Nurse Practitioner/APRN

About the role

The NP/APRN role provides specialized care to high-risk surgical patients across two connected outpatient services in the Department of Anesthesiology: the Pre-operative Clinic and the Transitional Pain Service (TPS). In both settings, the NP/APRN works independently and in collaboration with an anesthesiologist to prepare patients for surgery.

In the Pre-operative Clinic, the NP/APRN sees high-risk patients in person, performs histories and physicals, and evaluates for cardiopulmonary disease, frailty, anemia, malnourishment, diabetes, and anesthesia-specific concerns like airway placement. Other work includes coordination of care, ordering labs for basic optimization, and follow-up of referrals and studies.

In the Transitional Pain Service, the NP/APRN focuses on the perioperative management of high-risk, complex pain patients. Patients are seen virtually or in person for a comprehensive assessment that includes a detailed pain and substance use history, medication review, prior surgical and pain-management experiences, and evaluation of anesthesia-specific factors that may affect perioperative pain management. Using this information, the NP/APRN develops an individualized perioperative pain-management plan that considers the patient's medical history and comorbidities, prior experiences and preferences, current medications and allergies, the planned surgical procedure, and the anticipated postoperative course.

The NP/APRN also manages the TPS referral workqueue, communicates care plans with the pain service, anesthesia, and surgical teams, and coordinates care with the patient's chronic pain or substance use disorder provider. The role requires learning the basic management of key risk factors for poor surgical outcomes and developing a working knowledge of acute-on-chronic pain management, addiction medicine, perioperative and anesthetic pain considerations, and expected postoperative recovery. Experience in or around operating rooms, perioperative medicine, acute pain or regional anesthesia services, chronic pain clinics, addiction medicine, family practice, oncology, or internal medicine is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assesses the physical condition of a group of patients by performing physical examinations and obtaining medical histories.
• Formulates the medical plan and further evaluation based on patient's condition.
• Consults with physician(s) regarding patient health care plans and treatment.
• Orders, interprets, and evaluates diagnostic tests to identify and assess the patient's clinical problems and health care needs.
• Initiates and/or recommends medical drug therapies or other forms of related therapeutic treatment and procedures in accordance with approved protocols/policy.
• Complies with medical records policies regarding the complete and accurate documentation of patient care. Initiates and maintains required records and legal documents.
• Participates in quality improvement activities.
• Counsels patients, families and significant others about health and illness, and promotes health maintenance.
• Completes comprehensive pre-operative and pain assessments, in person or virtually, for patients preparing for surgery.
• Develops individualized perioperative pain-management plans for high-risk, complex pain patients.
• Manages the Transitional Pain Service referral workqueue and follows up on referrals.
• Coordinates care with pain service, anesthesia, and surgical teams, and with patients' chronic pain or substance use disorder providers.

Requirements

• Licensure to practice as a Nurse Practitioner in the State of Utah.
• Utah State prescriptive privileges.
• Licensure obtained by completing a Master's degree in Nursing or equivalency (the only equivalency to the Master's degree is current licensure as a Nurse Practitioner) and a National Certification which requires the successful completion of a nationally accredited examination.
• Certification in ACLS/BLS/NRP/ATLS may be required by department or privileging criteria.
• Newly hired non-physician providers must apply for credentialing and privileging at time of hire per UHPPM 1-56.
• This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated requirements, including immunization according to CDC standards and hospital policy (limited exemptions for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs).
• Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

• 2 years NP experience with demonstrated clinical competence and in-depth knowledge of perioperative medicine, pain medicine, addiction medicine, family medicine, or internal medicine.

Pay

$100,000 – $125,000 DOE

Schedule

Full-time, Monday–Friday; currently 4 days per week with some flexibility.

Department of Anesthesiology (00220), Campus location. Requisition PRN46561B.