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

About the role

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system.

Schedule

Monday - Friday (8 hour days). Call required: 1 weekend/month (Friday to Monday). Overnight call: 2-3/month (5pm-7am). The position is a mix of inpatient and outpatient (50/50 split).

Responsibilities

• Inpatient duties: collect laboratory data, vital signs, and any significant events on postop and preop patients; evaluate patient and formulate plan; round with surgeon and review plan in the morning; write all pre and postop notes; follow up on any events with patients and round with on-call surgeon at end of workday; answer urgent phone calls from cardiac catheterization labs at CDH, Delnor, and Kishwaukee hospitals and facilitate transfers or emergent OR requests; be available at all times during cardiac catheterization working hours during the week; complete discharges on any patient ready to leave the hospital status post-surgery; evaluate and initiate work up for new inpatient consultations; admit patients from outside hospitals or directly from home for evaluation for cardiac surgery; answer service phone with questions/problems regarding inpatients and outpatients.
• Weekend rounding duties: same as weekday duties – collect laboratory data, vital signs, significant events overnight; evaluate postop or preop patient; write progress note; formulate plan for the day; review plan with rounding physician; complete discharges on any patient ready to leave the hospital.
• OR duties: first assist with all open-heart cases; perform endoscopic vein harvesting on CABG patients; take rotating call for OR during week and weekends for emergency cardiac surgery cases.
• Outpatient duties: see postop patients in outpatient clinic; refill medications and facilitate outpatient orders if needed; debride wounds if needed; schedule surgery for patients seen in office as new consults and deemed surgical candidates.
• Functions: demonstrate clinical expertise and expanded knowledge through patient care activities including diagnosis and management of a wide range of health problems; be responsible for health outcome of assigned patient population; confer with collaborating physician and other health professionals in area of clinical expertise; develop appropriate educational systems for patients, families and staff in areas of expertise; mentor graduate students in aspects of advanced practice and patient care; actively participate in quality improvement and/or research pertinent to area of expertise.
• Responsibilities (as listed): conduct comprehensive appraisals of patients' health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations; provide direct clinical care to patients; prescribe/order medications, therapies; order/interpret laboratory tests, x-rays and procedures according to clinical privileges; evaluate patients to determine need for further health care; provide comprehensive teaching to patients and families; document in medical record all care and education provided and/or procedures performed for which the Licensed Advanced Practice Provider is responsible; refer to other disciplines as appropriate; serve as consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise; integrate research-based knowledge and clinical expertise in decision making; exemplify a professional image in appearance, manner, and presentation; advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community; maintain certifications and continuing education as required for licensure and privileging; serve as a patient advocate and role model for "Patients First"; participate in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces as appropriate; provide comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and their families; develop and participate in programs to meet continuing education needs of staff; serve as a role model and preceptor to students; provide formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty