Clinic Nurse II, Neurosurgery

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Organization:

SPMF-Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation - South

Position Overview:

The Registered Nurse II - Neurointerventional Pain Management Specialist is accountable for the assessment, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of specialized nursing care for patients undergoing neurointerventional procedures and chronic/acute pain management therapies. Delivers holistic, individualized care incorporating neurological and pain assessment frameworks, procedural support, and post-intervention monitoring. Develops and implements patient-centered plans of care that incorporate psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, economic, and lifestyle factors unique to patients with complex neurological and pain conditions.

This role also serves as the primary nursing liaison for neurosurgery spine patients transitioning into pain management care, encompassing patient education, care coordination, inbox and referral management, clinic support, and appointment scheduling. Fosters collaborative relationships among patients, families, interventional pain physicians, neurosurgeons, spine specialists, anesthesiologists, and interdisciplinary team members through timely and effective communication. Adheres to hospital policies, industry standards, evidence-based practices, and applicable laws and regulations to promote optimal patient outcomes and experience.

Job Description:

These Principal Accountabilities, Requirements and Qualifications are not exhaustive, but are merely the most descriptive of the current job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, staff changes, workload, or technical development).

Job Accountabilities

Assessment and Planning of Patient Care

* Performs comprehensive neurointerventional and pain-focused patient assessments encompassing neurological status, pain etiology and severity, functional limitations, psychological response to chronic/acute pain, spiritual wellbeing, and relevant social determinants of health.

* Utilizes validated pain assessment tools (e.g., NRS, CPOT, DN4, PainDETECT) and neurological assessment scales (e.g., NIHSS, GCS) to establish baselines and detect changes in patient status pre-, intra-, and post-procedure.

* Collaborates with interventional pain physicians, neurologists, anesthesiologists, and the multidisciplinary team to interpret diagnostic findings, adjust treatment plans, and coordinate care for patients undergoing procedures such as spinal cord stimulation, epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, kyphoplasty, and other neurointerventional therapies.

* Communicates patients' procedural and pain management plans of care during shift transitions, handoffs, and interdepartmental transfers, ensuring continuity and patient safety.

* Partners with peers, management, and healthcare providers to streamline patient workflow through the procedural suite, recovery, and discharge.

Provision of Specialized Patient Care

* Provides competent, compassionate, and cost-effective nursing care for patients undergoing neurointerventional procedures, including pre-procedural preparation, intra-procedural monitoring, and post-procedural recovery.

* Assists with and monitors patients during interventional pain procedures such as spinal cord stimulator implantation/trials, intrathecal drug delivery system management, epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, radio frequency ablation, sympathetic nerve blocks, and vertebral augmentation (kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty).

* Monitors neurological and hemodynamic status throughout procedures, recognizing and responding to complications including vasovagal responses, dural puncture, epidural hematoma, neurological deficits, allergic reactions to contrast media, and anesthetic complications.

* Administers and monitors moderate sedation/analgesia per physician orders and hospital policy; documents patient response and recovery to discharge readiness criteria.

* Manages IV access, contrast media administration, and radiation safety practices in compliance with departmental protocols and ALARA principles.

* Maintains a safe, therapeutic environment integrating comfort measures, patient dignity, and anxiety reduction strategies specific to invasive procedural settings.

* Educates patients and families regarding procedures, expected sensations, pain management expectations, post-procedural care, and follow-up using teach-back methodology to confirm understanding.

* Delegates tasks appropriately to team members based on legal scope of practice, licensure, and individual capability.

* Upholds the confidentiality of all patient protected health information (PHI) and protects PHI from accidental, intentional, or inappropriate disclosure.

* Remains current on advancements in neurointerventional techniques, pain management pharmacology, minimally invasive procedures, and evidence-based…