MAJOR DUTIES 1. Performs independent, comprehensive telephone and clinical triaging, and facilitates care coordination through a multidisciplinary approach. Establishes priorities for patient care and evaluates patients progress toward high-level wellness. Provides patient education as an integral part of the services offered. Acts as relief nurse, triages and screens walk-in patients to assess the severity of the patient's condition and the need for provider intervention. Communicates with providers regarding determinations and situations, documents events appropriately. Screens patient charts to assess the medical history and determine health care needs. Makes psychosocial assessment of patients to identify significant cultural practices, the ability to understand and cooperate, and expectations of care and coping mechanisms. Executes or ensures the completion of orders from health care providers. Recognizes and reports abnormal test results, changes in symptoms and the need for follow-up. Records data on patient charts. Assists health care providers with examinations and procedures. Oversees educating patients for high risk, painful or stressful procedures with education and support. Monitors or ensures the monitoring of patients pre, during and post-procedure per established protocols and SOPs. Assesses post-procedure patients prior to their release from the clinic. Ensures complete, thorough documentation for all procedures. Prepares and administers oral, subcutaneous, intra-muscular and intravenous medications. Independently instructs and demonstrates to patients how to provide self-care. Instructs patient in self-medication of prescribed pharmaceutical agents. Reinforces health care provider instructions and encourages patient in the maintenance of health and self-care. Responds to emergency situations. 2. Assists clinic with patient and staff education. Accepts consults for the education of patients in the outpatient setting. Assists with clinic orientation, and one-on-one patient, educational activities related to acute or chronic illnesses, self-care, wellness/preventive health measures, and normal development and physiology. Assesses patients emotional, cognitive, social and motivational status relative to education and determines their educational needs and priorities. Evaluates the effectiveness of educational activities. Ensures nursing staff competencies are initially evaluated and maintained and documented in accordance with hospital and clinic policies and nursing standards of practice. Develops appropriate nursing plans. Ensures that nursing staff maintains current licenses and certification requirements. Follows quality improvement and internal control activities for the ambulatory care setting to include risk appraisals, conducting chart reviews, identifying trends and reporting corrective actions. Ensures staff compliance with maintenance of competency folders in accordance with hospital and Joint Commission standards. Participates in hospital and clinic meetings, and performance improvement activities as assigned. 3. Coordinates patient referrals to support services provided through the internal and external community, or the TRICARE network. Assists patient to comply with medical treatment plan as necessary through telephone contact or through clinic visits. PERFORMS OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.