Overview At Houston Methodist, the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) - Primary Care position is responsible for maintaining and promoting the health of the patient requiring primary care, while practicing medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. This position will provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative care to primary care patients. The APP - Primary Care position may conduct physicals, order tests and therapy, prescribe medications, and refer to specialists when appropriate. This position works in an outpatient primary care setting and may perform independently under the indirect supervision of a license physician or as part of a treatment team. The APP - Primary Care position affects direct patient care according to the Board of Nursing in the State of Texas and Houston Methodist policies and procedures. Houston Methodist Standard PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity. HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values: INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do. COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs. ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions. RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value. EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate. Practices the Caring and Serving Model Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words) Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values Responsibilities PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Demonstrates leadership as a clinical resource, interprofessional consultant, and patient/family advocate. Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals. Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Acts as a role model and coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Communicates organizational information and aspects of administrative and clinical practice in a respectful and positive manner when interacting with staff. Advocates for a balanced workload, promotes positive behaviors, and peer-to-peer accountability, improvement of department score for employee engagement. SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Coordinates appropriate, timely patient care under physician supervisor, for a defined patient population(s), focusing on identified expected unit/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient. Prioritizes care based on the patient's needs, abilities and preferences Collaborates with interprofessional team members to manage/coordinate patient care. Responds and is available timely to patient questions/issues that arise as triaged by clinical staff. Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards. QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Functions as a quality care provider, coordinating, maintaining, and promoting the health of the patient. Performs functions under physician supervision, such as diagnosis, use of prescriptive authority, and treatment according to practice guidelines, protocols, and/or standing orders to ensure patient safety. Conducts health assessments (initial, ongoing, discharge, as appropriate), identifies normal/abnormal health characteristics, reviews medications and test reports to develop a plan of care, initiate appropriate interventions, and evaluates care outcomes on defined patient population(s). Assists the interprofessional health care team in the development and implementation of protocols to ensure patient safety. Integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety related processes. FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Implements department strategies to achieve financial targets and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, optimizing clinic workflow efficiency, and other areas according to department specifications. Performs accurate documentation in medical records, including diagnosis and CPT coding. Projects awareness and understanding of resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge, and skills. Contributes to department plans for resource utilization and capital needs to meet department financial target. GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Promotes quality health care through integration of current research into practice and participation in research/evidence-based activities. Leads and identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement. Provides education of information/knowledge in professional activities such as research, presentations, and publications. Expands individual clinical knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. Qualifications EDUCATION Master's degree or higher from an accredited school of Nursing WORK EXPERIENCE Two years of advanced practice clinical experience Two years of advanced practice clinical experience in primary care, family medicine, or outpatient internal medicine preferred License/Certification LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure -- For NP, Compact Licensure - Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency) AND APRN - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Texas Board of Nursing -- non-Acute Care AND non-Acute Care NP ANCC-recognized certification AND BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) AND AP - Prescriptive Authority - Texas Board of Nursing AND DEA - Narcotics License (DEA) within 6 months KSA/ Supplemental Data KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles Use of critical thinking skills and clinical judgement to work autonomously as defined by the Board of Physician Assistants Accepts accountability for outcomes in healthcare Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families, and interprofessional team to collaborate on the plan of care Strong organizational and problem-solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components Ability to exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families Demonstrates proficient time management skills SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS WORK ATTIRE Uniform No Scrubs Yes Business professional Yes Other (department approved) Yes ON-CALL* *Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below. On Call* Yes TRAVEL** **Travel specifications may vary by department** May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No Company Profile With locations throughout the Greater Houston area, Houston Methodist Primary Care Group (HMPCG) is dedicated to providing quality patient care for the entire family. HMPCG is proud to be a part of Houston Methodist and its family of hospitals, ensuring efficient access to specialty and hospital services whenever the need arises. As members of the Greater Houston community, HMPCG is committed to the well-being of its patients, providing the right care at the right time in convenient locations throughout the Houston area.
