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APP - Neurosurgery

West Virginia University Medical Corporation dba University Health Associates, Bridgeport, WV, United States


The West Virginia University Health System, the state’s largest health system and largest private employer, comprises 18 hospitals throughout the state and bordering states. It includes five institutes, and it provides management services for other local hospitals through affiliate agreements. Whether you are caring for our patients at a critical access hospital, community site, regional or academic medical center, we are one WVU Health System.

Position Summary : The Advanced Practice Professional (APP) has coordination and clinical skills required for the comprehensive management of neurosurgery patients, including biological, social, and psychological assessments. The APP coordinates involvement of medical specialty teams necessary to develop a comprehensive plan for the patient and reviews the plan of care with the other members of the clinical team, participates in directing that care, performs diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and coordinates discharge planning (as applicable). The APP participates in the education of residents and medical
ursing students.

Provide healthcare services consistent with state law and the requirements of the professional licensing or certification authority and/or hospital privileges, where applicable. Such service may include but are not limited to:

Minimum Qualifications for Nurse Practitioner

Graduate of a CCNE accredited nursing program with a Master’s Degree in Nursing

National Certification by one of the recognized APRN Certification Centers

Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a professional Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in West Virginia

American Heart Association BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department

Experience

Acute care or neurosurgery experience preferred

Eligible new graduates will be considered

Preferred Qualifications for Nurse Practitioner

APRNs requesting to be privileged as Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) in peri‑operative services will be required to complete an RNFA certificate program and obtain a passing grade on the RNFA certification exam

Minimum Qualifications for Physician Assistant

Bachelor’s Degree as Physician Assistant or Master’s Degree as Physician Assistant required

Graduate of an ARC‑PA approved Physician Assistant (PA) training program required

Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants required

Must be licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine or WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine

American Heart Association BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department

Experience (PA)

Acute care or neurosurgery experience preferred

Eligible new graduates will be considered

Preferred Qualifications for Physician Assistant

Master’s level degree as Physician Assistant preferred

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Manages comprehensive and individualized care for neurosurgery patients and their families in the inpatient phase of hospitalization and immediate post‑discharge in the ambulatory setting

Completes daily rounds; consults and/or pre‑procedure/evaluations

Completes integrated assessments

With collaboration of neurosurgery faculty or by following established clinical guidelines and protocols, orders additional tests or consults as deemed appropriate

Performs and communicates results of diagnostic tests following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice

Consults and communicates with clinic and hospital staff regarding abnormal findings in the evaluations of patients

Performs succinct comprehensive clinical evaluations and documents findings in medical record

Facilitates patient discharge by coordinating appropriate services and tests prior to discharge necessary for outpatient follow‑up appointments in the clinic (as applicable)

Develops a comprehensive individualized plan of care for neurosurgery patients, which includes teaching, discharge planning and necessary referral to other members of the health care team, as necessary

Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients across the age continuum of their educational experience and certification

Identifies unstable or complex neurosurgery patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention in the clinic and/or hospital setting

Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care

Evaluates neurosurgery patients and serves as a coordinator for follow‑up procedures and tests in the ambulatory setting (as applicable)

Assists in the collection of outcome measures (as applicable)

Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision making by the identification, evaluation, and management of the individual needs of patients/families

Demonstrates the ability to utilize equipment in a safe manner

Bases decisions made/actions taken on the relevant scientific principles, established standards of care and/or research findings

Utilizes teaching/learning theory and appropriate teaching strategies in the provision of education to nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families, and the community

Promotes an environment that facilitates learning by responding to appropriate patient/family preferences, priorities, and readiness to learn

Updates own knowledge base throughout the year

Completes all identified clinical competencies

Serves as a resource person for staff caring for the neurosurgery patient

Provides educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in area of expertise

Participates in community programs, distribution of literature, as appropriate in area of expertise

Documents the plan of care, interventions, and evaluations in a clear and concise manner for every patient visit in the patient’s medical record following approved hospital/UHA policies and compliance standards for documentation

Collaborates with other leaders and staff to effectively achieve patient outcome‑based improvements in care

Provides leadership in the development and implantation of changes in the neurosurgery practice that positively impact patient outcomes

Works collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate creative problem solving and provide professional support

Participates and initiates inter‑disciplinary approaches to patient care, program development and education; serves as a professional role model

Promotes and practices innovation of the expanded role in the delivery of care to neurosurgery patients and families throughout the inpatient hospitalization and the ambulatory setting

Participates and provides leadership for committees and task forces

Documents hours and submits billing reports, as appropriate

Reviews and interprets neurosurgery data from sources such as patient registries, clinical and financial reports, length of stay, access to care, and cost per case reports and recommends/implements changes, as necessary

Participates in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator

Assists neurosurgery Faculty, Administrators and Directors in the collection of outcome measures

Other duties/projects as assigned

Physical Requirements

Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, and carrying of patients, materials and equipment weighing 40+ pounds

Working Environment

Working closely with others

Protracted or irregular hours

Working around biohazards

Working around infectious diseases

Working with or near the deceased

Working with hands in water

Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment

Skills and Abilities

Proficiency with computers

Strong communication skills

University Health Associates and its subsidiaries (collectively "UHA") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. UHA strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All UHA employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.

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