Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant, Corrections

The NP/PA is expected to practice safe and ethical nursing care within the scope of his/her profession as defined by the State Nursing Practice Act, understanding his/her own limitations, seeking advice and assistance when necessary. The Nurse Practitioner’s functions include, but are not limited to:

• Perform physical examinations and preventive health measures within prescribed guidelines and instructions of a physician.
• Record physical findings, and formulate plans and prognosis based on the patient's condition.
• Discuss with physician and other health professionals to prepare comprehensive patient care plan.
• Order and schedule laboratory studies and diagnostic procedures; explain the necessity, preparation, nature, and anticipated effects of scheduled diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to the patient.
• Carry out therapeutic procedures such as cast application and removal, wound suturing and dressing changes; monitor progress of patients, report progress to a supervising physician, and maintain a record of each patient's progress, consulting with supervising physician when patient's progress does not meet anticipated and/or predetermined criteria.
• Submit the healthcare plan and goals of individual patients for periodic review and evaluation by a physician.
• Prescribe or recommend drugs or other forms of treatment such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures.