Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Otology, Neurotology, & Lateral Skull Base Surgery, Full-time, Days

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Winfield, IL

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Northwestern Medicine is hiring a Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner to join the Department of Otolaryngology in a hybrid practice serving patients with ear and lateral skull base disorders. The role includes outpatient clinic care, inpatient rounding, emergency department and inpatient consultations during office hours, and operating room participation. Morning inpatient rounding takes place before clinic or OR responsibilities; inpatient volume typically averages one to two patients per week. The role progresses toward maintaining three to four clinic days per week and caring for new, established, and postoperative patients.

The APP will perform outpatient otologic procedures, including microscope-assisted ear canal debridement and cleaning, intratympanic injections, mastoid bowl care, and suture and staple removal. Candidates interested in procedural practice may participate in the operating room and first assist on complex otologic and lateral skull base surgeries. The APP will work closely with physicians and audiologists on a collegial team focused exclusively on ear and lateral skull base disorders. The team provides quaternary-level care for conditions including vestibular schwannoma, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, paragangliomas, lateral skull base tumors, hearing loss, chronic ear disease, tympanic membrane perforations, cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, adult cochlear implants, and other complex otologic disorders.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a 6:30 a.m. start on days the APP participates in surgery. There are no nights, weekends, or holidays. Work locations are Central DuPage Hospital and Delnor Hospital.

The APP provides and documents direct clinical care; assesses patients through histories and physical examinations; diagnoses and manages health problems; prescribes or orders medications and therapies; orders and interprets tests and procedures within clinical privileges; evaluates patients’ further care needs; refers to other disciplines; and teaches patients and families. The role also includes consulting and collaborating with physicians and other health professionals, integrating research and clinical expertise into decisions, advocating for patients and families, maintaining certifications and continuing education, mentoring and precepting students, educating staff and other groups, and participating in quality improvement, research, and relevant committees or task forces.

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 an NP may be considered in lieu of acute care certification.
• For APRNs: First Assist Certification.
• For APRNs: current Illinois Registered Nurse license, current Illinois Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license, and national APRN certification approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board.
• For Physician Assistants: current Illinois Physician Assistant license.
• Ability to apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number once licensed.
• Credentialing and privileging through the Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff Office.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association.

Nice To Haves

• Three to five years of APP experience in Internal Medicine, Primary Care, or Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive patient appraisals, including health histories and physical examinations.
• Provide direct clinical care and manage a range of health problems for an assigned patient population.
• Prescribe or order medications and therapies, and order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, and procedures according to clinical privileges.
• Evaluate patients’ need for further health care and refer them to other disciplines as appropriate.
• Perform microscope-assisted ear canal debridement and cleaning, intratympanic injections, mastoid bowl care, suture and staple removal, and other minor outpatient otologic procedures.
• Round on inpatients and manage emergency department and inpatient consultations during office hours.
• Provide care for new, established, and postoperative patients in outpatient clinic.
• Potentially participate in the operating room and first assist on complex otologic and lateral skull base surgeries.
• Document care, patient education, and procedures in the medical record.
• Teach patients and families and develop educational systems and strategies for patients, families, and staff.
• Collaborate with physicians and other health professionals and 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 model the Patients First approach.
• Maintain certifications and continuing education required for licensure and privileging.
• Mentor and precept graduate students and serve as a role model to students.
• Develop and participate in continuing education programs for staff and provide formal education to internal and external groups pertinent to the specialty.
• Participate in quality improvement and research initiatives, as appropriate.
• Participate in unit, departmental, divisional, or hospital committees and task forces, as appropriate.

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Loan forgiveness
• 401(k) matching
• Lifecycle benefits
• A range of benefits intended to support physical, emotional, and financial well-being and provide protection for unexpected life events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time