Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Cardiac Surgery, Full-time, Days

Northwestern Medicine's Cardiac Surgery department is seeking an experienced Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner to join our surgical team. This full-time position offers a balanced mix of inpatient and outpatient work (50/50 split) in a dynamic cardiac surgery environment. You will work collaboratively with surgeons and the interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive perioperative care to cardiac surgery patients. Clinical Setting You will work within Northwestern Medicine's Cardiac Surgery department, providing care across multiple hospital locations including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Delnor Hospital, and Kishwaukee Hospital. The role encompasses inpatient floor duties, operating room responsibilities, and outpatient clinic work. Inpatient Responsibilities Collect laboratory data, vital signs, and document significant events on postoperative and preoperative patientsEvaluate patients and formulate care plans in collaboration with the surgical teamRound with the surgeon each morning to review and adjust patient plansWrite all preoperative and postoperative clinical notesFollow up on patient events throughout the day and round with the on-call surgeon at end of shiftAnswer urgent phone calls from cardiac catheterization laboratories and facilitate patient transfers or emergency operating room requestsRemain available during all cardiac catheterization working hours during the weekComplete discharge evaluations and paperwork for patients ready to leave the hospitalEvaluate and initiate workup for new inpatient consultationsAdmit patients from outside hospitals or directly from home for cardiac surgery evaluationAnswer service phone calls regarding inpatient and outpatient questions and problemsOn weekends, perform the same duties including data collection, patient evaluation, progress note documentation, plan formulation, and discharge management Operating Room Responsibilities Serve as first assistant for all open-heart casesPerform endoscopic vein harvesting on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patientsTake rotating call for emergency cardiac surgery cases during the week and weekends Outpatient Responsibilities See postoperative patients in the outpatient clinicRefill medications and facilitate outpatient orders as neededDebride wounds when necessarySchedule surgery for patients evaluated in the office as new consultations who are deemed surgical candidates Clinical Functions Demonstrate clinical expertise through patient care activities including diagnosis and management of cardiac surgery patientsAssume responsibility for health outcomes of assigned patient populationsConfer with collaborating physicians and other health professionalsDevelop educational systems for patients, families, and staffMentor graduate students in advanced practice and patient careParticipate actively in quality improvement and research initiativesConduct comprehensive health assessments including histories and physical examinationsPrescribe and order medications, therapies, laboratory tests, imaging, and procedures according to clinical privilegesEvaluate patients to determine need for further healthcareProvide comprehensive patient and family educationDocument all care, education, and procedures in the medical recordRefer to other disciplines as appropriateServe as consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertiseIntegrate research-based knowledge into clinical decision-makingMaintain professional image and demeanorAdvocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the communityMaintain all required certifications and continuing educationParticipate in unit, departmental, divisional, and hospital committees and task forcesServe as role model and preceptor to studentsProvide formal education to internal and external groups Schedule Monday through Friday, 8-hour daysCall required: 1 weekend per month (Friday to Monday)Overnight call 2-3 times per month (5 PM to 7 AM) Required Qualifications Master's degree from an accredited school or college of nursing OR Master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant ProgramFor Acute Care Nurse Practitioners: Current acute care certification required (inpatient experience as an NP may be considered in lieu of acute care certification)For Acute Care Nurse Practitioners: First Assist Certification requiredCurrent Registered Nurse license in the State of Illinois (for APRN candidates)Current Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license in the State of Illinois (for APRN candidates)Certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by a national certifying body approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board (for APRN candidates)Current Physician Assistant license in the State of Illinois (for PA candidates)Privileged and credentialed through the Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff OfficeBasic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart AssociationEligible to apply for controlled substance license and DEA number Preferred Qualifications Two years of cardiac surgery experience Benefits Northwestern Medicine offers a comprehensive benefits package including tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, 401(k) matching, and lifecycle benefits designed to support employees' physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Background Check Newly hired team members are required to complete a background check that includes criminal history. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.