Under written agreement with a licensed physician, provides primary health care, comprehensive nursing, therapeutic, and preventive health care services to clients in various clinical, home-based, and community settings.

• Assumes major responsibility for primary health care as described in current "Regulations Governing the Practice of the Nurse Practitioner, Article 43, Annotated Code of Maryland."
• Evaluates Primary Care patients. Obtains complete health history from patient or family. Performs comprehensive appraisal including physical/neurological examination, psycho-social and developmental evaluation. Establishes medical diagnosis for common short term or chronic stable health problems.
• Orders and performs various diagnostic procedures such as smears, cultures, drawing blood, and urinalysis. Writes prescriptions. Establishes therapeutic or corrective measures as related to specific illnesses or anticipatory guidance. Refers patients to appropriate licensed physicians or other health care providers.
• Coordinates care with specialty clinics, physicians, social agencies, schools, governmental agencies, etc. on behalf of patient.
• Develops educational programs for house staff, nursing personnel, community agencies, Inservice instruction, etc. Maintains and reviews patient records.
• Attends meetings such as patient care conferences, team meetings, staff or departmental meetings, grand rounds, training programs, seminars, etc.
• Provides medical advice and assistance and crisis intervention by telephone when required.
• Instructs and counsels patients and/or families concerning health care matters such as use of medications, diet instruction, disease prevention, hygiene, etc.
• Provides emotional support for patient or family members stressed by illness.
• Provides primary occupational health care services to County employees as part of Employee Health Services.

Examples of Other Duties
Performs other related duties as required.

(NOTE: The duties and responsibilities listed above are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications for all positions in this class. They may not include all of the essential job functions of each position in the class. Each position may not be required to perform all of the essential job functions listed.)