Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

Northwestern Medicine has an exciting outpatient opportunity for either a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to lead the brand-new Lung Health Center within the Canning Thoracic Institute (CTI). The goal of the Lung Health Center is to improve lung cancer screening rates through comprehensive respiratory health assessments, triage, and follow-up care for patients of all backgrounds and conditions.

CTI operates collaboratively across the Northwestern Medicine health system to advance our mission to deliver the highest quality care for patients with diseases of the chest, promote clinical innovation and discovery, and improve lung health in the Greater Chicago Community. This APP will work closely with our Pulmonary and Thoracic Surgery physicians. The APP will be responsible for holding outpatient clinic (virtually and in-person), developing and carrying out plans of care, coordinating care with interdisciplinary team members and consultants, and working closely with our research teams as part of this larger screening initiative. This position is all outpatient.

Schedule: M-F, remote options may be available

• no nights/weekends/holidays/on-call

Essential Functions:

Provide respiratory health assessments for all patients as part of a research study. We anticipate 3 buckets of patients. Bucket 1: Patients who have symptoms or a diagnosis. This APP would deal with those patients accordingly. Bucket 2 is patients who qualify for lung cancer screening, but don’t know it. This APP would facilitate that screening. Bucket 3 is the primary group of patients we are seeking – patients who have never had a diagnosis, don’t have symptoms, and don’t qualify for lung cancer screening. These patients would meet with the APP, receive spirometry and get a CT scan ordered, and then have the CT results reviewed by the APP and triaged accordingly.

Demonstrates clinical expertise and expanded knowledge through patient care activities which may include diagnosis and management of a wide range of health problems. Responsible for health outcome of an assigned patient population. Confers with collaborating physician and other health professionals in area of clinical expertise. Develops appropriate educational systems for patients, families and staff in areas of expertise. Mentors graduate students in aspects of advanced practice and patient care. Actively participates in quality improvement and/or research pertinent to area of expertise.

Responsibilities:

Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients’ health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations in clinical area. Provides direct clinical care to patients. Prescribes/orders medications, therapies; orders/interprets laboratory tests, x-rays and procedures according to clinical privileges. Evaluates patients to determine their need for further health care. Provides comprehensive teaching to patients and families. Documents in the medical record all care and education provided and/or procedures performed for which the Licensed Advanced Practice Provider is responsible. Refers to other disciplines as appropriate. Consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise. Integrates research based knowledge and clinical expertise in decision making. Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation. Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community. Maintains certifications and continuing education as required for licensure and privileging. Serves as a patient advocate and role model for “Patients First”. Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces as appropriate. Provides comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and their families. Develops and participates in programs to meet continuing education needs of staff. Serves as a role model and preceptor to students. Provides formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty. Participates in quality improvement and/or research initiatives for specific patient population as appropriate.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s degree from an accredited school/college of nursing OR master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program
• Current license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by a national certifying body as approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number OR Master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program/Current license as a Physician Assistant in the State of Illinois. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number
• Privileged and credentialed through the NMH Medical Staff Office (MSO)
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation – BLS, issued by the American Heart Association
• Minimum of two (2) years of APP experience, no new grads
• Pulmonary or Thoracic experience

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.