Inpatient Neurosurgery - APP

Overview

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Position Summary

The Advanced Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant) on the Inpatient Neurosurgery Service delivers high-quality, evidence-based care across the continuum—from the Emergency Department and OR to step-down and acute care floors. Covering a 24/7 service
, the APP performs initial evaluations, daily management, and consultations for patients with cranial, spinal, trauma, and functional neurosurgical conditions in collaboration with neurosurgeons, intensivists, hospitalists, nursing, and interprofessional teams. The role emphasizes clinical excellence, procedural competency (per privileging), patient safety, efficient workflows, and clear communication with patients, families, and teams.

• Perform comprehensive history, neurologic and neurosurgical examinations for admissions, transfers, and daily rounding.
• Develop and implement plans of care for postoperative and non-operative cranial and spinal conditions (e.g., tumor, hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, spine trauma/degeneration, vascular lesions, Chiari, functional disorders).
• Manage neurosurgical emergencies and high-acuity conditions in collaboration with attending neurosurgeons and intensivists.
• Order, interpret, and integrate diagnostics (CT/MRI, CTA/MRA, ICP data, CSF studies, labs).
• Manage postoperative care, pain, DVT prophylaxis, wound and drain care, steroid and anticonvulsant protocols, antibiotics, and glycemic and hemodynamic targets.
• Coordinate care transitions (ED → ICU/floor, OR → ICU/floor, ICU → floor, inter‑facility transfers) and discharge planning with robust patient/family education.
• 1–2+ years of neurosurgery, neurocritical care, trauma, or ICU experience.
• ENLS (Emergency Neurological Life Support), NIHSS certification; FCCS or ATLS (for trauma centers) exposure preferred.
• Experience with CSF device management, postoperative spine pathways, and neurosurgical consult triage.
• Proficiency with EMR documentation and order entry; familiarity with structured handoff tools.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

• 1. Clinical Care
  * The Physician Assistant (PA) or the Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides assessment, triage, and therapeutic management of patient/family needs throughout the disease process as an integral part of an interdisciplinary team. The NP/PA, whether the practice setting is the inpatient, ambulatory, or outpatient settings, provides optimal patient care, from diagnostic to prognostic matters. This individual works in collaboration with the attending supervising/collaborating physician(s) in accordance with state law and hospital regulations, hospital policy, protocols and clinical pathways and may provide autonomous team based care.
  
  * Obtains medical histories, performs physical examinations, reviews/orders diagnostic/therapeutic tests and radiologic results, formulates and manages patient treatment plans. The NP/PA may perform procedures, prescribe treatment and medications in accordance with institutional and state guidelines, as well as, when necessary for scope within specialty or professional competency standards. In some clinical specialties, the NP/PA may have autonomous practice managing certain patient populations.
  
  * The NP/PA may also function as first or second assistant on operative cases (as long as within position scope and job educational prerequisites are in place), using fine motor skills and manual dexterity.
  * Other clinical job duties may be applied in accordance with departmental and operational goals, training related to profession and practice necessitated guidelines and responsibilities, inclusive but not limited to responding to emergency situations within the YNHHS parameters
• 2. Patient Education & Psychosocial Support
  * The NP/PA will educate patients/families on care and recommended or available resources. In collaboration with the supervising/collaborating MD, this may be…