Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant - Neurology/Stroke Team

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Health hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Duke Advanced Practice Highlights:

• The nation’s first Physician Assistant Program was created at Duke in 1965 and is consistently ranked No. 1 in the country.
• The Duke School of Nursing is consistently ranked as one of the top nursing schools and their MSN and DNP programs offers eight advanced practice registered nurse majors and specialty certifications, as well as post master’s certificates and certification alignment programs.
• Commitment to ongoing learning for APPs through annual CME funding and access to high-quality Duke CME offerings including APP Grand Rounds and a professional advancement program.  APPs are leaders in multiple arenas within Duke.
• Duke offers APPs opportunities to practice within team based integrative care in a tremendous variety of specialties.  APPs are expected to work to top of scope in order to contribute to Duke’s missions which include clinical practice, education, and research.
• Practice locations can include Duke Health’s four hospitals or over 140 primary care and specialty care clinics throughout North Carolina.

Job Location

Duke University Hospital campus, Durham, NC

Job Summary

The Duke University Hospital Neurology/Stroke Team APP (NP/PA) works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary health care team to provide direct patient care services for patients admitted to the neurology intermediate and/or step-down units in collaboration with the supervision of the neurologist(s). The APP may also provide direct patient care services for patients consulted on by the neurology service in the Emergency Department and other inpatient units in the hospital. While in clinic, the APP will provide direct patient care services for patients in the neurology outpatient clinic.

The APP’s practice locations include inpatient units at Duke University Hospital, the Duke Medicine Pavilion, and less commonly outpatient clinic coverage at the Duke Neuroscience Center in Clinic 1L.  All locations are on the Duke University Hospital campus in Durham, NC.

The APP performs physical exams, collects and documents data, conducts diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, orders and schedules laboratory studies, performs professional consultations, prescribes appropriate interventions and medications, coordinates the care and discharge of patients, and provides direct patient care services for patients on the stroke service.

The APP contributes to excellence in patient care, research, teaching, and provides leadership to the organization.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to assist physician in diagnosing medical and surgical problems and prescribing necessary treatment and services for quality patient care; record the normal and abnormal data for review by the physician.

• Take patient histories, conduct physical examinations, and record the date in the patient's record; write progress notes; prepare patient workups and summaries noting pertinent positive and negative findings; obtain psychosocial history relevant to patient care, and assume responsibility for developing therapeutic relationships with patients.

• Order and schedule laboratory studies and diagnostic procedures; explain necessity, preparation, nature and anticipated effects of scheduled diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to the patient.

• Carry out therapeutic procedures such as cast application and removal, wound suturing and dressing changes; monitor progress of patients, report progress to supervising physician, and maintain record of each patient's progress, consulting with supervising physician when patient's progress does not meet anticipated and/or predetermined criteria.

• Participate in basic science and clinical research projects conducted by supervising physician; prepare statistical reports and analyses setting forth progress, adverse trends and appropriate recommendations or conclusions. Train new personnel. Participate in teaching students and residents in techniques and procedures which are unique to specific clinical setting.

Job Eligibility Requirements

Education           

• Nurse Practitioners: Graduate of accredited MSN or DNP ACUTE CARE Nurse Practitioner program.
• Physician Assistants:  Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program. A Bachelor's degree required; Master's or Doctoral degree strongly preferred.

Certification

• Nurse Practitioners: ACNP or AGACNP required
• Physician Assistants: PA-C

• BLS required.

License

• Nurse Practitioners: Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina. BLS required. National certification as a NP required.
• Physician Assistants: Must be licensed in the state of NC and be certified as a Physician Assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
• Both: Federal and State DEA with unrestricted prescriptive authority

Experience

• Prefer experience as PA/NP in critical care area, ideally a Neuro/Stroke Unit, but also will consider new grad with RN experience in similar unit or rotations in neuro/stroke unit while in PA/NP school.   

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Able to clearly articulate scope of practice, and practices within those guidelines as a Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant in the state of North Carolina and within the Duke University Health System. 
• Able to independently seek out resources and work collaboratively to solve complex problems
• Able to communicate clearly with patients, families, visitors, healthcare team, physicians, administrators, leadership, and others.
• Able to use sensory and cognitive functions to process and prioritize information, perform health assessments, treatment, and follow-up.
• Able to use fine motor skills
• Able to record activities, document assessments & interventions; prepare reports and presentations;
• Able to use computer and learn new software programs
• Able to provide leadership in clinical area of expertise and in meeting organizational goals
• Able to navigate the Hospital and DUHS to provide clinical expertise to specific patient populations
• Able to withstand prolonged standing and walking with the ability to move or lift at least fifty pounds
• Able to remain focused and organized
• Able to work collaboratively with all levels of personnel

Job Hours

This position is primarily inpatient with occasional hospital based clinic coverage.  APPs on this service work FOURTEEN 12-hour shifts per month. This is a day shift only position and includes occasional weekend requirements. Schedule may be modified by the clinical or leadership team to fit clinical needs of the service.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.