Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant, Neurosurgery

Cape Cod Healthcare•Hyannis, MA

About The Position

This role involves providing comprehensive care to neurosurgical patients, including performing examinations, interpreting diagnostic tests, developing treatment plans, and assisting in surgery. The Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant will manage both inpatient and outpatient care, coordinate with other healthcare professionals, and serve as a resource to the clinical team. The position also emphasizes patient education and a commitment to continuous improvement and service excellence.

Requirements

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or higher (for NP)
Currently licensed as a Certified Nurse Practitioner in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (for NP)
US Department of Justice DEA Registration (required if prescribing)
Masters from a program accredited by the ARC-PA (for PA)
Currently licensed as a Physician’s Assistant in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (for PA)

Nice To Haves

1+ years’ experience in Neurosurgery
Surgical First Assist Certification

Responsibilities

Performing comprehensive and problem-focused histories and physical examinations, interpreting laboratory and diagnostic tests.
Interpreting and correlating subjective and objective data to formulate a differential diagnosis and establish a working diagnosis.
Developing a treatment plan for neurosurgical conditions within the scope of practice and in conjunction with the supervising neurosurgeon.
Implementing therapeutic interventions, including consultation, referral, or evaluation by the supervising neurosurgeon or other healthcare professionals.
Providing first assist in surgery under the direct supervision of the supervising neurosurgeon.
Providing consultation and follow-up to inpatient and emergency room patients, including rounding on hospitalized patients, performing admission history and physicals, and discharge planning.
Providing evaluation and ongoing management of neurosurgical outpatient care.
Presenting patients to the supervising neurosurgeon, assisting in formulating treatment plans, ordering radiographic studies, and performing office procedures such as staple/suture removal, wound management, and adjusting programmable shunts and pumps.
Evaluating postoperative patients and managing routine follow-up visits.
Supporting the surgical decision-making process in collaboration with the neurosurgeon.
Coordinating ancillary care, including referrals to pain management and therapy services.
Being available to see patients requiring same-day office visits.
Returning patient phone calls, handling prescription refills, and reviewing radiographic and laboratory reports for abnormalities, including x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
Serving as a resource to office-based nursing and clinical teams.
Providing patient education as a necessary part of the treatment plan.
Performing other required functions.
Consistently providing service excellence to all patients, family members, visitors, volunteers, and co-workers.
Challenging current working practices, identifying process improvement opportunities, and presenting recommendations and solutions to management.
Engaging and committing to the organization’s culture of continuous improvement by actively participating, supporting, and promoting CCHC Pillars of Excellence.