Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have been an integral part of the orthopedic team at Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI) since 2010. As an Advanced Practice Clinician, the NP provides quality care to patients and leadership to the nursing staff. Nurse Practitioners are the bridge between the surgeons, the hospital staff, hospitalists and patients. Their purpose is to optimize the patient’s care and stay at HOI, and to prepare the patient and family for discharge
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What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who is prepared by advanced education to diagnose, treat and manage acute and chronic illnesses. Within the NP scope of practice is the ability to assess patients, order tests, and prescribe medications. NPs function under the Medical Staff department of the hospital and report to the Chief Nursing Officer.
What is the role of the Nurse Practitioner during my stay?
Whether a patient is going home the day of surgery or staying overnight in the hospital, they are likely to have an interaction with one of the HOI Nurse Practitioners. They take care of paperwork, documentation, placing orders, providing prescriptions as needed and review medications and discharge instructions with patients and their loved ones or caregivers, all while keeping Surgeons in the loop about their patients to ensure seamless care.
What are the benefits of having a Nurse Practitioner?
The NPs work collaboratively with the Surgeons at HOI in this unique physician extender role. While the Surgeon is in the operating room or in the office with patients, the NP is on the floor making rounds on the patients and answering nurses’ calls and questions.
Having the NPs follow patients adds value to care in several ways:
- Improves continuity, comprehensiveness, and standardization of care
- Ensures patient and family education is comprehensive and thorough
- Increases timeliness in ordering and interventions
- Enhances peace of mind for the patients and physicians
What if my family has questions?
HOI Nurse Practitioners keep you and your family updated as much as possible. Nurse practitioners are available to answer questions in person and their presence in the hospital helps them to be accessible.
What will happen after I am discharged?
Your follow up care will be provided by your surgeon. You will have a follow up appointment scheduled with your surgeon and your care will be coordinated through the surgeons’ office after you discharge.
Patient Satisfaction
Even though the Nurse Practitioners’ interactions with you are limited to the hospital, they work closely with your surgeon and nursing teams to support your care and ensure a smooth transition into your recovery to help you get back to you. The NPs aim to prepare you for what to expect during your recovery. You are likely to receive a post discharge survey question during your follow up phone call from HOI and we ask that you please let us know during your stay if there is anything we can do to help you further understand your procedure and recovery expectations.
Contact us today if you would like to discuss your surgical needs.
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