This position functions as a clinic staff nurse in the Neuroscience Institute, Divisions of Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Direct Patient Care/ Clinical Services: 20%

1. Assist the providers and RN with patient care, (i.e., prepares equipment for diagnosis and treatment, calls patients from the waiting room, obtains vital signs and basic care data entry and prepares the patient for the physician's examination or other clinical procedures).

2. Gives patient instructions and information, (i.e., explains exam procedures to be performed by the provider) and answers questions for patients and their families under provider's direction.

3. Assists all providers as assigned.

4. Checks medical records for completeness prior to patient visits and obtains missing information.

5. Assists RN in care of acute and/or episodic minor illness of patients and reports changes to RN or Provider.

6. Assists in monitoring patient telephone calls and answers applicable questions, determines problems, obtains direction from provider or RN; or redirects call to proper person.

7. Under direction of physician, orders medication refills.  Documents action in patient's electronic health record.

8. Collects laboratory specimens such as urinalysis, throat culture, or wound culture.

9. Administers medications and immunizations under direction of a physician or RN. Assures medication administration orders, documentation and billing is complete.

10. Performs clinical laboratory testing and procedural testing according to clinic protocols reports findings to provider and documents result in patient medical record. 

11. Assists with in clinic procedures as needed.

12. Using critical thinking skills, performs nursing assessments on patient in the clinic and on the phone: general, treatment specific, or problem-specific, depending on the need and appropriateness. 

13. Checks medical record for completeness prior to patient visit and obtains missing information. 

14. Performs patient teaching in regard to disease management, medication, the prevention and early detection of complications, symptom management and proper follow-up. 

15. Assists with and fills out clinic patients' paperwork (FMLA, school and work forms, seizure precautions and plans for facilities and others) and assists with prior authorizations requirements. 

16. Performs other duties as assigned in a professional manner. 

Care Coordination: 30%

1. Care coordination of the monthly Motion Clinic.

2. Enter verbal and written orders as needed.

3. Follow-up with patients and/or families regarding services and supplies ordered/neede3d.

4. Assist with forms/orders for durable medical equipment and skilled services such as PT/OT/ST.

5. Assist with scheduling procedures and testing as needed.

6. Work closely with Neuromuscular providers and update them on any issues, updates or needs from motion patients and families.

7. Collaborates with physicians and other members of the interdisciplinary team in  evaluating progress towards performance indicators; assists with plan revision and/or goal setting based on evidence. 

8. Partners with hospital and other healthcare facility personnel to develop secure relationships and provide current education and resources. 

9. Works in a multidisciplinary role to promote quality in clinical practices for a specific patient population with the goal of providing superior quality, competitive value, and outstanding service to patients, families, and the community. 

10. Coordinates and communicates with other departments, stakeholders, and partners to educate them on program products and services. 

11. Assists with efforts to determine learning needs and process improvement opportunities for referring offices in addition to providing feedback regarding quality indicators.

12. Acts as liaison between the patient and the various clinic areas and ancillary services (social services, psychology, radiology, and other medical services).

13. Participates in DBS Collaborative meeting. 

14. Maintains the DBS patient list in Dropbox. 

Nursing Phone Duties: 50%

1. Handles patient telephone calls for triage and medical advice for the clinic, assessing needs, and urgency of need and implementing a proper plan of action under physician protocols/direction and/or nursing body of knowledge and documents actions in the electronic health record. Review Tasks.

2. Screens telephone calls from patients and evaluates the need for the patient to see or speak with the physician or to other members of the healthcare team accessing the electronic health record for patient's background information. 

3. Handles prescription refills or other medical telephone calls and updates/documents actions in the patient's electronic health record. 

4. Complete medication prior authorizations based on patient needs efficiently. Communicate with the providers, nursing staff and patients of the process. 

5. Makes judgment decisions regarding the necessity of same-day visits and coordinates the addition of these visits into the doctor, nurse practitioner or nurse schedules via the electronic health record.

6. Provides health care information to patient/families for treatment of acute and/or episodic minor illness according to protocols developed by the faculty and records such information in the electronic health record. 

7. Works all Neurology Clinic task list 

Credentials to be Verified by Placement Officer

1. Licensed as a registered professional nurse in the State of Illinois (If an Illinois Resident is licensed as a professional nurse in a state other than Illinois, the applicant must meet the criteria established by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to obtain the proper licensure within five (5) months of the date of appointment.)
2. Bachelor's degree
3. Two years of public health or specialized nursing experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA's)

1. Thorough knowledge of public health nursing
2. Communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
3. Ability to work independently.

Condition of Employment

About Southern Illinois University - School of Medicine

SIU School of Medicine was established in 1970 with a mission to educate physicians for central and southern Illinois. We are a medical school with four areas of excellence: medical education, patient care, research and community service. SIU School of Medicine provides education to undergraduate medical students, medical and surgical residents, fellows, and physician assistant students. Our clinical practice, SIU Medicine, includes a team of more than 250 health care professionals including university physicians and faculty members who are collectively dedicated to providing excellent medical care, advancement of care through research, and training the next generation of physicians. As the premier provider of health care services, SIU Medicine offers both primary care and specialized treatment services including preventative and diagnostic. SIU works in partnership with hospitals and clinics throughout central and southern Illinois to meet the health care needs of our communities.

Connections working at Southern Illinois University - School of Medicine