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The Advanced Practice Provider Clinical Director reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Medicine, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The APP Clinical Director will provide strategic leadership and support for departmental activities related to advanced practice providers. The position will work collaboratively with clinical and operational leadership across a specific department and associated clinical service lines to support professional practice of APPs and ensure the quality of practice and execution of APP-related initiatives. Additional goals and measures of success will be enhancement of APP engagement, recruitment, productivity and retention. The APP Clinical Director will provide support to departments without APP lead/manager roles and provide mentoring to leads/managers within the department. Additionally, will collaborate with APP Professional Practice and Development Director(s) to develop ongoing strategic plans and initiatives to advance and evaluate the practice of APPs including highest and best use of the role, and development of productivity and quality metrics.

Responsibilities:

• Clinical Care
  • Maintains advanced practice skill set and competence and performs duties listed in the job description for an APRN/PA.
• In collaboration with Department Administrator, Directors of operation of the clinical department, as well as the APP Professional Practice Director (s), serves as a resource for key stakeholders on all components of the APP role within department:
  • APP workforce planning
  • APP clinical models of care and deployment
  • APP scope of practice and utilization oversight
  • APP professional growth and development needs
  • Recruitment, retention and engagement strategies
  • APP metrics to evaluate effectiveness and utilization
  • APP clinical competency and performance improvement
• Develops, evaluates and oversees innovative APP education programs for the department.
• Collaborates with APP Professional Practice and Development Director (s) supporting APP initiatives, leadership committee programs and activities.
• Collaborates with division/department administrative and physician leadership to support and advance the practice of APPs within the department.

Unit Operations (80% of FTE)

• Oversee daily APP operations within the cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU) ensuring efficient patient first care aligning with the NM Mission.
• Direct APP scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation within the CTICU
• Collaborate with inpatient nursing managers for quality management oversight, throughput, and unit culture
• Manage APP budget inclusive of position requisition, recruitment, onboarding, and overall APP productivity metrics
• Facilitate onboarding and annual evaluation in alignment with medical staff guideline expectations
• Develop and implement clinical protocols, guidelines, and policies related to APP practice that enhance patient outcomes, safety, and APP practice
• Partner with critical care medical director and CTICU unit medical directors for unit efficiency, alignment, and quality performance
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for both APP and unit staff
• Resolution and oversight for risk management and NETS submission involving APP team
• Collaborate with respective programmatic physician and administrative leadership for seamless workflow and management of patient population (i.e. VAD, Transplant, ECMO) in CTICU
• Participate in division of critical care medicine M+M process

Clinical Responsibilities (20% of FTE)

• Provide comprehensive, collaborative management of the cardiac and thoracic patient populations within the cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU). Inclusive of heart and lung transplant, as well as dual organ transplants.
• Develop and implement plan of care at the direction of the primary service
• Coordinate with and incorporate consultative services into patient’s plan of care as clinically indicated
• Prescribe and manage medications for patient inclusive of vasoactive drugs and antibiotics
• Manage ventilatory status and needs of patients in partnership with respiratory therapy
• Perform and assist with procedures such as central line placement, arterial line insertion, chest tube management, and bronchoscopy with applicable NMH procedural privileges
• Complete timely and accurate problem-based, system-oriented documentation on patient’s clinical status
• Respond to and lead emergency response situations within intensive care unit
• Provide education to patient and family members throughout clinical course
• Oversight and management of cardiac support devices inclusive of intra-aortic balloon pump, impellas, and ECMO
• Partner with transplant services to monitor and enact post-transplant protocols inclusive of immunosuppression, invasive rejection monitoring, and discharge planning

Required:

• Master’s degree from an accredited school/college of nursing OR master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program. 
• Current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois OR current license as a Physician's Assistant in the State of Illinois.
• Privileged and credentialed through the Medical Staff Office (MSO).
• Minimum five (5) years of experience as a licensed advanced practice provider.
• Previous management experience
• Proven skills in leadership, planning and quality.

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Preferred:

• Experience in Adult Gerontology Acute-Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
• Two (2) years of ICU experience preferred
• Five (5) – ten (10) years of experience as a licensed advanced practice provider (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant)

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.

If we offer you a job, we will perform a background check that includes a review of any criminal convictions. A conviction does not disqualify you from employment at Northwestern Medicine. We consider this on a case-by-case basis and follow all state and federal guidelines.