JOB SUMMARY: Under general supervision, the Hepatology Nurse Specialist performs chronic case management, public health, and research nursing duties. This includes collecting and analyzing patient lab and imaging data, recognizing critical variants in patient data, and working collaboratively with the Liver Disease & Hepatitis Program team and other disciplines to develop and carry out patient’s plans of care to improve liver health, and provide continual evaluation of the patient's progress toward attainment of liver health outcomes. The Hepatology Nurse Specialist participates in public health outreach work of the Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program (LDHP), including education programs for healthcare professionals and patients and participates in LDHP research projects, to fulfill deliverables included in IRB-approved research projects. Frequent air travel within Alaska is required to fulfill job duties. The following duties are intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities and ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: Using critical thinking and problem solving skills in a dynamic and systematic collaborative approach to providing and coordinating health care services to liver disease patients, including those who require long-term chronic care management. Uses advanced nursing specialty knowledge to assess, plan, implement, evaluate and interact with the patients. Evaluates options and services to meet the individual’s health needs through communication and available resources to promote quality, cost-effective outcomes. This may include the development and maintenance of patient tracking and reporting programs for the purposes of identifying gaps in the health care delivery system. Reviews healthcare provider’s orders, implementing interventions identified in the care plan and evaluating the patient’s progress toward attaining the outcomes. Works collaboratively with the LDHP healthcare team and Tribal partners. Independently and consistently uses nursing knowledge to collect and document patient data. Evaluates and processes referrals to develop a plan of care to meet patient’s needs and follows up to see that prescribed interventions are completed. Performs nursing procedures, carries out prescribed medical treatments, and provides patient education. Completes prior authorization as needed for patient treatments. Delivers timely and effective nursing care according to established standards, including physical, social, and emotional care. Has the flexibility to adapt to new and changing situations. Advocates for the patient in an ethical manner, and delivers care in a non-judgmental and nondiscriminatory manner that is sensitive to patient diversity preserving patient autonomy, dignity, and rights. Collaborates with the patient, family, and other health care providers in the formation of overall goals and the plan of care, as well as in decisions related to the care and the delivery of services. Facilitates patient travel as needed. Considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, evidence-based practice, and cost in planning and delivering patient care, and assists the patient and family in identifying and securing appropriate and available services to address health-related needs. This includes communications and coordination with various insurance payers, including ANMC’s Purchased and Referred Care, Alaska Medicaid, and independent insurance companies. Plans, collaborates, and coordinates with external facilities to arrange care for complex subspecialty needs not provided at ANMC. Utilizes extensive problem solving and critical thinking skills in triaging patients with liver disease via the telephone, email, text, and in-person scenarios. Provides nursing support at field clinics in rural hubs, as well as preparation and follow up of patients seen in field clinics. Coordination with specialty clinic staff in field clinics to ensure effective clinic operations and patient attendance at those clinics. This includes travel to rural field clinic hubs and remote village locations.  Performs FibroScans (once trained) on patients with liver disease in outpatient and field clinic settings. This includes travel to rural field clinic hubs and remote village locations.  Facilitates telemedicine communication with Community Health providers (CHAP) and clinic staff for provision of consultation to providers and care to patients in rural/remote locations.  Participates in LDHP public health endeavors, including administering screening tests, including hepatitis C and HIV, and training CHAP to perform those screening tests. Provides education about screening tests, viral hepatitis, and other liver diseases to patients at health fairs. Assures linkage to care and treatment for patients diagnosed with hepatitis C, HIV, or other liver diseases. Participates in curriculum development, facilitation of learning, ECHO spoke provider and case recruitment, and follow up, and evaluation strategies for program’s public health CE programs, such as LiverConnect and AK ID ECHO and Liver Disease ECHO programs.  Administers advanced specialized professional nursing care to patients in a medical research setting.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS REQUIRES OBTAINING CITI CERTIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION ONCE OBTAINED. PERFORMS VARIOUS RESEARCH AND NURSING TASKS ACCORDING TO STANDARD PROCEDURES AND STUDY PROTOCOLS. RECRUITMENT OF PARTICIPANTS, EXPLAINING STUDIES, AND ENSURING INFORMED CONSENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN LDHP RESEARCH STUDIES. PERFORMS COMPLEX NURSING PROCEDURES AND PRESCRIBED MEDICAL TREATMENTS AS INDICATED BY SPECIFIC STUDIES.

