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

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Mchenry, IL

10d • $61 - $80 • Hybrid

About The Position

Northwestern Medicine is hiring a Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner to work with its Neurosurgery team. This hybrid role includes ambulatory care, inpatient rounding, and operating room first assist responsibilities. The position combines inpatient and outpatient work, with a weekly hospital census of approximately 10–20 patients and shared weekday outpatient clinic coverage with an attending physician and other advanced practice providers. Surgical volume includes at least four elective cases per week, plus add-on and emergent cases, for approximately 6–10 OR cases per week in total.

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, with five 8-hour shifts. The role also includes rotating night, weekend, and holiday call. The on-call rotation includes one in five weekends, with in-person rounding requiring approximately 2–4 hours onsite, and one in five overnight calls from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.; a stipend is provided. Work locations include McHenry, Huntley, Woodstock, and Lake Forest.

The advanced practice provider delivers and coordinates patient care, conducts assessments, diagnoses and manages health problems within their expertise and privileges, prescribes or orders care, educates patients and families, documents care, collaborates with physicians and other professionals, and contributes to quality improvement, research, staff education, mentoring, and patient advocacy.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited school or college of nursing, or a master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant program.
• For APRNs, acute care certification is required; inpatient experience as a nurse practitioner may be considered in lieu of acute care certification.
• First Assist Certification is required for all APRNs.
• For the APRN pathway: current Illinois Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licenses, and national APRN certification approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board. Once licensed, candidates may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number.
• For the Physician Assistant pathway: current Illinois Physician Assistant license. Once licensed, candidates may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number.
• Must be privileged and credentialed through the Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff Office.
• Current BLS certification issued by the American Heart Association.
• Must maintain certifications and continuing education required for licensure and privileging.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive appraisals of patients’ health status, including taking health histories and performing physical examinations.
• Provide direct clinical care to patients in the clinical area.
• Prescribe or order medications and therapies, and order or interpret laboratory tests, X-rays, and procedures according to clinical privileges.
• Evaluate patients to determine their need for further health care and refer them to other disciplines as appropriate.
• Provide comprehensive teaching to patients and families and document care, education, and procedures in the medical record.
• Confer and collaborate with the collaborating physician and other health professionals; serve as a consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise.
• Integrate research-based knowledge and clinical expertise into decision-making.
• Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community, and serve as a role model for the “Patients First” approach.
• Maintain certifications and continuing education required for licensure and privileging.
• Participate in relevant unit, department, division, or hospital committees and task forces.
• Develop and participate in continuing education programs for staff and provide formal education to internal and external groups related to the specialty.
• Mentor graduate students, serve as a role model and preceptor to students, and develop appropriate educational systems for patients, families, and staff.
• Participate in quality improvement and/or research initiatives pertinent to the specialty or assigned patient population.
• Provide ambulatory clinic coverage, inpatient rounding, and OR first assist services as part of the Neurosurgery team.
• Participate in rotating night, weekend, and holiday call, including the specified weekend and overnight rotations.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits, including tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, and 401(k) matching.
• A stipend is provided for the on-call rotation.
• A wide range of benefits intended to support employees’ physical, emotional, and financial well-being and provide protection for unexpected life events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time