APP - Neurology (Outpatient)

Provides high-quality, patient-centered care as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Works collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to assess, diagnose, treat, and manage patients within their scope of practice and area of specialty.

About the role

The Advanced Practice Professional (APP) coordinates and manages comprehensive care for outpatient/ambulatory neurology patients, including biological, social, and psychological assessments. The APP develops and reviews care plans with the clinical team, performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and coordinates ongoing management of neurosurgical patients. Additionally, the APP participates in the education of residents and medical/nursing students.

Responsibilities

• Manages comprehensive and individualized care for neurology patients and their families in the ambulatory setting.
• Completes acute assessments, pre-procedure, surgical evaluations, and ongoing follow-up in the ambulatory setting.
• Develops integrated and comprehensive evaluations and treatment/surgical plans.
• Orders additional tests or consults in collaboration with neurology faculty or following established clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Performs and communicates results of diagnostic tests following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice.
• Consults and communicates with clinic and hospital staff regarding abnormal findings in patient evaluations.
• Performs succinct, comprehensive clinical evaluations and documents findings in the medical record.
• Facilitates patient management by coordinating appropriate services and tests prior to admission and for outpatient follow-up.
• Develops individualized plans of care, including teaching, disposition planning, follow-up, and referrals to other healthcare team members.
• Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients across the age continuum based on educational experience and certification.
• Identifies unstable or complex neurology patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention.
• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care.
• Evaluates neurology patients and coordinates follow-up procedures and tests in the ambulatory setting.
• Provides acute and ongoing care of neurology patients in the ambulatory setting.
• Assists in the collection of outcome measures.
• Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
• Utilizes equipment safely and bases decisions on relevant scientific principles, established standards of care, and research findings.
• Provides education to nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families, and the community using appropriate teaching strategies.
• Updates own knowledge base and completes all identified clinical competencies.
• Serves as a resource for staff caring for neurology patients.
• Provides educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in area of expertise.
• Participates in community programs and distribution of literature as appropriate.
• Documents the plan of care, interventions, and evaluations clearly and concisely in the patient’s medical record.
• Collaborates with other leaders and staff to achieve patient outcome-based improvements in care.
• Provides leadership in developing and implementing changes in neurology practice that positively impact patient outcomes.
• Works collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate creative problem-solving and provide professional support.
• Participates in and initiates interdisciplinary approaches to patient care, program development, and education.
• Serves as a professional role model and promotes innovation in the delivery of care to neurology patients and families.
• Participates and provides leadership for committees and task forces.
• Documents hours and submits billing reports as appropriate.
• Reviews and interprets neurology data from various sources and recommends/implements changes as necessary.
• Participates in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator.
• Assists neurology faculty, administrators, and directors in the collection of outcome measures.
• Performs other duties/projects as assigned.

Requirements

Nurse Practitioner

• Provide healthcare services consistent with state law and professional licensing or certification authority and/or hospital privileges.
• Graduate of a CCNE-accredited nursing program with a Master’s Degree in Nursing.
• National Certification by one of the recognized APRN Certification Centers.
• Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a professional Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in West Virginia.
• American Heart Association BLS Certification required; additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
• Neurology or acute care experience preferred; eligible new graduates will be considered.

Physician Assistant

• Bachelor’s Degree as Physician Assistant or Master’s Degree as Physician Assistant required.
• Graduate of an ARC-PA-approved Physician Assistant (PA) training program.
• Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants.
• Must be licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine or WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
• American Heart Association BLS Certification required; additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
• Master’s level degree as Physician Assistant preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Heavy/Hard Work: Requires strength and/or stamina, including lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, and carrying materials and equipment weighing 40+ pounds.

Working Environment

• Working closely with others.
• Protracted or irregular hours.
• Exposure to biohazards and infectious diseases.
• Working with or near the deceased.
• Working with hands in water.
• Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

Skills

• Proficiency with computers.
• Strong communication skills.

Schedule

Scheduled weekly hours: 40