Assures contractual compliance with grant requirements.  Coordinates statewide surveillance activities and ongoing program functions. Coordinates projects and assists with daily management of operations of the interdisciplinary team. Updates research data tracking systems and computer registry. Prepares special and recurring reports.  Performs simple laboratory work, such as venous blood draws, and prepares specimens for laboratory; reviews laboratory test results; notifies patients of blood test results, and providers of critical lab values.  Performs administrative duties; receives, logs in and files a variety of reports, client charts, client interactions and other documents. Enters patient care information into computer system, and reviews for accuracy.

Performs other duties as assigned.

*** GRANT FUNDED POSITION, FUNDING WILL EXPIRE 12/31/2021

Required Skills

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of nursing science, principles, techniques, and procedures for the care of patients.

• Knowledge of healthcare terminology, anatomy, physiology and concepts of disease.

• Knowledge and ability to utilize evidence based practice to develop the plan of care and interventions.

• Knowledge of the hospital environment and how the services and functions interact.

• Knowledge of Alaskan culture.

• Knowledge of nursing theorists and ability to provide theory based care for patients.

• Knowledge of shared governance environment with shared-decision making.

• Knowledge of medical research concepts and techniques

• Skill in critical thinking to provide effective and compassionate nursing care, assessing patient situations and taking effective courses of action.

• Skill in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation

• Skill in providing effective nursing services, assessing patient situations and taking effective courses of action.

• Skill in assessing and prioritizing multiple requests by patients, families, and team members.

• Skill in evaluating health problems, and making recommendations based on observations.

• Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications.

Required Experience

MINIMUM EDUCATION QUALIFICATION

A Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Progressively responsible professional work-related experience, education, or training may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for college education.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATION

Non-supervisory – Four (4) years of clinical care, nursing internship, or research training experience. An equivalent combination of relevant education and/or training may be substituted for experience.

MINIMUM CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATION

• Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse by the State of Alaska, and remain active with all annual licensing requirements.
• Must possess certification in Basic Life Support.
• Certification in research training is required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Some non-standard work hours are required.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials and infectious diseases.
• Requires frequent overnight travel for 1-5 days and travel in various sized airplanes.
• This is a full-time, salaried position.

MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS The following demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• This position requires persistent repetitive movements of the hands, wrists and fingers, upper body turning, hand dexterity to perform FibroScans.
• Ability to sit for long periods of time.
• Must be able to lift approximately 30 pounds.
• ANMC is not a latex free environment. Therefore, some latex exposure can be expected.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of nursing science, principles, techniques, and procedures for the care of patients.

• Knowledge of healthcare terminology, anatomy, physiology and concepts of disease.

• Knowledge and ability to utilize evidence based practice to develop the plan of care and interventions.

• Knowledge of the hospital environment and how the services and functions interact.

• Knowledge of Alaskan culture.

• Knowledge of nursing theorists and ability to provide theory based care for patients.

• Knowledge of shared governance environment with shared-decision making.

• Knowledge of medical research concepts and techniques

• Skill in critical thinking to provide effective and compassionate nursing care, assessing patient situations and taking effective courses of action.

• Skill in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation

• Skill in providing effective nursing services, assessing patient situations and taking effective courses of action.

• Skill in assessing and prioritizing multiple requests by patients, families, and team members.

• Skill in evaluating health problems, and making recommendations based on observations.

• Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications.