Job Description
Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for either an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or a Physician Assistant to work in our Cardiac Surgery department to support our Mechanical Circulatory Support (VADs) team.
Schedule: One (1) (13-hour) shift weekly, 6am-7pm; Mon-Fri; No nights, weekends, holidays or call
Essential Functions:
- Demonstrates clinical expertise and expanded knowledge through patient care activities which may include diagnosis and management of a wide range of health problems.
- Responsible for health outcome of an assigned patient population.
- Confers with collaborating physician and other health professionals in area of clinical expertise.
- Develops appropriate educational systems for patients, families and staff in areas of expertise.
- Mentors graduate students in aspects of advanced practice and patient care.
- Actively participates in quality improvement and/or research pertinent to area of expertise.
Responsibilities:
- Coordinates and participates in patient evaluation and selection for advanced therapies
- Outpatient call, clinical management, and care coordination (shared call with other coordinators)
- Inpatient discharge planning/care coordination
- Inpatient and outpatient education to VAD patients and their caregivers
- Oversees/provides education to acute care staff and community resources (EMS, rehab, home health, etc.)
- Participates in the development and maintenance of VAD statistical databases and associated registries
- Equipment and supply management
- Joint Commission certification preparedness
- Involvement with community outreach on VAD safety measures and awareness
- Liaison between surgeons, heart failure cardiologists, industry partners and patients
- Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients' health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations in clinical area.
- Provides direct clinical care to patients.
- Prescribes/orders medications, therapies; orders/interprets laboratory tests, x-rays and procedures according to clinical privileges.
- Evaluates patients to determine their need for further health care.
- Provides comprehensive teaching to patients and families.
- Documents in the medical record all care and education provided and/or procedures performed for which the Licensed Advanced Practice Provider is responsible.
- Refers to other disciplines as appropriate.
- Consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise.
- Integrates research based knowledge and clinical expertise in decision making.
- Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation.
- Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community.
- Maintains certifications and continuing education as required for licensure and privileging.
- Serves as a patient advocate and role model for "Patients First".
- Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces as appropriate.
- Provides comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and their families.
- Develops and participates in programs to meet continuing education needs of staff.
- Serves as a role model and preceptor to students.
- Provides formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty.
- Participates in quality improvement and/or research initiatives for specific patient population as appropriate.
Qualifications
Required:
- Master’s degree from an accredited school/college of nursing OR master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program
- Acute care certification required for APRNs
- Current license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by a national certifying body as approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number OR Master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program/Current license as a Physician Assistant in the State of Illinois. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number
- Privileged and credentialed through the Medical Staff Office (MSO)
- Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation – BLS, issued by the American Heart Association
- Minimum of one (1) year of experience with Mechanical Circulatory Support (VADs, balloon pumps, etc) or CTICU/Advanced heart failure
Additional Information
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.
