APP; Nurse Practitioner​/Physician Assistant- Neurosurgery Oncology

Nurse Practitioner

The Neurosurgery/Cyber Knife program is a center of excellence within Stanford Healthcare and is the top program of this type worldwide. Our team is looking for an excellent communicator able to work with patients with a variety of neurosurgical disorders (predominantly tumors), while keeping the entire team informed of critical patient care information. As described in the job functions below, the APP will be supporting the Neurosurgery attending in her clinic and see follow-up patients in their independent clinic (e.g. for suture removal, shunt reprogramming, treatment follow-up, return visits, pre-operative and postoperative visits, etc.).

In addition, the APP (Advanced Practice Provider) will handle patient phone messages, electronic communications, order and evaluate radiologic exams (MRI), lab tests, place referrals, collaborate with our schedulers to arrange treatments, and assist in patient support groups. In order to keep this busy clinic running, the APP will have to be well organized and efficient. In short, we are looking for an empathic and efficient nurse practitioner with outstanding communication skills to join our high visibility, highly motivated team.

Cyber Knife was invented at Stanford Health Care and is used to treat a variety of conditions, with one of the most technologically advanced forms of radiosurgery. Cyber Knife stereotactic radiosurgery uses computer technology that allows physicians to deliver radiation with unprecedented precision. Unlike other radiosurgery technologies, the Cyber Knife does not use uncomfortable screws or frames to immobilize patients during treatment.

The Cyber Knife is capable of treating tumors anywhere in the body. At Stanford, Cyber Knife technology is commonly used for treatment of tumors and conditions of the brain and spine, in addition to cancers of the pancreas, prostate, liver, and lungs. We most recently upgraded to the latest technology.

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) functions under this Nurse Practitioner Job Description approved by the Interdisciplinary Practice Committee (IDPC). The NP provides routine care and management of the patient with acute and chronic complaints, in collaboration with the supervising physician, and through implementation of standardized procedures. Specific functions pertaining to the Service, Clinic or Department are established by the NP and his/her supervising physician(s), and approved by the appropriate medical and nursing administrators, the IDPC, the Credentials & Privileges Committee, the Stanford Hospital and Clinics (SHC) Medical Executive Committee and the SHC Board Credentials, Policies and Procedures Committee.

This job description covers all classifications for NPs within the organization. All NPs must meet all elements of the Essential Functions, Qualifications, and Supervision. There is a voluntary Career Ladder for NPs who are interested in promotions for clinical expertise and contributions to the institution as well as the profession.

Job Attributes:

• An NP may provide only those medical services which he/she is competent to perform, which are consistent with the NP's education, training and experience, and which are performed under the supervision of a physician who is responsible for the patients cared for by that NP.
• An NP shall consult with a physician regarding any task, procedure or diagnostic problem which the NP determines exceeds his/her level of competence or shall refer such cases to a collaborating physician.
• Scope of Practice of the NP:
• Evaluates and treats patients with acute, chronic complaints and health maintenance concerns related to specialty, according to written standardized procedures.
• Obtains complete histories and performs pertinent physical exams with assessment of normal and abnormal findings on new and return patients, according to written standardized procedures.
• Performs or requests and evaluates diagnostic studies as indicated upon evaluation of the patient, according to written standardized procedures.
• Administers, orders, furnishes and prescribes medications, according to written standardized procedures.
• Orders and collects specimens for routine laboratory tests, screening procedures and therapeutic procedures, including blood and blood products.
• Orders physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, radiology examinations and nursing services.
• Performs designated procedures after demonstrated competency, according to written standardized procedures where applicable.
• Obtains informed consent, as indicated.
• Initiates arrangements for hospital admissions and discharges and completes appropriate paperwork.
• As directed by the supervising physician, enrolls patients in investigational studies approved by the Investigational Review Board (IRB), and orders the necessary tests and medications. Medications that are not FDA-approved or are used for a non-FDA-approved indication (off-label use) require a patient-specific order in advance from the supervising…