OHSU Clinical Associate-Physician Associate

The Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery is one of the largest divisions within the Department of Surgery, comprised of a team of dedicated faculty in support of OHSU as a Level 1 trauma center. Our trauma surgeons provide expert care to the most seriously injured patients in the state, instruct future generations of trauma surgeons, and conduct research into improving and advancing the treatment of trauma patients. Its surgical critical care fellowship program sponsors four fellows each year.

The Clinical Associate/Advanced Practice Provider (APP) provides patient care in a multidisciplinary team model in the Trauma Acute Care Surgery (TACS). The APP works in partnership with faculty physicians, fellows and residents to provide excellent clinical care and customer service. The APP works to promote OHSU’s missions of excellence in patient care, teaching, research, and public service as well as the strategic goals to excel in patient safety, quality, cost-effective, and efficient care.

This position reports to (supervisor): Medical Director, Trauma Acute Care Surgery Medical Director, Emergency General Surgery The Trauma APP delivers care aligned with a defined scope of practice in the Trauma, Critical Care & Acute Care Division, with work expectations operationalized through departmental workflows, productivity standards, and performance expectations consistent with the CBA and institutional policies.

The Trauma APP will participate in departmental scheduling processes, including weekends and holidays, with scheduling practices aligned to contract provisions, equitable distribution of coverage, and maintenance of safe, consistent clinical operations.

This role is structured to meet contract-defined work expectations of 160 shifts per year at 12.5-hour duration, inclusive of daytime and extended coverage, aligned with the clinical coverage model and patient care needs of the service.

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

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

• a. Direct
  
  • i. Patient population; Assure appropriate care setting (inpatient, critical care, acute care)
  • ii. Practice area (inpatient) and practice type (independent); Provide medical and advanced practice management independently and/or in conjunction with attending physicians. Works in conjunction with attending physicians to provide continued clinical care in the inpatient and outpatient settings; Work with nurses, social workers, nutrition services, pharmacy and others as needed to assure optimum patient care.
  • iii. Clinical coverage requirement (weekend, holiday, consults, OR first assist etc.)
  • iv. Communicate with attending physicians, patients and families regarding patients’ conditions, treatment plans, and urgent medical needs, Document subjective and objective findings, assessment and plan clearly and accurately in daily progress notes.
  • v. Identify discharge needs early and communicate plan to patients, families, nurse case manager, and other healthcare team members; Make appropriate referrals to specialty care service within OHSU and outside of OHSU; Consult with specialty care providers when appropriate; Maintain communication with external providers and other individuals and agencies (e.g. skilled nursing facilities) as appropriate.
  • vi. Perform clinical procedures as indicated (e.g. central venous access, chest drains, intubation)
  • vii. Respond to and manage adverse infusion reactions and other emergencies, and
    viii. Review patient labs and physical conditions in order to override treatment parameters as appropriate.
  • ix. Ordering as needed (PRN) medications.
  • x. Review urgent EKG’s, imaging, laboratory studies
    and other ancillary tests prior to start of treatment.
  • xi. Review investigational study EKG’s, imaging, labs
    and other ancillary tests prior to start of treatment.
  • xii. Provide consultation to OTU nurses.
  • xiii. Consult with pharmacists on treatment changes and PRN medication

2. Orientation and education of trainees and nursing staff on the care standards and protocols in the TACS.

• Education of nursing staff, fellows, residents and medical students in informal settings. Participation in all relevant conferences and team meetings. Collaboration with multidisciplinary and interprofessional care team members to establish or revise clinical pathways and patient education materials. Participation in unit-relevant quality improvement projects.

3. Professionalism & Team Engagement

• Meeting attendance: Make a reasonable, good-faith effort to attend recurring division/service meetings, including faculty and APP meetings and the relevant M&M/case review conferences (Trauma & EGS M&M). Attendance is expected when scheduled to work and not on PTO, FMLA/OFLA, holiday, post night shift, or assigned to incompatible clinical coverage. When unable to attend, review minutes/recordings and follow up on action items as applicable. Per CBA Section 8.6, qualifying meeting time counts toward Faculty Pursuits for Clinical Faculty; for Clinical Associates, time is included in the standard work expectation (Section 8.4).
• Professional communication: Check and respond to work email, Epic In-Basket, and Teams/secure messaging during scheduled working days in a timely manner commensurate with clinical urgency. No response is expected during PTO, vacation, protected leave, approved time off, non-work hours, or post night shift. Out- of-office messages and appropriate coverage handoffs are expected before planned absences.
• Team citizenship: Model respectful, collaborative behavior consistent with the OHSU Code of Conduct, Respect in the Workplace, and the OHSU-APU CBA; contribute to a healthy team culture, handoffs, and coverage planning; support colleagues across the Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery continuum.
• Professional development & credentialing: Maintain active licensure, board certification, DEA registration, and BLS/ACLS/ATLS as applicable; complete required OHSU compliance training on time; engage in continuing education aligned with scope of practice (Section 8.6 Faculty Pursuits for Clinical Faculty; departmentally Ongoing Yes APU-Represented Clinical Associate Position Description APU – Clinical Associate Position
• Description Page 4 of 7 supported CE for Clinical Associates per Section 8.8 and applicable Appendix provisions).

• Education: Successful completion of a Master Degree in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing in the specialty of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), or Adult- Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP) from an accredited program.a recognized APRN specialty (Certified Nurse Midwife, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or Nurse Practitioner),
  - OR -
• Successful completion of a Master Degree in Physician Assistant/Associate Studies from an accredited program.
• Proficiency in clinical assessment, documentation, and care planning for surgical/trauma inpatient populations, with the ability to manage acute and post- operative patients across the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery continuum.
• Current RN and APRN NP licensure with the Oregon Board of Nursing.
• Current national ANCC Certification in the area of specialization.
• Current BLS, ACLS or PALS Certification as indicated for the position.
• DEA Certification.
  - OR -
• Current PA licensure with the Oregon Medical Board.
• Current NCCPA Certification.
• Current BLS, ACLS or PALS Certification.
• DEA Certification.

• 2-4 years of RN, NP, or PA experience in the inpatient setting. Trauma, surgery, or emergency specialty preferred

• Competency in primary, secondary, and tertiary survey for trauma resuscitations preferred.

• ATLS certification preferred but not required for consideration. Will be provided upon employment.

This is an inpatient acute care/emergency general surgery unit. Shifts will include day shifts on both weekdays and weekends as well as holidays. Busy clinical environment subject to interruptions and noise. Exposure to human tissue/fluids.