Clinical Associate

Department Overview

The Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is integral to the healthcare, education and research missions at OHSU. In this extraordinary time, we have proudly stepped up our efforts to meet these commitments. We provide clinical services at OHSU hospitals and collaborate with the VA Portland Health Care System and Hillsboro Medical Center. We specialize in providing excellent perioperative care and anesthesia services to our patients using state-of-the-art technology and pharmacologic tools with an emphasis on patient safety. In the operating rooms our anesthesiologists work in care teams with our fellows, residents, and nurse anesthetists as well as independently. Post-operative care is under the medical supervision of our department. We play a prominent role in the caring for patients in the cardiovascular, neurosciences, and newly-launched virtual intensive care units. In the ICU our team includes anesthesiology intensivists, critical care fellows, physician assistants/nurse practitioners, and residents. The role of our team in the ICUs is comprehensive and critical to achieving the highest quality outcomes for our patients.

The Clinical Associate APP delivers care aligned with a defined scope of practice in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU), with work expectations operationalized through departmental workflows, productivity standards, and performance expectations consistent with the CBA and institutional policies.

This role is structured to meet contract-defined work expectations of 160 shifts per year, inclusive of daytime, overnight, weekend, and holiday coverage, aligned with the clinical coverage model and patient care needs of the service.

The Clinical Associate APP will participate in departmental scheduling processes, including nights, weekends, holidays, and paid time off (PTO/EIB), with scheduling practices aligned to contract provisions, equitable distribution of coverage, and maintenance of safe, consistent clinical operations.

This position is represented by the Oregon Nurses Association, Advance Practice United, subject to the active collective bargaining agreement.

Function/Duties of Position

Clinical Activities (not related to assigned administrative, education, or research FTE teaching or research):

• Partner with faculty physicians, fellows, residents, students, and other APPs to provide excellent clinical care and customer services to critically ill patients with cardiac and vascular disease, as well as several surgical subspecialties.
• Rounds on patients in the CVICU on a daily basis with the ICU team. 
• Facilitates collaborative multidisciplinary care by communicating with involved care teams. 
• Develops and implements, in conjunction with faculty physicians, clinical plans of care and/or protocols for patients with common conditions/diagnoses/procedures.
• Educates house staff and nursing unit staff on these protocols, with the goal of enhancing quality of care, enhancing quality of patient services, and accelerating patient recovery.
• Participates with hospital/unit staff in evaluating results of these protocols and continually improving effectiveness of the same.
• Works actively with hospital and unit staff to rapidly develop and implement discharge plans for patients in the CVICU and to address length of stay issues.
• Promotes health of patients in the CVICU through the use of ancillary services, educational materials, and counseling of patients and families.  
• Supports team members and endeavors to create a collaborative, safe and welcoming environment where all can contribute and prosper.  
• Professional performance is delivered in a manner that is compliant with the regulations and guidelines of all relevant regulating bodies (e.g. the ASA, JCAHO, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, OHSU IRB, NIH, and all other state, federal, and institutional regulatory agencies). 
• Treats all patients, research subjects, trainees, and co-workers with dignity and respect.  
• The APP will be responsible for documenting all of their patient encounters in a timely manner in the electronic patient medical record and will be required to obtain knowledge and education related to appropriate documentation and coding in the ICU environment.

Other

• All APPs are expected to support the clinical, education, and research mission of OHSU through routine clinical care that includes working with students, trainees, and patients participating in research, consistent with their role, scope of practice, and applicable contract and institutional policies
• Participates in ICU curriculum training program along with critical care fellows and residents.  
• Teaches support staff, residents, and medical students through clinical in-service training, and through resident and intern training/education in utilization of plans of care to improve patient services and outcomes of treatment in the ICU.  
• Participates and attends team/unit meetings, relevant M&M conferences and best practices committees. 
• Fulfills educational and other requirements for maintenance of certification, as appropriate. 
• In order to foster better cross-team communication, participates in an interdisciplinary committee as a representative of the CVICU. 
• Engages in quality improvement projects for the CVICU.
• Encouraged to engage in public service through collaborative activities with OHSU and non-University groups as approved by the Chair or supervisor.  

Required Qualifications

•  Successful completion of a Master’s Degree in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing in a recognized APRN specialty (Certified Nurse Midwife, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or Nurse Practitioner)  - OR - 
•  Successful completion of a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant/Associate Studies from an accredited program. - OR -  
• Appropriate equivalent degree and certification 
• Current RN and APRN NP licensure with the Oregon Board of Nursing. 
• Current national ANCC Certification in the area of specialization.
• Current ACLS Certification. 
• DEA Certification. - OR -
• Current PA licensure with the Oregon Medical Board.
• Current NCCPA Certification.  
• Current ACLS Certification. 
• DEA Certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Applicants with education directed at intensive care management preferred.
• 3-5 years of previous experience in a critical care setting, ideally with a focus on cardiovascular disease states. 
• Interest in learning advanced clinical skills required to practice in the ICU environment. 
• Interest in further developing leadership skills. 
• High level communication skills required. 

Additional Details

This is a 24/7 unit. Shifts will include day and night shifts on both weekdays and weekends as well as holidays. Clinical shift times are days: 6:00am-6:30pm, nights: 6:00pm-6:30am. Busy clinical environment subject to interruptions and noise. Exposure to human tissue/fluids.

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected]