This is specialized nursing work counseling, examining, diagnosing and treating patients attending City health centers for family planning and gynecology services. Work includes conducting the physical examination with emphasis on reproductive health, obtaining medical, family and personal history, and diagnosing, treating and managing identified medical problems. Significant aspects of the work involve educating and counseling patients in proper reproductive system and general health care practices. Work is performed under the general supervision of an Ambulatory Health Care Coordinator and the technical supervision of a physician through a system of medical standing orders and program protocols and within the programmatic guidelines of maternal and child health family planning services.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.)

• Positions must perform nursing work in the areas of family planning and gynecology.
• Positions must perform duties in accordance with medical standing orders and program protocols.
• Positions must be located in the district health centers of the City's Health Department.

• Obtains patient's general reproductive and family health history; collects specimens including venipuncture, cervical cytology, and G.C. culture; orders appropriate laboratory tests; performs physical examinations, including pelvic and breast examinations; identifies and diagnoses problems pertaining to the reproductive system; dispenses appropriate methods of birth control and prescribes medications for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in accordance with medical standing orders; makes appropriate referrals as required.
• Discusses anatomy and physiology; educates patients to types of family planning methods; advises patient as to suitability of methods based on results of physical examinations and patients choice; instructs patients in the use of contraceptives.
• Educates and counsels patients in regard to need for personal hygiene, general health maintenance, and protection from sexually transmitted diseases; teaches patients breast self-examination; identifies deviations from norms in the physical condition of the patients; changes medication or birth control method based on patient's physical reactions.
• Evaluates patient on the follow-up visits to determine general health status and presence of adverse reactions to medication, other medical problems and family planning techniques; evaluates patients on an ongoing basis to determine the need to change the treatment plan following program protocols, medical standing orders, or direct medical orders; refers complex cases to specialist physicians.
• Provides postpartum counseling and physical examinations.
• Orients, instructs and supervises during training other nursing or patient service staff in program protocol and clinical procedures.
• Speaks at schools and to community groups on issues related to family planning, personal hygiene, and general health maintenance; disseminates informational materials at health fairs.
• Maintains records and reports of service; collects data required for studies of sexually transmitted diseases; participates in meetings as required.
• May perform other nursing duties and provide general nursing assistance.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• principles, practices and techniques of nursing and their application to patient care.
• family planning theory, principles, practices, and techniques.
• anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system and the effects of family planning and birth control methods and devices.
• current practices and developments in the area of family planning.

• perform gynecological examinations and specialized treatment procedures.
• evaluate health histories, results of examinations, and identify medical deviations from norm.
• instruct and counsel patients.
• maintain complete records of patient services.
• follow oral and written instructions.
• orient and instruct nursing students and nursing staff.
• establish and maintain effective working relationship with patients, physicians and associates.

EDUCATION

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
• Completion of an acceptable training program in the area of family planning which shall have included both theory and clinical practice.

• One year of general nursing experience which has included experience in the area of family planning.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

• Eligibility for a license as a registered nurse and as a Certified Nurse Practitioner as issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing Education and Licensure at the time of application, and possession of such licensure and certification within the time length specified by the department.

PAY RANGE: EP22
Class Established: 5/1972

Latest Spec. Revision:
  CSC - 11/1995 ; Ad Board - 12/1995