As a nurse practitioner (NP) working in outpatient care, you have the opportunity to apply your specialized skill set in any number of clinical settings. Whether it’s working with surgical staff in an ambulatory surgery center, assisting with diagnosing patients in an urgent care clinic, or developing community partnerships in public health departments, you’ll find a number of professional paths available to you.
If you’re exploring outpatient NP jobs and are ready to take the next step in your career, IntelyCare is here to help. As a healthcare company that understands the industry from the inside, we know how to match professionals with employers looking to fill full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, and per diem openings. Find the latest jobs in your area today.
Education, Certifications, and Skills forOutpatient Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Before you can qualify for nurse practitioner outpatient jobs, you must meet the requirements to work within the NP scope of practice in your state. Earning advanced degrees is one of the requirements to become a nurse practitioner. Beyond your bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), you’ll need to also acquire either a master of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP).
Your NP education will prepare you to work in different nursing specialties. Many of these areas apply in the outpatient setting, and any one of them would make you a compelling candidate for potential employers. Here are just a few types of nurse practitioner roles that you can find in outpatient care:
In addition to your academic training and credentials, you’ll also need to have practice experience as an RN — typically one to two years for most programs. As a nurse practitioner, you’ll take on additional responsibilities while you gain more practice experience. You’ll also have increased authority, although the extent of your NP practice authority will differ by state.
Given the wide range of outpatient nurse practitioner job opportunities, there are a number of certifications you can obtain to boost your chances of getting your desired job. Here are just a few to consider:
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGACNP-BC or AGNP-C)
Working in outpatient NP jobs will draw upon a specific soft skill set as you work with a wide range of patients. As you help to educate them on their conditions and treatments, communication skills are critical. Along with that is the ability to communicate across cultures so patients can make sound decisions about their care with the best level of understanding.
Resume and Cover Letter forOutpatient Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Getting the right job starts with applying the same scientific approach that you use with your patients to your job search. That starts with crafting a nurse practitioner resume that reflects all of your nursing qualifications and also highlights the specific skills that a particular employer is looking for.
You can do this by paying attention to the wording of an employer’s job description as you lay out your experience — using the same terms and phrases in your resume. The more you can match your resume to the job posting, the more likely your resume will make it past the software filters of an employer’s applicant tracking system. As an example, if a job posting is looking for someone who “participates in departmental committees, task forces, and professional organizations” — and this applies to you — then use the same terminology in your resume.
Once your resume gets you through the door, the next step is to provide a nurse practitioner cover letter that makes employers want to meet you in person. An effective cover letter will show who you are as a professional and a person, but in a way that closely aligns with an employer’s needs. So when you describe your passion for nursing and your professional and personal skills, show how this will add value to the employer’s team.
For example, if you’ve worked on practice committees and task forces, talk about key learnings you’ve picked up while working with colleagues in these settings and how this experience will help you improve the nursing practices of the organization you’re applying to.
Interviewing forOutpatient NP Jobs
Getting to the interview stage is your next opportunity to persuade employers to hire you for their outpatient NP jobs. For nurses who are used to dealing with questions from patients and staff during the workday, answering questions during an interview may come naturally. However, there’s no substitute for preparation.
This starts with reviewing typical outpatient nursing interview questions. Practice your answers in front of a friend or colleague and find ways to connect your answers to an organization’s mission and functions. Consider having a few themes about yourself that you want to convey during the interview and then use those themes to guide your answers.
Salary forNurse Practitioner Outpatient Jobs
As a nurse practitioner in outpatient settings, you can expect to earn, on average, an annual salary of $139,860. Keep in mind that your actual salary will depend on a number of different factors, like your experience and credentials, as well as the specific facility looking to hire you.
Your state of practice is also an important factor in what you can expect to be paid as a nurse practitioner. Here are a few states with some of the highest average salaries for NPs:
For a better understanding of available outpatient NP jobs, salary rates, and types of practice areas where you live, be sure to check out the most recent job openings posted on IntelyCare.
Ready to Find the BestOutpatient NP JobsNear You?
From your academic degrees to your nursing experience, you’ve worked hard to get where you are. At IntelyCare, we’re ready to work hard to get you where you want to be. With our experience matching nursing professionals to great jobs, you can find the right NP job near you today.