APP - Neurosurgery (Outpatient)

Provides high-quality, patient-centered care as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Working collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, the APP assesses, diagnoses, treats, and manages patients within their scope of practice and area of specialty.

About the role

The Advanced Practice Professional (APP) has coordination and clinical skills required for the comprehensive management of outpatient/ambulatory neurosurgery patients, including biological, social, and psychological assessments. The APP coordinates involvement of medical specialty teams necessary to develop a comprehensive plan for the patient, reviews the plan of care with other members of the clinical team, participates in directing that care, performs diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, and coordinates ongoing management of neurosurgical patients. The APP also participates in the education of residents and medical/nursing students.

Responsibilities

• Manages comprehensive and individualized care for neurosurgery patients and their families in the ambulatory setting.
• Completes acute assessments, pre-procedure and surgical evaluations, and ongoing follow-up in the ambulatory setting.
• Completes integrated and comprehensive evaluations and treatment/surgical plans.
• Orders additional tests or consults as deemed appropriate, in collaboration with neurosurgery faculty or by 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 necessary for outpatient follow-up appointments.
• Develops a comprehensive individualized plan of care for neurosurgery patients, including teaching, disposition planning, follow-up, and necessary referrals.
• Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients across the age continuum of their educational experience and certification.
• Identifies unstable or complex neurosurgery patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention in the clinic and/or hospital setting.
• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care.
• Evaluates neurosurgery patients and serves as a coordinator for follow-up procedures and tests in the ambulatory setting.
• Provides acute and ongoing care of the neurosurgery patient in the ambulatory setting.
• Assists in the collection of outcome measures.
• Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making by identifying, evaluating, and managing individual patient/family needs.
• Demonstrates the ability to utilize equipment in a safe manner.
• Bases decisions made/actions taken on relevant scientific principles, established standards of care, and/or research findings.
• Utilizes teaching/learning theory and appropriate teaching strategies in the provision of education to nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families, and the community.
• Promotes an environment that facilitates learning by responding to appropriate patient/family preferences, priorities, and readiness to learn.
• Updates own knowledge base throughout the year and completes all identified clinical competencies.
• Serves as a resource person for staff caring for the neurosurgery patient.
• Provides educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in area of expertise.
• Participates in community programs and distribution of literature, as appropriate in area of expertise.
• Documents the plan of care, interventions, and evaluations clearly and concisely in the patient’s medical record following approved policies and compliance standards.
• Collaborates with other leaders and staff to effectively achieve patient outcome-based improvements in care.
• Provides leadership in the development and implementation of changes in neurosurgery practice that positively impact patient outcomes.
• Works collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate creative problem-solving and provide professional support.
• Participates 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 neurosurgery patients and families.
• Participates and provides leadership for committees and task forces.
• Documents hours and submits billing reports, as appropriate.
• Reviews and interprets neurosurgery data from sources such as patient registries, clinical and financial reports, and recommends/implements changes as necessary.
• Participates in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator.
• Assists neurosurgery faculty, administrators, and directors in the collection of outcome measures.
• Performs other duties/projects as assigned.

Requirements

Nurse Practitioner

• 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.
• Neurosurgery or acute care experience preferred; eligible new graduates will be considered.
• APRNs requesting to be privileged as OR First Assists in perioperative services must complete an ANOR approved RNFA Certificate program and obtain a passing grade.

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, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, and carrying of patients, materials, and equipment weighing 40+ pounds.

Working Environment

• Working closely with others.
• Protracted or irregular hours.
• Working around 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