Job Description

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.
The Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner is a licensed professional provider who functions in collaboration with an attending physician in a variety of practice settings at YNHHS. Provides exceptional direct diagnostic and therapeutic patient care to the highest standards of the organization as part of a multidisciplinary team. Cultivates a patient centric environment which focuses on the whole individual inclusive of physical, psychosocial, spiritual and functional needs of the patient, family, and significant others. Serves as the focal professional for the continuity of care in patient care within scope of practice standards, as well as specialty specific standards to address and resolve problems that may arise.

Position Summary

The Advanced Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant) on the Inpatient Neurosurgery Service delivers high-quality, evidence-based care across the continuum—from the Emergency Department and OR to step-down and acute care floors. Covering a 24/7 service , the APP performs initial evaluations, daily management, and consultations for patients with cranial, spinal, trauma, and functional neurosurgical conditions in collaboration with neurosurgeons, intensivists, hospitalists, nursing, and interprofessional teams. The role emphasizes clinical excellence, procedural competency (per privileging), patient safety, efficient workflows, and clear communication with patients, families, and teams.

• Perform comprehensive history, neurologic and neurosurgical examinations for admissions, transfers, and daily rounding.
• Develop and implement plans of care for postoperative and non-operative cranial and spinal conditions (e.g., tumor, hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, spine trauma/degeneration, vascular lesions, Chiari, functional disorders).
• Manage neurosurgical emergencies and high-acuity conditions in collaboration with attending neurosurgeons and intensivists.
• Order, interpret, and integrate diagnostics (CT/MRI, CTA/MRA, ICP data, CSF studies, labs).
• Manage postoperative care, pain, DVT prophylaxis, wound and drain care, steroid and anticonvulsant protocols, antibiotics, and glycemic and hemodynamic targets.
• Coordinate care transitions (ED → ICU/floor, OR → ICU/floor, ICU → floor, inter-facility transfers) and discharge planning with robust patient/family education.

• 1–2+ years of neurosurgery, neurocritical care, trauma, or ICU experience.
• ENLS (Emergency Neurological Life Support), NIHSS certification; FCCS or ATLS (for trauma centers)exposure preferred.
• Experience with CSF device management, postoperative spine pathways, and neurosurgical consult triage.
• Proficiency with EMR documentation and order entry; familiarity with structured handoff tools.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

• 1. Clinical Care * The Physician Assistant (PA) or the Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides assessment, triage, and therapeutic management of patient/family needs throughout the disease process as an integral part of an interdisciplinary team. The NP/PA, whether the practice setting is the inpatient, ambulatory, or outpatient settings, provides optimal patient care, from diagnostic to prognostic matters. This individual works in collaboration with the attending supervising/collaborating physician(s) in accordance with state law and hospital regulations, hospital policy, protocols and clinical pathways and may provide autonomous team based care. * Obtains medical histories, performs physical examinations, reviews/orders diagnostic/therapeutic tests and radiologic results, formulates and manages patient treatment plans. The NP/PA may perform procedures, prescribe treatment and medications in accordance with institutional and state guidelines, as well as, when necessary for scope within specialty or professional competency standards. In some clinical specialties, the NP/PA may have autonomous practice managing certain patient populations. * The NP/PA may also function as first or second assistant on operative cases (as long as within position scope and job educational prerequisites are in place), using fine motor skills and manual dexterity. * Other clinical job duties may be applied in accordance with departmental and operational goals, training related to profession and practice necessitated guidelines and responsibilities, inclusive but not limited to responding to emergency situations within the YNHHS parameters
• 2. Patient Education & Psychosocial Support * The NP/PA will educate patients/families on care and recommended or available resources. In collaboration with the supervising/collaborating MD, this may be inclusive of admitting instructions, treatment plan, actual and potential side effects of treatments/medications, and discharge plan. * The NP/PA, as part of a multidisciplinary team, provides psychosocial support to patients, their family members, and significant others in a caring, ethical, and professional manner.
• 3. Information Management * The NP/PA ensures appropriate documentation within the accordance of hospital and regulatory requirements and protects information of all forms, whether computer-based, paper, film, voice, or other media from unauthorized access modification, destruction, or intentional or accidental disclosure.
• 4. Quality Management * The NP/PA is expected to demonstrate a high standard of moral and ethical behavior, professionalism, compassion, and commitment to patient care. * Ensures compliance with patient related healthcare regulatory requirements, standards and recommendations.
• 5. Professional Development * The NP/PA continuously engages in projects that maintain and advance professional competency. * The NP/PA serves as a clinical resource for new house staff and may provide service specific orientation pertinent to clinical education * Consistently demonstrates high reliability organizational behaviors through reporting safety events as well as near misses. * The NP/PA continuously engages in projects that maintain and advance professional competency. * Maintains all employee requirements determined by hospital policy. * The NP/PA may serve as a clinical preceptor for NP/PA students and other health care professionals and may serve as a mentor to pre-PA/NP candidates. * The NP/PA may collaborate on research, quality assurance and performance improvement projects, and assist with the formation of protocols that will be applied to clinical practice or further their educational and clinical expertise.

EDUCATION

Graduate from an accredited Nurse Practitioner or an accredited Physician Assistant Program.

EXPERIENCE

Prefer clinical working experience as a NP/PA within the given specialty/service line recommended, but none required. APRNs, PAs, CRNAs and CNMs are required to be appointed to the Affiliated Medical Staff of a YNHHS Hospital and credentialed through the Medical Staff process. Evidence of current competence to practice as {an APRN, PA, CRNA, CNM} via appropriate reference letters from physicians and other practitioners must be able to be obtained during the Medical Staff appointment process in order to be eligible.

LICENSURE

Active PA Certification by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), Connecticut State Physician Assistant License, ACLS/BLS Certified, when indicated for position profile DEA License, when indicated for pediatric position profile PALS, when indicated for neonatal care NRP Certification. Additional licensure, certifications and/or continuing education credits may be required during employment based on position and area of specialty. OR Connecticut State Registered Nurse License, Connecticut State Nurse Practitioner License, Board specialty certification, as appropriate for position profile ACLS/BLS Certified, when indicated for position profile DEA License, when indicated for pediatric position profile PALS, when indicated for neonatal care NRP Certification. Additional licensure, certifications and/or continuing education credits may be required during employment based on position and area of specialty.

To learn more, please email our In-House Physician Recruiter

Nathalie Martinez at  Nathalie.Martinez@YNHH.org

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