Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Cardiothoracic Surgery

Job Description Summary

The Department of Surgery is recruiting a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant interested in working full-time caring for patients with aortic disease.

Entity

University Medical Associates (UMA) Only Employees and Financials

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Regular

Cost Center

CC001068 COM SURG CT Adult Cardiac Surgery CC

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

Health-33

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

Job Summary/ Purpose: The successful applicant will be a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant interested in working full-time in the care of patients with aortic disease. The applicant will join a core of 2 cardiac surgeons and 2 vascular surgeons within the MUSC Aortic Center, though other surgeons, cardiologists, and radiologists will have input into the care of aortic center patients. 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.

Fair Labor Standards Act Status: Salaried/Exempt

Hours per week: 40

Scheduled Work Hours/Shift: 8a-5p, no weekends. Anticipate one monthly meeting outside of these hours. Schedule is flexible.
 

Patient Population Focus
Inpatient (limited), Outpatient, Procedural Unit, Emergency Department Management/Consultation.

Patient Population Age Range
13years-death

Required Training and Experience

Required Minimum Training: Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program and currently licensed or eligible for licensure as a Physician Assistant or completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program and currently licensed or eligible for licensure as an APRN as noted below.

1.Physician Assistant

or

2. APRN License Type/Certification:

• 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.

Preferred Training and Experience

Preferred Training:

1.Physician Assistant

Or

2.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.)

Preferred Experience: 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.

Degree of Supervision
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant will be assigned a Primary Supervising/Collaborating Physician employed by MUSC and will report directly to this physician.

Required Licensure, Certifications, Registrations

All certifications must be current and complete prior to start date:

Basic Life Support (BLS)

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

DHEC and DEA license applications must be started prior to first day.

Job Duties:

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.