HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-16-1999 - 8hOrange County
Board of Commissioners
Action Agenda Item Abstract
Meeting Date: November 16, 1999
Action Agenda
Item No. ~. I~
Subject: Classification Plan Amendment -Family Nurse Practitioner
Department: Personnel
Attachment(s):
Updated Class Specifications
Public Hearing:. Yes No X
Budget Amendment
Needed: Yes No X
Information Contact:
Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director
Extension 2550
Telephone Number:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
Purpose: To consider amending the Orange County Classification and Pay Plan to
consider changing the salary grade for the existing class of:
• Family Nurse Practitioner I from Salary Grade 72 to Salary Grade 74. (Salary Grade 74
has a hiring range of $41,051 - $49,899.)
• Family Nurse Practitioner 11 from Salary Grade 73 to Salary Grade 75. (Salary Grade 75
has a hiring range of $43,103 - $52,392.)
Background: The Health Department employs one Family Nurse Practitioner II and two
Family Nurse Practitioners I. The Health Department currently is experiencing difficulty in
recruiting and retaining Family Nurse Practitioners 1. At present, one of the two Family
Nurse Practitioner I positions is vacant. Prior to that, the position has beenfilled twice in
the past two years.
Due to the difficulty in recruiting and retaining the Family Nurse Practitioners I, the Health
Director requested that Personnel conduct a classification and pay study of both the Family
Nurse Practitioner I and II positions.
Personnel reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the three positions and determined
that there are no significant changes in duties and responsibilities. The Family Nurse
Practitioners I continue to:
• Secure medical, social and family history and conduct physical examinations under a
supervising physician.
• Make medical diagnoses.
• Prescribe medical treatment, including writing prescriptions.
• Provide medical consultations.
In addition to the above duties, the Family Nurse Practitioner II also writes and revises
medical protocols; conducts orientation sessions; coordinates the scheduling; and
participates in the hiring process.
As part of the study, Personnel also conducted a labor market survey. This survey found
that Family Nurse Practitioner salaries in other organizations had increased significantly.
From the data gathered, Personnel found that Orange County's Family Nurse Practitioner
salary ranges are lower than .the average labor market salary range for other public and/or
private employers surveyed. The new salary grade 74 and 75 will make Orange County's
salaries for Family Nurse Practitioner more comparable to the average salary range in the
labor market. The charts below summarize the results of the market survey.
Family Nurse Practitioner I
Employers. Surveyed Average Salary Range
State/Local Governments* $42,451 - $65,646
Private Companies** $47,773 - $71,417
Orange County
(Proposed Grade 74) $41,051 -.$65,272
Family Nurse Practitioner II
Employers Surveyed Average Salary Range
State/Local Governments* $44,563 - $70,691
Private. Companies** $50,629 - $71,922
Orange County
(Proposed Grade 75) $43,1.03 - $68,536
2
State and local government employers surveyed were: Alamance, Chatham,
Cumberland, Durham, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Johnston, Mecklenberg, New Hanover
and Wake Counties along with the State of North Carolina and UNC-Chapel Hill.
** Private employers surveyed were: Duke University Hospital, Durham Regional Medical
Center, Kaiser Permanente, Lincoln Community Health Center, Piedmont Health
Services and UNC Hospitals.
3
Financial Impact: The total annual increase in costs to implement the change in salary
grade for the Family Nurse Practitioner I and Family Nurse Practitioner II positions is $7,700
and the estimated total fiscal year cost is about $4,700. Funds to implement these
changes are available within the approved budget for fiscal year 1999-00.
Recommendation: The Manager recommends the Board amend the classification and
pay plan by changing the salary grades for the class of:
• Family Nurse Practitioner I from Salary Grade 72 to Salary Grade 74 and
Family Nurse Practitioner II from Salary Grade 73 to Salary Grade 75.
k:\elg in\classify\health\fnpabs. doc
11 /8/99
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C8210-11/99
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER I
GENERAL DEFIl~iITION OF WORK:
Performs difficult professional work providing primary health care to the citizens of
Orange County; does related work as required.
Work is performed under regular supervision.
TYPICAL TASKS:
Secures medical, social and family history and conducts physical examinations under the
auspices of a supervising physician;
Makes medical diagnosis and prescribes medical treatments;
Performs appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures;
Records and presents information to the physician;
Develops patient care plan and patient and service goals; assesses effectiveness of patient
care plan;
Provides health guidance services including child health, maternal health, chronic and
acute illness and communicable diseases;
Monitors vital signs, administers injections and medications, prescribes medications
outlined in approved formulary and counsels clients on effects and possible side effects;
Plans and presents programs of public education, conducts group training sessions;
Provides counseling and investigative work;
Performs certain laboratory procedures;
Performs related tasks as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
General knowledge of techniques of interviewing; general knowledge of the principles
and practices of general medicine and disease states; general knowledge of health
appraisal techniques and therapeutic procedures; general knowledge of the treatment,
diagnostic, immunization and related medical services; general knowledge of the rules,
regulations, procedures, protocols and policies pertaining to medical services of the
County; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients,
physicians, and subordinates; ability to plan a regimen of care based on assessment and
findings; skill in performing clinical functions;
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from a North
Carolina Board of Medical Examiners' approved Physician Assistant program or a Nurse
Practitioner Program and one year professional nursing experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.
Possession of a certificate to practice medical acts issued by the North Carolina Board of
Medical Examiners or the North Carolina Joint Subcommittee of the Board of Nursing
and Board of Medical Examiners. Possession of valid, current license to practice as a
Registered Nurse in the State of North Carolina.
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C8230-11/99
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER II
GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK:
Performs complex professional work providing primary health care to the citizens of
Orange County; does related work as required.
Work is performed under general supervision. Limited supervision is exercised over
Family Nurse Practitioner I.
TYPICAL TASKS:
Secures medical, social and family history and conducts physical examinations under the
auspices of a supervising physician;
Makes medical diagnosis and prescribes medical treatments;
Performs appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures;
Records and presents information to the physician;
Develops patient care plan and patient and service goals; assesses effectiveness of patient
care plan;
Provides health guidance services including child health, maternal health, chronic and
acute illness and communicable diseases;
Monitors vital signs, administers injections and medications, prescribes medications
outlined in approved formulary and counsels clients on effects and possible side effects;
Participates in the hiring process for new nurse practitioners, including monitoring the
application process regarding nurse practitioner's approval to practice and conducts
orientation sessions;
Coordinates and plans continuing education for nurse practitioners;
Writes and revises protocols;
Plans and presents programs of public education, conducts group training sessions;
Provides counseling and investigative work;
Performs certain laboratory procedures;
Performs related. tasks as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Thorough knowledge of techniques of interviewing; thorough knowledge of the
principles and practices of general medicine and disease states; thorough knowledge of
health appraisal techniques and therapeutic procedures; thorough knowledge of the
treatment, diagnostic, immunization and related medical services; thorough knowledge of
the rules, regulations, procedures, protocols and policies pertaining to medical services of
the County; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with
patients, physicians, and subordinates; ability to plan a regimen of care based on
assessment and findings; skill in performing clinical functions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from a North
Carolina Board of Medical Examiners' approved Physician Assistant program or Nurse
Practitioner Program and two years of professional nursing experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.
Possession of a certificate to practice medical acts issued by the North Carolina Board of
Medical examiners or the North Carolina Joint Subcommittee of the Board of Nursing
and Board of Medical Examiners. Possession of valid, current license to practice as a
Registered Nurse in the State of North Carolina.