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Opportunity: Adult Geriatrics - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Join Tucson Medical Center's New Geriatric Program
Tucson Medical Center in Arizona invites applications for the position of Adult Geriatrics - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) to collaborate closely with our Geriatrics Program Coordinator as part of our newly established Geriatric Program. We are seeking an accomplished and experienced ACNP with substantial inpatient expertise and a robust foundation in geriatric care.
SUMMARY:
In collaboration with a physician, provides comprehensive assessment of patient's health status, evaluates assessment data, and makes treatment decisions.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
o Conducts thorough assessments of older adults, including medical, functional, cognitive, psychosocial, and nutritional domains.
o Identifies geriatric syndromes such as delirium, falls, frailty, polypharmacy, depression, and dementia.
o Develops individualized care plans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
• Clinical Care and Management
o Provides direct patient care, including diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and chronic conditions common in older adults.
o Initiates and monitors evidence-based interventions to prevent and manage complications (e.g., delirium, pressure injuries, infections).
o Performs medication reconciliation and reviews for appropriateness, minimizing polypharmacy and adverse drug events.
• Care Coordination and Transitions
o Coordinates care across the continuum (admission, hospitalization, discharge, and follow-up).
o Facilitates safe and effective transitions by collaborating with case managers, social workers, primary care providers, and community resources.
o Ensures comprehensive discharge planning, including patient/family education and post-discharge follow-up.
• Education and Staff Development
o Educates nursing staff, physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and families on best practices in geriatric care.
o Leads or participates in staff training sessions on topics such as delirium prevention, fall reduction, and communication strategies with older adults.
o Serves as a resource and role model for age-friendly care.
• Quality Improvement and Program Development
o Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of geriatric care protocols and pathways.
o Collects and analyzes data on key quality indicators (e.g., falls, delirium, readmissions) to identify opportunities for improvement.
o Leads or contributes to quality improvement initiatives and research projects.
• Advocacy and Patient-Centered Care
o Advocates for the unique needs and preferences of older adults in the hospital setting.
o Facilitate shared decision-making, advanced care planning, and discussions about goals of care.
o Promotes dignity, autonomy, and respect for older patients and their families.
• Interdisciplinary Team Leadership
o Acts as a liaison between patients, families, and the healthcare team.
o Leads or actively participates in interdisciplinary rounds and case conferences focused on geriatric patients.
Adheres to and supports team members in exhibiting TMCH values of integrity, community, compassion, and dedication.
Adheres to TMCH organizational and department-specific safety and confidentiality policies and standards.
Performs related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION: Must be certified as an ACNP.
EXPERIENCE: Preferred, one (1) year of related experience in an inpatient, acute care setting. Must have a strong geriatric background.
LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: National certification as a Nurse Practitioner or must be National Certification as a Nurse Practitioner eligible, must become credentialed at TMC through the Professional Staffing Office prior to appointment. Must have and maintain a current Arizona state license as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner including prescriptive authority. Must obtain and maintain a current Federal Drug Enforcement Agency License for prescribing controlled substances. Must obtain and maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS); for Mental Health only Crisis Prevention Instruction (CPI) required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• Knowledge of nursing care and assessment best practices.
• Knowledge of regulations and policies as it relates to patient evaluation, care and information.
• Skill in evaluating comprehensive health assessments and evaluating results to ensure the most appropriate treatment option.
• Skill in providing the best practice patient care.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedure protocols.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to inquiries or complaints from patients and/or their representatives, and the general public.
• Ability to work with concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions, and to apply mathematical operations to solve or analyze job-related situations.
• Ability to identify positive or negative variances from expected outcomes.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.