APRN (Acute Care)/PA House Officer

Cleveland Clinic is currently seeking Acute Care Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants to join the Critical Care Advanced Practice Team at Mercy Hospital. This provider will care for patients with life-threatening illnesses and will be an integral part of the Critical Care team headed by an attending intensivist, who is available on site or by phone 24/7. 

THE COVERAGE WILL BE 24/7 TO INCLUDE DAY AND NIGHT SHIFTS.  

THE COVERAGE WILL BE FOR ALL SERVICES, AND DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:  

• PATIENT EVALUATIONS RAPID RESPONSE/CODES URGENT  
• PATIENT MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES (AIRWAY, CENTRAL LINES, A-LINES, CHEST TUBES AND OTHER PROCEDURES  
• CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS AS REQUIRED  
• CONTINUAL COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER PROVIDERS INVOLVED WITH THE ADMITTED PATIENTS CARE AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS NEEDED  

THE APPROPRIATE CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A QUEST FOR AUTONOMOUS PRACTICE, WORKING AT TOP OF LICENSURE, AND A DESIRE TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF A COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SYSTEM. 

AS A CRITICAL CARE TEAMMEMBER, CAREGIVERS WILL LOOK TO YOU AS THE RESPONDER TO THEIR NEEDS FOR WHOLE HOSPITAL PATIENT CARE. CARE DELIVERED FROM THE CRITICAL CARE TEAM IS RAPID, SHORT TERM AND CONCISE TO ALLEVIATE AN IMMEDIATE ISSUE WITH THE HOSPITALIZED PATIENT. HAND OFFS WILL OCCUR CONTINUALLY TO THE STAFF AND SERVICE OF WHICH THE PATIENT IS ADMITTED. TO THAT END, EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS WILL BE PARAMOUNT.

APRN: Nationally certified licensed healthcare provider who provides critical care to patients in the ICU, CCU and in a variety of healthcare settings. Functions in collaboration with a physician according to a standard care arrangement and specialty certification.

PA: Nationally certified licensed healthcare provider who provides primary and or specialty medical care (the practice of medicine) in a variety of healthcare settings. Functions with the collaboration agreement of a Physician, (as per O.R.C. 4730). Performs complete histories and physicals on patients of all ages to establish and record patient's current health status. Develops a working diagnosis and treatment plan to provide continuing medical care, including daily examinations, writing orders, chart notes, discharging patients and completing discharge summaries. This medical care may be in a variety of clinical settings. PA's are privileged by the Board of Governors. PA's in this role provide
advanced care to patients within any setting in which patients have complex, acute, critical and chronic health conditions. Practices in any setting in which patients require complex monitoring and therapies and high intensity medical/surgical interventions and/or continuous vigilance within the range of high-acuity care.

Job Responsibilities:

• Conducts thorough medical histories, performs complete physical examinations (where indicated), initiates appropriate lab, radiology tests or other special tests required for evaluation of illness, and scrutinizes lab data on new and former clinic patients and hospital admissions to establish a record of the patient's current health status and to develop a working diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Must be able to work with collaborating physician.
• Performs and interprets, at least to the point of recognizing deviations from normal, common laboratory, radiologic, cardiographic and other routine diagnostic procedures used to identify pathophysiologic processes as privileged by CCF Credentialing Board
• Autonomously takes initiative responding to and taking the lead in rapid response, codes and stroke alerts, admissions to the ICU, as well as performing specialized procedures , such as,  blood draws, IV starts, intubation, arterial line placement, central venous catheter placement , ventilator management, in addition to other specific procedures as necessitated by the patient situation.  Must be prepared to function independently in house as the sole provider in hospital.
• Provides information and answers routine questions of patients and families regarding their disease, including preventive health maintenance topics such as diet, weight, smoking and topics related to medical specialty, with basic recommendations.
• Educates patients regarding their disease, treatments, related drug and treatment side effects and hazards.
• May participate in medical team rounds; collaborates with nursing, medical and other healthcare team members.
• Refers patients to specialists as appropriate for consultation or for specialized health resources and treatment.
• Ensures continuity of care by serving as a liaison between patient and other members of the multi-disciplinary care team or with other specialty areas as necessary.
• May serve as clinical preceptor for PA/APRN students and other health professionals.
• May serve as Faculty for onboarding new employees.
• Demonstrates a high standard of moral and ethical behavior.  Demonstrates compassion and professionalism and a commitment to excellent patient care.
• Work/shift requirement: provide 24 hour, 7 days  per week  coverage, typically one NP/PA per shift (13-13 hour shifts per month and one 13 hour call shift per month)
• Other duties as assigned.

Education:

• APRN: EDUCATION:  Graduate of an accredited MSN/ACNP/AG-ACNP training program.
• PA: EDUCATION: Graduate of an A.R.C.-approved Physician Assistant Program.
• Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies and/or applicable state license through the
• State Medical Board for certificate to practice.

Certifications:

• APRN: Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in applicable state.
• National certification as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by nationally accredited organization recognized by state Board of Nursing, current licensure by applicable state Board of Nursing, (including certificate to prescribe if applicable).
• PA: Current certification as a Physician Assistant through the NCCPA (or successor).
• Must have Prescriptive authority or eligible to apply for licensure to prescribe from the State Medical Board within the first 6 months of hiring.
• Required: Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) the American Heart Association (AHA).
• Preferred: Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS), Fundamental Critical Care Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Competencies (Complexity of Work):

• Excellent analytical and decision making skills are required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to perform advanced assessment and diagnosis.
• Critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work autonomously.
• Must be able to lead in critical situation (codes, rapid response, brain attacks) as sole provider in house.
• Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.

 Work Experience:

• APRN: Two years clinical advanced practice nursing experience preferred.
• PA: Two years relative clinical experience preferred.
• Not currently considering PA for hire at this time (formulary too exclusive)

Physical Requirements:

• APRN/PA: Typical physical demands include the ability to walk and stand for long periods of time.
• Manual and finger dexterity and eye/hand coordination to perform physical examinations.
• Requires corrected vision and hearing to a normal range.
• Occasionally lifts and carries items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• May require exposure to communicable diseases and/or body fluids.