ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY JOB DESCRIPTION
APPROVED POSITION INFORMATION
(to be completed by HR)
Effective: 3/1/2015
Title
Range
JCC
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67645
Physician Assistant (PA/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Essential Function: Light Work
Description: Light Work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of
force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Light work requires
walking or standing to a significant degree and pushing and/or pulling.
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position, the role in the
university, and the supervisor’s title.* (This section is used for advertisement of the
position.)
The Physician Assistant (PA)/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)) is responsible for
performing the duties of a PA or APRN within a specified department at on- or off-site locations
within University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSOM). Primary responsibilities include
evaluating patients and devising and implementing a treatment plan in collaboration with the
treating subspecialist/ physician for patients receiving treatment for medical conditions. The
individual monitors the care of patients receiving treatment, provides access to urgent patient
care needs or referrals, and expands access to relevant subspecialty and medical care. The
individual reports to a Section Chief of the relevant subspecialty and to his/her collaborating
physician(s) in northern or southern Nevada within UNSOM. Clients may be students or external
referrals (infants and toddlers, adolescents, teenagers, and/or adults) to specialized clinics or
centers.
* Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job
(percentage first with heading and then bulleted information). If line of progression,
define for each range as above.
70% - Direct Patient Care and Case Review (as applicable to specialty)
 Obtain history, perform a complete medical physical, mental status evaluation, and/or
screening, and examine patient (i.e., mental health, physical, laboratory assessment,
etc.) in a clinical setting
 Order and interpret tests
 Develop and diagnose a comprehensive course of treatment in collaboration with
physician and implement and follow approved plan of care for patients
 Perform medical procedures
 Provide timely access to appropriate medical care for patients
 Prescribe medications and provide disease, pain, and/or medication management,
counseling, and appropriate referral to other physicians for other clinical services or to
appropriate social organization as needed
 Liaise with other clinicians as indicated for patient’s well-being
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Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
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Review cases/charts with collaborating physician to include review of laboratory and
other diagnostic studies and participate in other quality improvement activities
Follow up, counsel, and refer patients on medical issues
Conduct or assist discharge planning
15% - Education and Counseling
 Develop and provide health educational materials for distribution to patients and provide
counseling, follow-up, and referral when needed
 Teach and evaluate medical, nursing, physician assistant, etc., medicine and/or nursing
students, medical residents, and/or physician assistant medical students in an individual
and/or group basis in a clinical or classroom setting according to University guidelines
 Develop programs to educate staff, physicians, and/or affiliated medical providers
10% - Administrative Duties (as applicable to specialty)
 Represent discipline in quality assurance initiatives
 Provide court testimony and complete documents for emergency and involuntary
admission (as applicable)
 Represent discipline in assisting resident physicians to integrate use of mid-level
providers and efficient function of the department practice
 Collect and evaluate data relating to health care delivery for department or community
activities, quality and satisfaction as well as making recommendations, and
implementing changes when necessary
 Cover office when physicians are not available
5% - Clinical Trials/Research Assistance
 Assist as requested with clinical trials and/or research projects
 Assist with research projects as appropriate including liaison for subject recruitment
 Participate in clinic meetings, on committees, and other programs as assigned
3. Describe the types of decisions the position(s) makes independently as part of the core
responsibilities. Provide examples. If a line of progression, describe the decisions made
at the highest level.
The PA/APRN operates independently and with a relatively high degree of autonomy within the
guidelines of the health care plan developed by the patient’s physician and follows wellestablished University, UNSOM, and federal and state regulations and policies. The APRN has
complete freedom to care for the patient within the agreed upon treatment plan and is expected
to make judgments concerning a patient’s health and the treatment needed to the extent the
person is qualified without direct physician intervention. The PA/ APRN complements the
concept of comprehensive care, increased accessibility to specialized care, increased revenue,
and increased overall patient satisfaction.
The incumbent works collaboratively with clinical support staff on and off site to sustain efficient
operations and with department fiscal and operations managers to handle personnel, fiscal, and
related issues. The APRN/PA works as part of a team with clinic subspecialty physician(s)
and/or referring physician(s) to coordinate and collaborate on quality patient care and to discuss
legal requirements. The incumbent works directly with patients (student health and external
clients) and their families and/or caregivers who come from various sources – the entire state of
Nevada, social and outreach programs and organizations, community physicians, university
students, court referrals, etc. The position interacts with local pharmacists and other ancillary
and affiliated health services, insurance companies, and medical providers. The APRN/PA
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Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
trains and educates medical students on an individual and/or small group basis. The position
also coordinates patient issues and legal aid with Child Protective Services and/or law
enforcement agencies and district attorneys.
If duties are not performed in a satisfactory manner, patient satisfaction as well as quality of
patient health care may be compromised and could result in sub-standard care. The position is
very visible to the public and therefore has a direct impact on the perception and reputation of
the department, UNSOM, and University. Failure to perform as expected could result in loss of
accreditation for UNSOM.
4. Describe the types of problems, issues, action, communications this position typically
takes to the supervisor for resolution and/or consultation. Provide examples. If a line of
progression, describe the supervisory consultation at the highest level.
The position is expected to recognize when it is necessary for physician input or when the
patient should see a physician. Although the APRN/PA has complete freedom to care for the
patient within the agreed upon treatment plan, the care plan can be changed only upon the
recommendation of the APRN/PA and the agreement of the treating subspecialty Physician.
