Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant: Duke Neurosurgery - Spine

Job Summary 

We are seeking an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) for our Department of Neurosurgery - Division of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Duke Regional Hospital and Duke-affiliated Ambulatory Surgery Centers located in and near Durham, NC. The APP will provide direct patient care services in collaboration with the supervising physician to patients being evaluated for, as well as recovering from spine surgery. We expect this position will involve outpatient services as well as functioning as operative first assist.

Primary hours will be Monday through Friday 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM with hours flexible to meet the needs of the patients. Hours are expected to average 40 per week. Operative days will start at 7 AM while clinic days will begin later. Flexibility needed for operative days which may occasionally extend past 5:00 PM, as well as for patients with overnight stays at the Ambulatory Surgery Center requiring discharge the following morning. There is no expectation of weekend or overnight hours. 

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.

• Respond to patient inquiries and concerns via telephone or MyChart accessible during work hours and consult with supervising physician as needed.

• Order and schedule laboratory studies and diagnostic procedures; explain necessity, preparation, nature and anticipated effects of scheduled diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to the patient. Arrange inpatient admission for patients if needed.


• Carry out therapeutic procedures such as 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.


• Monitor operating schedule and follow-up on pending studies and medical clearance as needed.


• If interested, 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. Review the work of lower rated employees; 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:  Work requires completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program, with a Master's degree in Nursing.


• Physician Assistants:  Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program. A Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree strongly preferred.

Certification 

• BLS required

 License                

• Nurse Practitioners:  Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina. National certification as a NP required prior to or within 6 months of employment.


• 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.

Experience          

• Ability to first assist is strongly preferred. 

Duke is an Affirmative Action/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, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran 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.