Registered Nurse I URPG Primary Care

Summary of Essential Functions

• The In-Basket Specialist – Primary Care RN, plays a critical role in clinical workflow optimization, care coordination, and patient engagement.  This position is responsible for the efficient and timely management of clinical messages, patient documentation, and communications within the EHR system.  The RN collaborates closely with providers, multidisciplinary care teams, and patients to facilitate seamless care delivery by triaging and resolving clinical inquiries, managing complex medication regimens, ensuring timely communication of lab results, and providing evidence-based patient education.  As a key resource in ambulatory care operations, the RN contributes to quality improvement initiatives, protocol development, and process enhancement strategies to optimize provider efficiency, reduce administrative burden, and enhance the overall patient experience.

 

Educational Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing. 

 

Licenses and Certifications

• Registered with the Board of Nursing for the State of Texas.
• CPR Certification.

 

Qualifications/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated clinical expertise in patient assessment, triage, and care coordination across diverse patient populations. 
• Strong leadership and problem-solving skills to drive workflow improvements and enhance patient outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to educate patients, collaborate with providers, and de-escalate complex situations.
• Advanced critical thinking and clinical judgment to assess patient needs, identify red flags, and escalate cases appropriately.
• Ability to work independently and proactively in a fast-paced, high-volume clinical setting while managing multiple priorities.
• Commitment to continuous learning, staying current with best practices, evidence-based guidelines, and regulatory requirements in ambulatory nursing.

 

Physical Requirements

• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
• Standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling of heavy objects.
• Corrected vision and hearing to normal range.
• Working under stressful conditions and working irregular hours.
• Some exposure to communicable diseases or bodily fluids.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Clinical In-Basket & Patient Management
  • Serve as a clinical liaison and subject matter expert for managing provider in-basket messages, ensuring timely and accurate resolution of patient inquiries.
  • Triage and prioritize in-basket messages based on acuity, provider needs, and patient safety considerations.
  • Handle complex medication refill requests, ensuring adherence to protocols and compliance with medication reconciliation best practices.
  • Review and analyze lab results, imaging reports, and other diagnostics to ensure timely communication and follow-up.
  • Provide specialized patient education, including chronic disease self-management, medication adherence, and preventive care counseling.
  • Conduct telephonic and virtual patient triage, offering real-time clinical decision support to patients and caregivers.
• Care Coordination & Provider Support
  • Enhance provider efficiency by proactively managing documentation, reducing administrative workload, and streamlining clinical workflows.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including physicians, advanced practice providers, home health agencies, and care coordinators, to optimize patient-centered care.
  • Facilitate care transitions, ensuring smooth coordination between primary care, specialty services, and community resources.
  • Identify and escalate urgent or high-risk patient cases to the appropriate level of care as needed.
• Operational & Quality Improvement Contributions
  • Develop and refine in-basket management protocols, contributing to standardization efforts across the department.
  • Actively participate in performance improvement initiatives focused on patient safety, access to care, and workflow optimization.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and organizational policies.
• Direct Patient Care (as needed)
  • Administer direct patient care, including vit