Nurse Associate, Plastics

Job Description

Be a part of a world‑class academic healthcare system, UChicago Medicine, as a Nurse Associate at our DCAM clinic. You will work alongside our Plastics team (potential to float to ENT clinic as well). This position is 100% onsite, and you must be based in the greater Chicagoland area.

The plastic surgeons on the team serve the greater Chicago area and are nationally and internationally recognized experts. They have specialist training in areas such as hand surgery, burn reconstruction, craniofacial surgery, gender‑affirming care and microsurgery.

• Conduct, respond to, follow up on, and triage patient phone calls to the physician as appropriate.
• Assist physician in clinic or procedure area with patient examinations, diagnostic tests and/or therapeutic procedures. Continuously monitor vital signs of patients under conscious sedation throughout the procedure.
• Counsel patients concerning lifestyle modifications, medication regimens, side effects, and interactions using an appropriate psychosocial communication level.
• Communicate to clinic coordinators follow‑up appointments, ancillary and/or pre‑operative testing and scheduling needed for patient.
• Arrange patient admissions; coordinate ordering of tests/procedures with fellows, attendings, and other nursing staff.
• Act as patient resource for education; assist physicians and prepare patients and family members by explaining the protocol, examination, procedure, diagnostic test and/or treatment. Discuss range of services covered by study protocols and identify services for which patient or insurer may be responsible. Express confidence discussing financial information.
• Assess patients’ and families’ physical and psychological resources; collaborate with other healthcare team members to help patients adapt to their disease and therapy involved.
• Work with case managers to coordinate patient discharge planning and teaching, instruct patients on post‑procedure care as necessary and maintain regular patient telephone contact throughout the treatment period.
• Enhance protocols for patient test and triage procedures.
• Develop and administer policies and procedures for all patient contacts. Revise and enforce current policies and procedures as needed.
• Communicate with referring physicians and insurance companies.
• Complete all consuls, insurance, visiting nurse and disability letters.
• Develop critical pathways for patient population served by supervising physician(s).
• Assist physicians in coordination of research programs by screening patients for acceptance into clinical research and outcome programs. Maintain office file notes, review charts, enter data for sectional demographic database, assist in summarization and analysis of data.
• Have knowledge of, promote, and utilize appropriate patient care protocol(s) relating to the physical, psychosocial, and developmental needs of patients.
• Recognize an emergency situation and initiate appropriate care.
• Perform other duties assigned.

• Associate Degree in Nursing. Associate Degree nurses are required to enroll in a BSN program within six (6) to nine (9) months of hire and complete the degree within 30 months. ADN nurses receive 100 % tuition reimbursement towards a BSN degree from an accredited program.
• Minimum of two years’ experience as a registered nurse in a clinical setting.
• Strong verbal and writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to handle a wide variety of public contacts, including conflicts, with patience, tact, courtesy, and discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to organize a demanding workload.
• Ability to function both autonomously and as part of a team.
• Considerable skill in determining priorities, working independently, and making decisions.
• High degree of initiative and problem‑solving ability.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment, make independent decisions, and assume responsibility.
• Ability and willingness to cooperate with co‑workers, supervisors, and physicians to do whatever needs to be done to serve the patient.
• Flexibility to learn and incorporate new systems and processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with composure and poise.
• C…