The Hypertension Nurse will support the Health Care Teams and Primary Care Practitioners in the medical office in order to drive quality around hypertension care and outcomes. The Hypertension Nurse serves members in a compassionate, personalized and supportive manner while performing clinical assessments, education and care coordination. The Hypertension Nurse completes assessments, creates customized care plans in collaboration with the PCP, member and provides comprehensive hypertension education, identifies, communicates, and rectifies suboptimal hypertension care, and optimizes hypertension related outcomes. The Hypertension Nurse supports the development of standard operating procedures, patient care guidelines, educational initiatives, and care gaps closure of identified members with hypertension. He / She assists the member in gaining the knowledge, skills, attitude, and self-awareness necessary to effectively manage his/her hypertension as evidenced by improvement in targeted quality metrics to help prevent/minimize the complications of hypertension.
Essential Functions:
- Educates member on topics related to hypertension and the disease process; including all aspects of effective self-management (medication, diet and nutritional monitoring; prevention and care of complications; recommended screenings).
- Utilizes PCP care plan recommendations per protocol and provides clinical patient education, support and follow-up to members to ensure effective self-management.
- Assesses, monitors and implements treatment plans for patients at various stages of the disease. Makes recommendations to the PCP and patient/family for adjustments in the plan of care as required.
- Identifies and helps close care gaps related to A1C, lipid panel, blood pressure, laboratory tests, PCP visits, eye exams, foot exams, flu shots, etc.
- Conducts outreach via letter, secure e-mail, and telephone to targeted members.
- Helps coordinate next care steps including assistance with scheduling appointments/classes with other resources within KP such as Living Well with High Blood Pressure Class, registered dietitian, clinical pharmacy specialists, behavioral health, nurse visits and PCP as needed.
- Assesses resources available for education in the module (DVDs, handouts, etc) and recommends the current and most appropriate resources to use. Teaches classes, participates in pilot efforts to improve care as needed.
- Provides in-services/support as a nursing/ clinical practice subject matter expert as needed.
- Maintains and updates professional knowledge and skills in hypertension management.
- Travel to other offices will be required.
- May perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
- Associate of Science in Nursing.
- 5 years nursing experience as a registered nurse.
- Current RN license in State of Georgia.
- Excellent cardiovascular disease and chronic health conditions clinical knowledge base.
- Knowledge of adult learning principles.
- Able to assess and interpret relevant lab results.
- Ability to work under protocol to initiate and adjust medications as needed.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of health care professionals.
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) essential.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
External hires must pass a background check/drug screen.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.