner are represented by the California Nurses Association (CNA) and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
NOTE: Salary placement will be determined according to the current CNA memorandum of agreement.
The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra-help vacancies within the Health Care Agency. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: July 31, 2024
CLOSING DATE: Continuous Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
- Performs comprehensive and problem-focused histories and physical examinations for new neurosurgical consults.
- Reviews all neurosurgery scheduled elective cases for completion of preoperative work up to ensure cleared for surgery, assesses patient chronic stable medical conditions and medications, provides feedback to operating room (OR) scheduler, and places preoperative order set.
- Performs updated preoperative and history & physical (H&P) on elective neurosurgical cases on day of surgery.
- Performs post operative assessments on elective neurosurgical cases.
- Rounds daily on neurosurgical patient active list (includes elective cases and consults).
- Reviews background neurosurgery list as needed (i.e, pending films, wound checks).
- Interprets laboratory and diagnostic tests.
- Interprets and correlates subjective and objective data.
- Formulates a differential diagnosis and establishes a working diagnosis.
- Develops a treatment plan for neurosurgical conditions within the scope of practice and in conjunction with the neurosurgeon.
- Implements therapeutic intervention for specific conditions where appropriate.
- Orders pharmacologic interventions.
- Exercises judgment on conditions requiring consultation, facilitates referral or evaluation by the supervising neurosurgeon or other healthcare professionals.
- Maintains clear, accurate and appropriate records of patient encounters, management plans and billing codes.
- Works as Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) in OR as operative first assist.
- Assists with non-invasive or invasive procedures per approved standardized procedures required to manage neurosurgical patients in the acute care setting.
- Completes IUR and coordinates with R&J to ensure appropriate orthotics delivered. If issues with orthotic device communicates with R&J need for reassessment/different sizing.
- Coordinates with therapy services on elective neurosurgery patients as well as trauma patients-PT/OT/ST.
- Coordinates with social services in timely manner to ensure DME, home health or appropriate process for placement to SNF vs ARU.
- Ensures patient education and counseling appropriate to disease process to patients and family.
- Ensures appropriate appointments are in place for further evaluation and treatment as indicated.
- Ensures sign out of neurosurgical patients to ICU, medicine or surgery trauma team.
- Ensures timely discharge of elective neurosurgical.
- Acts as an expert resource person for healthcare providers including nurses, pre-op, OR and PACU staff, residents, and other ancillary staff.
- Participates in staff education.
- Provides culturally sensitive care to patients, families, healthcare providers, and contracted vendors.
- Supports compliance with VCMC.
- Performs related duties as required.
These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE
Possession of a Master's degree or higher in nursing or a clinical field related to nursing, per the Business and Professions Code of California, Article 8, Section 2835.5, and
Two (2) years of full-time Nurse Practitioner experience (preferably in the care of neurosurgery patients) is required.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum of one (1) year experience as a surgical first assistant in the operating room for neurosurgery patients
- Must possess a current valid license as a Registered Nurse;
- Must possess a Nurse Practitioner Certificate issued by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing;
- Must possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI) for billing purposes,
- Must possess a DEA license number.
- Must possess a furnishing number from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Working knowledge of: modern nursing practices and procedures; the principles, practices, and procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of common health problems related to the neurosurgery area of practice; provisions of the Nurse Practice Act; counseling/interviewing techniques; where and how to refer patients needing additional services; care management of the hospitalized patient in the intensive care setting including advanced airway and hemodynamic monitoring;
Thorough knowledge of: the theories, techniques, and practices used in nursing care and the role of the RNFA in specialized units, including an acute care operating room; medical terminology; general hospital practices which include equipment use and safe medication practices.
Skilled in: leadership; demonstrating accountability for own practice
Working ability to: perform a thorough physical examination and to determine deviations from normal; take a complete medical history, perform medical evaluations, and prescribe appropriate measures; clinically manage selected cases; maintain confidentiality of patient/client information; provide health education and counseling to patients; prepare clear and concise medical reports; work effectively with inter-professional staff in coordinating the delivery of primary health care services; and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.
To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.
Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.
LATERAL TRANSFER:If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.
APPLICATION EVALUATION – Pass/Fail: An application evaluation will be conducted to determine whether or not each applicant possesses the required licensure and certification for this recruitment. Those candidates who do will be placed on the eligible list
Applicants successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, and driving record may be required for this position.
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Erin Niemi by e-mail at Erin.Niemi@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 654-2568.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
