Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Cardiothoracic Surgery

Medical University of South Carolina•Charleston, SC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Surgery is recruiting a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant interested in working full-time caring for patients with aortic disease. The successful applicant will join a core of 2 cardiac surgeons and 2 vascular surgeons within the MUSC Aortic Center. The APP will be expected to carry their own panel of outpatients who are under radiographic surveillance for aortic disease. The APP’s responsibilities will include management of chronic hypertension, lipid disorders, and renal failure; surveillance and imaging interpretation for patients with chronic aortic disease; appropriate elevation to surgical team; coordination of complex perioperative and postoperative aortic surgical care; and assistance in administering monthly aortic conference and our quality database. In addition, the APP will make rounds on admitted aortic patients. The MUSC Aortic Center aims to provide world-class care for patients with aortic aneurysms and dissections throughout the state and beyond. Currently, over 300 aortic operations are performed annually with consistent year-over-year growth.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program and currently licensed or eligible for licensure as a Physician Assistant
Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program and currently licensed or eligible for licensure as an APRN
AGPNP/ANP (Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP or Adult NP): Adult pts (13 years to death), stable chronic disease state management or primary care setting.
FNP (Family NP): (birth to death) Stable chronic disease state management, primary care across the lifespan.
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
DHEC and DEA license applications must be started prior to first day.

Nice To Haves

AGACNP/ACNP (Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner): Adult pts (13 years to death), acutely ill or injured, potentially unstable, or technologically dependent (vents, drips, monitors, etc.)
Minimum 3 years experience working in cardiology, vascular medicine, or a surgical specialty as an advanced practice practitioner.
Experience with cross-sectional imaging and preoperative consultation is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Management of chronic hypertension, lipid disorders, and renal failure
Surveillance and imaging interpretation for patients with chronic aortic disease
Appropriate elevation to surgical team
Coordination of complex perioperative and postoperative aortic surgical care
Assistance in administering monthly aortic conference and our quality database
Make rounds on admitted aortic patients
Provides direct care to patients through the following activities: Takes comprehensive history and performs physical examinations
Evaluates and treats on the basis of history, physical examination, radiological, laboratory, and other diagnostic test results pursuant to the practice agreement or scope of practice guideline
Performs the following therapeutic procedures in accordance with procedural privileges, skill and proficiency as approved by the Clinical Division Chief: Wound care including changing of wound VACs, wound dressings, and debridement; Ultrasound guided compression of pseudoaneurysm; Thoracentesis
Initiates referrals to other health care providers, and/or consults with the attending physician or the collaborating physician
Documents and bills for direct care provided
Communicates effectively with referring physicians and primary care physicians
Utilizes current research and evidence-based decision-making in all clinical practice
Performs and participates in quality/performance improvement activities and clinical research
Participates in and performs minutes and follow-up needs for monthly aortic conference
Logs inpatient admissions, operations, and outcomes within quality database platform (shared duty with quality office, other Aortic Center Staff)
Participates in and supports accreditation, compliance, and regulatory activities of the organization
Demonstrates responsibility for professional practice through active participation in professional organizations and continuing education
Potential to precept students at MUSC enrolled as an advanced practice provider student; and facilitates the learning of other new team members
APRN or PA must maintain licenses, certifications, CNEs/CMEs, etc. as required by applicable policies and state law
The primary role of the NP/PA will be in the longitudinal care of patients with advanced aortic disease. The provider will maintain a panel of patients who are in surveillance for aortic disease, both pre and postoperatively, and will be expected to document and communicate with the supervising physicians and the patients’ care teams according to best practices established in this role.
Secondary roles: improve the patient experience within the system, especially for new patients and patients facing an operation. This will include working with cardiac and/or vascular surgeons for preoperative cardiopulmonary evaluations, assisting with complex logistics, and coordinating their recovery following their hospitalization.
Improve quality and business operations through participation in monthly quality meetings and quarterly review of center business practices.
Assist with development and implementation of patient care pathways.
Assist in development of telehealth outreach and remote patient monitoring efforts.
The NP/PA will not have primary inpatient care responsibilities but will be expected to see each Aortic Center patient at least once weekly when admitted.
They may also be responsible for seeing patients in the emergency department.