Nurse III - Austin, United States - Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services

Description

Job Description:

Performs highly complex nursing and consultative work for the Newborn Screening (NBS) Program, under the supervision of the NBS Manager.

Responsibilities include follow-up (clinical care coordination) of infants and children with one or more of the disorders identified by the Newborn Screening Program.

Work involves consulting with staff, families, physicians, hospital staff, nurses, social workers, consumers, and local and regional health agencies to coordinate re-testing and needed evaluation, and treatment; assisting with policy, procedure, and protocol development and modification; participating in creating and delivering written and verbal program communications and educational materials; assisting in the development of program enhancements designed to improve efficiency and evaluation of services; attending consultant and clinical care coordination meetings, educational workshops, and symposiums; providing backup to ancillary staff of Nurses and Public Health and Prevention Specialists when required; and performing "On Call" work during holidays and weekends on a rotating basis.

This position works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions:

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

(30%) Serves as team lead, resource, and/or backup for nursing, public health prevention specialist, and program specialist staff. Trains staff, monitors and coordinates daily case loads, collects performance evaluation data, and recommends personnel actions. Ensures staff adherence to established clinical care coordination protocols. Communicates the need for referral to specialists, re-testing, and coordination of care by hospitals, primary care and specialty physicians, public health officials, and case managers. Develops and executes training for new staff.

(20%) Develops, executes, monitors, and modifies clinical care coordination quality assurance program processes. Determines service quality and compliance with regulations, protocols, policies, and procedures to support continuous quality improvement and continuous review of the efficacy of services. Monitors and ensures adherence with HIPAA and other regulations regarding confidentiality.

(20%) Provides professional follow-up of infants with any of the disorders identified by the NBS Program. Utilizes appropriate and available tracking procedures to locate infants in need of treatment and/or retesting. Coordinates re-testing and needed evaluation of infants through hospitals, primary care physicians, public health officials, appropriate physician specialists, and case managers. Provides consultation to families, agency staff, newborn screening providers, and the medical community regarding diagnosis and treatment of the identified disorders. Maintains close liaison with other state and agency programs [DSHS Laboratory, Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Services Program, etc.] to ensure coordination.

(10%) Assists in developing, monitoring, modifying and executing policies, procedures and protocols for newborns affected by specific disorders. Evaluates program enhancements designed to improve efficiency of services.

(10%) Prepares project updates, summaries, reports, and briefing papers. Assists with development and delivery of program education for professionals and laypersons, including materials, literature, and presentations at educational workshops, and symposiums. Assists with annual meetings for medical specialists.

(5%) Collects, tabulates, evaluates, and analyzes data for program planning and evaluation of the NBS Program. Maintains statistics to respond to information requests, and to prepare reports and correspondence. Coordinates with other state programs (DSHS Laboratory, CSHCN Services Program, etc.) to ensure data consistency.

(5%) Other duties as assigned may include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternative shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

Medical knowledge of disorders screened by the Newborn Screening Program.
Medical knowledge of recommended treatment screened by disorders.
Knowledge of statistical data collection methods.
Knowledge of medical care resources in Texas.
Knowledge of lab issues; interpreting lab results.
Knowledge of training processes.

Skill in use of electronic medical record system, Internet, and Microsoft Office software (e.g., Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook).

Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill in problem solving.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to work productively with people from varying socio-economic groups and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to establish goals, objectives, to organize workloads, and set priorities to meet
deadlines.
Ability to develop educational materials and programs.
Ability to compile and analyze data for statistical reports.
Ability to communicate and deal tactfully with the public.
Ability to execute protocols, procedures, and correspondence for program operation.
Ability to handle confidential issues and material.
Ability to manage multiple and diverse tasks/projects.

Ability to communicate with others to provide, exchange, or verify information, answer inquiries, address issues, or resolve problems or complaints.