Sr. Clinical Nurse (Neurology)

The Department of Neurology is seeking a Sr. Clinical Nurse. The Sr. Clinical nurse will provide specialized care and support to pediatric patients with epilepsy, working collaboratively with physicians and interdisciplinary teams. This role is essential in ensuring high-quality patient care, education, and communication between families and healthcare providers. Under the direction, supervision and responsibility of a physician, and in accordance with established policies, evaluate patient's health status through diagnostic procedures and tests. Provide therapeutic patient care under direction of a physician and in accordance with established protocols. A licensed, credentialed nurse provides follow-up to patients referred for seizures, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions in the Department of Neurology. Works closely with physicians and staff in caring for children with these conditions. The Sr. Clinical Nurse works interdependently in collaboration with one or more physicians in the practice and provides age and specialty appropriate medical care at the achieved level of training. By improving and expanding existing services and protocols, the nurse strives to increase the efficiency of the clinical and research endeavors of our division. In collaboration with members of the research team creates and maintains protocols to improve care for patients and families.

The Sr. Clinical Nurse will be a critical team member who will support decision making for patients referred for seizures, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions or second opinions about same, interfacing with Johns Hopkins Intl and Johns Hopkins USA. This also involves assembling prior studies and providing some logistical, educational, and emotional support to families. Coordinates clinics. Includes basic management of the patient's care plan, urgent phone calls, medication questions, routine inpatient post op visits. Assumes additional responsibility for patients with established diagnoses with oversight from physician. Assist in the preparation/quality control of all correspondence derived from clinic, scheduling, clinic notes, correspondence with families, correspondence with referring physicians. Participates in fellow/resident teaching. Fields phone and mail queries from families, physicians. Interfaces with clinically oriented research initiatives. Works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary health team and is responsible for providing comprehensive and age appropriate care. Educates patients and/or intervenes appropriately.

Specific Responsibilities

Under the direction of physician

• Provides comprehensive, age appropriate and episodic care to patients as a member of a multidisciplinary health care team.
• Performs history and physical exams.
• Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings in the history and physical.
• Identifies the differential diagnosis.
• Establishes a plan of care specific to the patient and age of the patient served.
• Orders appropriate laboratory and imaging studies.
• Performs tests and procedures as indicated.
• Establishes a plan of care related to the patient's identified problems including medications, diet, therapeutic procedures, etc.
• Consults with other health team members regarding proposed treatment guidelines as necessary. Establishes priorities in patient's care and management.
• Records patient visit/interaction in concise, clear and timely manner.
• Evaluates effectiveness of plan and need for referral and/or follow-up.
• Evaluates effectiveness of previously implemented medical treatment.
• Arranges referrals when indicated.
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for organizing time and workload to meet patient, staff, and departmental needs.
• Communicates with health care team members to assure patient and organizational needs are met.
• Acts as an educational and clinical resource to patients and families.
• Continually assesses the learning needs of patients and families.
• Implements the teaching plan in a timely manner, using effective teaching methods. Evaluates the teaching plan, modifying as necessary.