5. Select the applicable competencies required to successfully perform the job. The
selected competencies will be evaluated within the Administrative Faculty evaluation as
Competencies for Success.
Competency
Required
Adaptability
☒
Analytical Thinking
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Communication
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Diversity and Inclusion
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Financial Responsibilities
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Human Resource Responsibilities
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Leadership
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Program/Project/Functional Knowledge
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Resource Responsibilities
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Serving Constituents
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Teamwork
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Other (specify)
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Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
6. Minimum requirements of the position. Minimum requirements should be consistent
with the Job Evaluation Model. If Line of Progression, minimum requirements must be
defined for each range.
Education
Experience
Master of Science Degree in
Three years of related professional experience
Nursing or Physician Assistant
Program
Relevant Experience: Any or some of the following:
 Delivering clinical patient primary care nursing in a comparable health care
delivery environment or family medical center
 Working in a clinical rotation and/or in appropriate subspecialty, i.e., internal
medicine, emergency medicine, endocrinology, family medicine,
geriatrics/gerontology or hospice care, microbiology and immunology,
pathology and laboratory medicine, pediatrics (children, infants, and
adolescents), pharmacology, physiology and cell biology,
obstetrics/gynecology, psychology and behavioral science, psychiatry,
speech pathology and audiology, student health services, surgery, women’s
health issues, etc.
 Laboratory instruction in basic medical and behavioral sciences such as
anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, and physical
diagnosis
Certification and Licensure (either/or depending on specialty and need):
 Licensure in the State of Nevada as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
(APRN) or ability to be licensed prior to employment start date
 Current and valid Physician Assistant license issued by the Nevada State Board
of Medical Examiners and/or the Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
 Current National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
 Board of Pharmacy License
 Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) License
 Basic Cardiac Life Support
Additional license or certificate according to specialty:
 Certification Examination in Women’s Health or Gynecology
 Certified Diabetes Educator
Schedule or Travel Requirements: As applicable to each position
Optional Addendum: If the job description is generic for use across multiple
departments, the department is free to add an addendum for departmental specific duties
which may be performed. Generic job descriptions for a limited number of titles are
available at www.unr.edu/hr.
Specific responsibilities may include all or some of the following:
 Provide care for time sensitive injury and illness subspecialty and medical conditions and
provision of care
 Perform gynecological exams (pap smears, pelvic exams, breast exams), family
planning, and caring for pregnant patients
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Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
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Manage an assigned panel of adult patients with neuropsychiatric disorders in an
outpatient clinic and/or telemedicine setting
Provide surgical in and out patient care
Assist in sports medicine program
Advise patients regarding management of diabetes (treated with oral medications,
injected insulin or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy)
Provide dermatology assistance and care
Evaluate and treat acute illnesses and injuries related to women’s, men’s, or children’s
health
Act as liaison and point of contact for department issues in collaborative efforts in family
medicine and geriatrics with long term care, residential facilities, and community
organizations
Optional Addendum: Describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successful
performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of (as applicable):
 General medicine as well as basic relevant subspecialty, common medical problems,
and clinical skills as well as basic relevant subspecialty, clinical course, and treatment of
required subspecialty disease
 Basic general nursing principles and related medical specialty
 Commonly used medications, and their side effects, used in primary care as well as
those medications used in appropriate subspecialty and their side effects (i.e., internal
medicine, surgery, psychotropic, etc.)
 Disease specific mentoring and educational programs
 Skills assessment obtained through completion of a recognized Nurse Practitioner
education program
 State and federal regulations regarding basic diagnoses, prescriptive authority, and
Medicare and Medicaid requirements
 Nevada statutes concerning psychotropic monitoring in foster children
 Human subjects research protocols and procedures
 Federal law as related to position, i.e., Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA)
 Federal laws and regulations – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA) and Chapter 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part II
Skills:
 Basic nursing skills to include Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS), injections, dosage
computation, phlebotomy, IV skills
 Conducting a complete physical and/or psychiatric assessment on patients and
documenting all patient encounters
 Interpretation of and acting upon laboratory and radiology reports, laboratory studies,
and other diagnostic tests
 Clinical judgment and reasoning skills to evaluate and treat patients to include
diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting tests, and prescribing
medications
 Organizational and time management skills in order to manage patient care data and
follow-up effectively with patients to maintain a high quality of patient care
 Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem solving skills
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Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
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Strong verbal and written communication and counseling skills with patients,
parents/caregivers, physicians, and staff
Excellent interpersonal and human relations skills to include counseling
Supervisory and mentoring skills to include teaching and preceptorship of students
Basic computer skills and familiarity with dictation equipment
Ability to:
 Operate with considerable independence as a practitioner working with patients
 Research issues/situations, develop and provide solutions, make appropriate decisions,
and implement solutions; bring concerns to management
 Clearly document all patient encounters in a timely and useful manner
 Assess a patient’s medical condition and formulate a correct course of continued care
within the treatment plan
 Know when the advice of a physician is needed and/or required
 Develop and maintain good relationships with patients, their families, collaborating
resident and faculty physicians and other clinicians, and administrative staff
 Work and interact with a diverse population
 Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and professional business and work
ethics and standards
 Research and compile data for reports
 Provide classroom and laboratory instruction in the basic medical and behavioral
sciences (such as anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine and
physical diagnosis)
 Manage resources effectively and efficiently
 Take call on a basis equivalent with other faculty with back-up supervision by physician
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