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

Northwestern Medicine's Cardiac Surgery department is seeking an experienced Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner to join our surgical team. This full-time position offers a balanced mix of inpatient and outpatient work (50/50 split) in a dynamic cardiac surgery environment. You will work collaboratively with surgeons and the interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive perioperative care to cardiac surgery patients.

Clinical Setting

You will work within Northwestern Medicine's Cardiac Surgery department, providing care across multiple hospital locations including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Delnor Hospital, and Kishwaukee Hospital. The role encompasses inpatient floor duties, operating room responsibilities, and outpatient clinic work.

Inpatient Responsibilities

• Collect laboratory data, vital signs, and document significant events on postoperative and preoperative patients
• Evaluate patients and formulate care plans in collaboration with the surgical team
• Round with the surgeon each morning to review and adjust patient plans
• Write all preoperative and postoperative clinical notes
• Follow up on patient events throughout the day and round with the on-call surgeon at end of shift
• Answer urgent phone calls from cardiac catheterization laboratories and facilitate patient transfers or emergency operating room requests
• Remain available during all cardiac catheterization working hours during the week
• Complete discharge evaluations and paperwork for patients ready to leave the hospital
• Evaluate and initiate workup for new inpatient consultations
• Admit patients from outside hospitals or directly from home for cardiac surgery evaluation
• Answer service phone calls regarding inpatient and outpatient questions and problems
• On weekends, perform the same duties including data collection, patient evaluation, progress note documentation, plan formulation, and discharge management

Operating Room Responsibilities

• Serve as first assistant for all open-heart cases
• Perform endoscopic vein harvesting on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients
• Take rotating call for emergency cardiac surgery cases during the week and weekends

Outpatient Responsibilities

• See postoperative patients in the outpatient clinic
• Refill medications and facilitate outpatient orders as needed
• Debride wounds when necessary
• Schedule surgery for patients evaluated in the office as new consultations who are deemed surgical candidates

Clinical Functions

• Demonstrate clinical expertise through patient care activities including diagnosis and management of cardiac surgery patients
• Assume responsibility for health outcomes of assigned patient populations
• Confer with collaborating physicians and other health professionals
• Develop educational systems for patients, families, and staff
• Mentor graduate students in advanced practice and patient care
• Participate actively in quality improvement and research initiatives
• Conduct comprehensive health assessments including histories and physical examinations
• Prescribe and order medications, therapies, laboratory tests, imaging, and procedures according to clinical privileges
• Evaluate patients to determine need for further healthcare
• Provide comprehensive patient and family education
• Document all care, education, and procedures in the medical record
• Refer to other disciplines as appropriate
• Serve as consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise
• Integrate research-based knowledge into clinical decision-making
• Maintain professional image and demeanor
• Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community
• Maintain all required certifications and continuing education
• Participate in unit, departmental, divisional, and hospital committees and task forces
• Serve as role model and preceptor to students
• Provide formal education to internal and external groups

Schedule

• Monday through Friday, 8-hour days
• Call required: 1 weekend per month (Friday to Monday)
• Overnight call 2-3 times per month (5 PM to 7 AM)

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited school or college of nursing OR Master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program
• For Acute Care Nurse Practitioners: Current acute care certification required (inpatient experience as an NP may be considered in lieu of acute care certification)
• For Acute Care Nurse Practitioners: First Assist Certification required
• Current Registered Nurse license in the State of Illinois (for APRN candidates)
• Current Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license in the State of Illinois (for APRN candidates)
• Certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by a national certifying body approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board (for APRN candidates)
• Current Physician Assistant license in the State of Illinois (for PA candidates)
• Privileged and credentialed through the Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff Office
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• Eligible to apply for controlled substance license and DEA number

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of cardiac surgery experience

Benefits

Northwestern Medicine offers a comprehensive benefits package including tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, 401(k) matching, and lifecycle benefits designed to support employees' physical, emotional, and financial well-being.

Background Check

Newly hired team members are required to complete a background check that includes criminal history. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.