Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Department Specific Functions

• Primarily performs dutiesacross multipleUHealthfacilitiesas neededincludingbut not limited toUHealthTower, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Interventional Radiology Clinic, Lennar Foundation Medical Center,UHealthDoral,andwithpossiblerotationsat otherlocations as services are expanded.  

• Performs minimally invasive vascular and nonvascular procedures as mentioned in management protocol and collaborative agreementindependentlyorunderthegeneral supervision of attending interventional radiologist and per hospital competenciesincluding but not limited to:

• Assist with Port Placementsand Removals 

• Paracentesis

• Thoracentesis

• Central venous catheter insertion and removal

• PICC Line insertion and removal

• Tunneled catheter placement, exchange, and removal

• FNA biopsies 

• Aspiration of superficial collections 

• Bone Marrow Biopsy 

• Tube removal for biliary, nephrostomy,gastrostomy,or abscess 

• Suture of simple and complex incisions and lacerations not requiring ligament or tendon repair

• Assistphysician with anyadditionalinterventional studies

• Preceptor:Demonstratesability to serve as a preceptor when assigned, including introducing new Nurse Practitioners to the service area,communicatingand reinforcing core andjob-specificexpectations,validatinginitial competency, assessing learning needs, serving as aresourceand providing feedback

• Service educator: Serves as an education resource for staff

• Pre-studyassessment &post-studyfollow-up for interventional patients

• Pre-assessment and assessment of interventional radiology patients undergoing imaging studies with IV contrast asrequired.

• Patient Managementof vascular and non-vascular illnesses

• Assists attending interventional radiologists with vascular interventional procedures

• PositivelyimpactsInterventional Radiology patients’ clinical management and provides ongoing continuity of care

• Assistsinthecoordination of patient imaging studies and laboratory testsrequiredfor specific Interventional radiology tests and procedures through contact with the referring physicians and/or the patients directly

• Assistsin the management of & the education of patients referred to the Interventional Radiology service in addition to counselingof  patientsand their families

• Assists collaborating physicians during procedures

• Recognizestheneed for and obtains physician’s input and guidance asindicatedwithinthelimits ofthescope of practice

• Aids in ensuring clearance for interventional procedures based on physical and lab assessment of patients

• Facilitates/initiates inter/intra-departmentalproblem-solvingand communication

• Assesses potential problems/contraindications for interventionalradiology  patientsreceiving IV contrast or those with uncontrolled medical problems, and takesappropriate actionsto reduce the risk of patient injury

• Co-manages with physicians those patients who are/becomehigh-risk

• Demonstrates the ability to extract pertinent patient clinical data in relation to the requested procedure

• Monitors/communicates problemsthatmay contribute to increased unnecessary length of hospital stay toappropriate clinicians

• Conducts apre-study-focusedscreening

• Conducts a pre-anesthesia, pre-procedural, and focused physical screening

• Relays information to patientsregardingpreparation for laboratory tests, examinations, and procedures

• Obtainsan accurateabbreviated age-specific, advanced health history review of systems including biophysical and psychosocial data

• Performs intake of patients, including the taking of a brief medical history & performing physical exam

• Documents all consultations toinclude focusedmedical history, physical exam, and summary of consultations, treatment options reviewed, risk and benefits of procedures offered, patient disposition, and the results of all testing under the indirect supervision of the attending interventional radiologist

• Dictates all proceduresthatare performed independently with final approval by attending interventional radiologist

• Triages interventional radiology patients via telephone anddeterminesthe need for emergency consultations based onacquiredinformation and diagnostic testing necessary.Evaluateinterventional radiology patients as needed for pre-screening issues related to contrast media allergies, contrast media pre-medication for allergies, and patients on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis

• Participates in the development of individualized plans of care and ongoing follow-up.

• Documents progress notes in the medical record

• Provideverbal and written orders for medications as per collaborative protocol

• Updates physicians as necessaryregardingpatient issues to ensure continuity of care

• Defines the discharge plan of care including follow-up, medications, home care referral,etc

• Helps to coordinate interventional procedures schedule to include requests from both the inpatient unit and outpatient referrals

• Adheres to radiation safetyregulations

• Assures that pre- and post-procedureorders are carried out to include both pre-op and post-procedure instructions to patients, relatives,and staff

• Assistswith the transferring of patients to other institutions when necessary

• Demonstrates knowledge and skills in interventional radiology procedures, contrast administration, response to contrast reactions,and extravasations related to interventional radiology procedures

• Provides pre- and post-procedurepatient educationand counseling

• Recognizes needs for/obtains physicians’assistance, input,and guidance asindicatedwithin limits of scope of practice

• Works collaboratively with medical, technical and support staff

• Facilitates/initiates inter/intra-departmental problem-solving and communication

• Assistswith &facilitatesresearch activities

• Participate in patient care conferences/tumor boards

• Takes part in patient rounds with the responsible physicians as necessary

• Diagnose health problems and manage the healthcare care of patients

• Prescribe and Order Physical Therapy

• Perform any other areas of management in which theAPRNhas been formally trained and educated to provide

• Participate inon callweekend coverageasassigned.  

• Performs related duties as requires