Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA)

Munson Healthcare•Traverse City, MI

2h•Onsite

About The Position

The Neurosurgical Advanced Practice Professional is a physician-dependent practitioner primarily responsible for the medical and surgical management of patients admitted to the Neurosurgery Service. The role works under the supervision of the attending Neurosurgeon on emergency room call for the day and performs advanced diagnostic and therapeutic tasks for neurosurgery patients, from the emergency department through surgery as needed and throughout their hospital admission. Work is guided by personal experience and professional judgment, physician discussion and preferences, program and institutional protocols, and hospital policies. At the surgeon’s direction, the APP conducts histories and physical examinations, prepares admission and progress documentation, enters routine orders, rounds on patients, and completes consultation and emergency department notes. The position also supports emergency and inpatient care, coordinates with the operating room, provides patient and family education, and exercises physician-delegated prescriptive authority within applicable restrictions. On-call coverage is required, with timing and frequency based on staffing and coverage needs. The role is a full-time, variable-shift position at Munson Healthcare in Traverse City, Michigan. Munson Healthcare is a nonprofit healthcare system serving northern Michigan. The organization describes opportunities for personal and professional growth, teamwork, and flexibility, and provides healthcare programs and services to its communities.

Requirements

Licensed in the State of Michigan to practice as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant.
For the Nurse Practitioner pathway: current Michigan Registered Nurse license; a Master of Science degree in Nursing; and ANCC or ACNP board certification as a Nurse Practitioner.
For the Physician Assistant pathway: a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), Master of Health Science (MHS), or Master of Medical Science (MMSc), and board certification as a Physician Assistant.
Ability to perform a comprehensive neurological examination.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, supervisors, team members, and Medical Center staff.
Maintain continuous certification related to NP or PA training.
Apply for and receive appropriate clinical privileges through MMC’s credentialing process before providing services.
Employees must be vaccinated or have laboratory-confirmed immunity for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Employees must also receive a flu vaccine during the hiring-year flu season and annually afterward, or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption.
Maintain current BLS certification.

Nice To Haves

Neurosurgery-related certification is preferred.
Two years of work experience as a clinical practitioner performing advanced diagnostic and therapeutic tasks related to surgery is preferred.
Experience working in a hospital clinical department is a plus.
Experience working with a hospital electronic medical record is a plus.
Ability to work on projects related to development of the Neurosurgery program as determined by the Director and Section Chief.
Additional services may be provided if credentialed, including autonomic testing and lumbar puncture.

Responsibilities

Support Munson Healthcare’s mission, vision, and values, and its performance-improvement philosophy.
Promote personal and patient safety; support Relationship-Based Care principles, coworker commitments, and unit action plans.
Use effective customer-service and interpersonal skills.
Participate in required on-call coverage, with timing and frequency determined by staffing and coverage needs.
Respond to emergency department consults within 30 minutes of being called.
Manage emergency department patient care under Neurosurgeon supervision, including history and physical examinations, ordering and interpreting appropriate laboratory and radiographic studies, consultations, admission and discharge orders, and addressing code status.
Dictate histories and physicals, consultations, procedure notes, and discharge summaries.
Communicate with the operating room scheduler about patient status and room availability for neurosurgery patients who may undergo surgery.
Assist the Neurosurgeon in the operating room when requested and when other patients have daily-care direction.
Maintain daily contact with the Neurosurgeon on call.
Document evaluations, care, and services in the medical record/PowerChart.
Identify patient and family needs and refer them to appropriate personnel for matters such as transportation, housing, psychosocial support, finances, or caregiving.
Provide pre- and postoperative education to patients and families.
Respond to telephone inquiries from discharged patients and provide appropriate medical care or counseling.
Communicate with referring and primary care physicians about patient care and treatment.
Round on and manage inpatients, including monitoring progress, documenting progress notes, ordering and interpreting daily laboratory tests and x-rays, arranging consultations, responding to floor calls, assessing patients, developing and implementing treatment plans, monitoring therapeutic interventions under approved protocols, and managing discharge activities.
Exercise physician-delegated prescriptive authority within state and federal restrictions.
Attend CME seminars and conferences to maintain licensure and currency in the field.
Maintain current BLS certification.
Use effective judgment and respond competently to the distinct needs of neurosurgical patients.
Perform other assigned duties and responsibilities.
Attend at least 75% of Trauma Performance Improvement meetings and 75% of Neurosurgical Section meetings.