ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE, GERONTOLOGY

Code: 06569 Local Non-Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Examples of work

• Recognizes and manages specific common deviations from wellness including stabilized long-term illnesses, some of which may be determined by joint protocol.
• Assesses the physical, developmental, and psychosocial health status of individuals in a variety of settings through collection of health data.
• Makes accurate identification of problems/diagnosis based on correct interpretation of findings.
• Evaluates patient need for immediate nursing intervention, consultation, and other health team referrals.
• Designs a comprehensive plan of nursing care.
• Evaluates patient response to the nursing regimen and revises the nursing care plan as necessary.
• Informs, teaches, and guides patient and/or family to assume responsibility for management of the patient's health care.
• Advises nursing, medical, and paramedical groups and the community about subjects pertinent to own area of specialty.
• Works with and promotes interaction and cooperation among health care workers involved in planning and provision of health care.
• Serves as a resource person within own area of specialty to those who are directly and indirectly involved with the provision of health care.
• Establishes a relationship with the older adult and his or her family.
• Collects biological, social, psychological, cultural, and spiritual data.
• Assesses the data to identify the older adult's health status.
• Establishes a nursing diagnosis.
• Sets mutual goals with the older adult and/or family.
• Develops a plan of care with the older adult and/or family.
• Implements the plan of care.
• Evaluates the older adult's progress toward goal attainment.
• Teaches the older adult, his or her family, and community groups the biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects of aging as they relate to the health of older people.
• Serves as an advocate of the older adult to the nursing profession and to other health care providers and policy makers.
• Refers the older adult to other appropriate professionals or community resources for assistance with those functions of everyday living beyond the scope of nursing.
• Interviews and counsels patients and/or families to compile a complete medical history, and counsels patients and/or families on any problems which may arise during interview.
• Performs complete physical examinations which include but are not limited to observation, taking blood pressure, weight, height, and blood samples, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, utilizing the appropriate tools and instruments.
• Performs eye examinations including the testing by eye chart, illiterate eye chart, and Titus machine.
• Performs rectum and colon examinations including obtaining cytological and/or stool samples for study to determine abnormalities and disease.
• Performs ear examinations to detect ear infections or other disease and abnormalities.
• Performs hearing screens for deafness or hearing impairment including tone tests and VASC audiometers and tuning forks.
• Performs throat and nose examinations for identification of infections, growths, and irregular tonsils and adenoids including the gathering of throat cultures for identification of disease.
• Performs examination of the chest including auscultation of the heart for detection of heart murmur and other irregularities as well as examination by auscultation of the lungs and bronchial tubes to determine asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other pulmonary diseases.
• Makes accurate identification of problems/diagnoses based on correct interpretation of findings.
• Evaluates patient need for immediate nursing intervention, consultation, and other health team referrals.
• Designs and assists nursing staff in formulating individualized nursing care plans.
• Reviews and evaluates treatment regimens of elderly patients.
• Initiates discussion of and changes in regimens to facilitate the patient gaining optimum level of wellness.
• Counsels patients and/or family as to findings, and refers patient to licensed physician for necessary followup and treatment.
• Performs, orders, and interprets routine laboratory tests.
• Develops a health maintenance plan for patient including health education, disease prevention, and general anticipatory guidance.
• Obtains medical consultation as appropriate for significant variations from normal that requires medical/surgical intervention by a physician.
• Works closely and provides information to consulting physicians and therapists on their routine visits to patients.
• Functions as liaison between nursing and medical services as well as with other members of the health care delivery team.
• Conducts research, and develops, establishes, and implements new procedures and practices for long-term care as the need arises.
• Shares knowledge and expertise with all staff members through small group discussions, informal teaching, and planned inservice instruction.
• Serves as advisor and consultant to other staff members on the care of elderly patients.
• Demonstrates assessment skills, new techniques, and treatments to staff on a regular basis.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

License

Applicants must possess a current and valid certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse, Gerontological, issued by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of ramifications of normal aging that may be supported through health promotion.
• Knowledge of different rates at which people age.
• Knowledge of variability of characteristics of the older population.
• Knowledge of interrelationship between the cultural, social, spiritual, economic, psychological, and biological factors of aging.
• Knowledge of multiplicity and collectiveness of an older person's losses.
• Knowledge of grief work necessary in accepting multiple overlapping losses.
• Knowledge of frequently atypical responses of the older adult to disease and to treatment of disease.
• Knowledge of accumulated, often disabling effects of multiple chronic illnesses or degenerative processes.
• Knowledge of cultural values associated with aging and social attitudes toward the older adult.
• Knowledge of appropriate management and interpretation of diagnostic studies and tests relevant to gerontologic practice.
• Ability to conduct physical examinations which include eye, ear, nose, throat, thorax, abdomen, pelvic, rectal, colon, and orthopedic and general physical development.
• Ability to observe and report symptoms and conditions of patients.
• Ability to administer medications.
• Ability to analyze and interpret test and examination results and to communicate those results effectively with agency clients.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to secure a general health history from patient and/or members of the family.
• Ability to recognize common medical problems or deviations from normality.
• Ability to make an assessment of psychological, social, cultural, and behavioral aspects of the aging process.
• Ability to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care collaboratively with other health care professionals.
• Ability to obtain and interpret a comprehensive medical history.
• Ability to interpret data obtained through systematic assessment of all body systems to differentiate normal from abnormal states.
• Ability to obtain clinical, laboratory, and diagnostic information and interpret resultant data.
• Ability to institute biophysical monitoring techniques and interpret resultant data.
• Ability to utilize historical, clinical, and biophysical data in collaboration with physicians to formulate a diagnosis.
• Ability to initiate diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational interventions including consultations and referrals.
• Ability to evaluate and document responses to interventions and modify the plan of care as indicated.
• Ability to interpret current research findings to determine appropriateness for application to practice and standards of care.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.