Neurosurgery - Nurse Practitioner

Job Description

UCSF nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice providers (APPs) who possess the education, national board certification, California licensure, knowledge, clinical skills, and experience necessary to provide evidence-based patient care in their area of clinical practice. They provide routine, acute, critical, and specialty care as defined by their granted privileges/standardized procedures. These may include performing non-invasive or invasive procedures and operative first assist.

UCSF NPs are guided by and follow California regulations and the UCSF Medical Staff Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, and Policies. They are authorized to exercise privileges specifically granted to them by the Committee on Interdisciplinary Practice (CIDP), Executive Medical Board (EMB), and Governance Advisory Council (GAC), and are expected to provide clinically indicated care that meets the applicable standard of care.

UCSF‑hired APPs whose UCSF clinical responsibilities require patient care at facilities/locations outside of UCSF Medical Center and Clinics must abide by California regulations, be credentialed, privileged, and follow the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, and Policies of those facilities.

• Independently (independent APP encounter) or collaboratively (shared physician and APP encounter) evaluates and manages patients.
• Includes taking histories, performing physical examinations, responding to changes in patient status, performing consults, ordering or furnishing medications/diagnostic tests/treatments/therapies/consultations/referrals/durable medical equipment (DME)/home health services.
• Care provided must be documented in the electronic medical record in accordance with the UCSF Rules and Regulations.
• Provider services must be billed to reflect the performing provider and comply with the APP Billing Policy 3.08.01.
• APPs must respond to clinical documentation integrity inquiries from the Department of Quality and Patient Safety within 3 days.
• Performs procedures granted to them via privileges/standardized procedures.
• Identifies patients with acute decompensation or failure and responds to the hospital plan of care and reviews with physician.
• Initiates consultations as indicated.
• Documents independent assessment findings and recommends appropriate treatments.
• Participates in service rounds and patient evaluation and treatment planning.
• Reviews lab tests, x‑rays, and other diagnostic tests, and initiates appropriate team plans.
• Evaluates complex cases, establishes individualized plans of care for disposition to a lower level of care.
• Interprets and acts upon completed tests, procedures, and radiographic studies.
• Completes clinically relevant paperwork/electronic health record (EHR) documentation, including but not limited to ordering medications, completing episodic care notes and discharge summaries in accordance with the UCSF Rules and Regulations.
• Effectively communicates findings, treatment options, and care plans with patients and their families.
• May first assist in the operating room if privileged to do so through OMAG after completing the required certification and proctoring.
• Monitors and evaluates patients for discharge, sets parameters and guidelines for continuum of care with multidisciplinary team, including evaluating and defining discharge regimen.
• Discharges patients, including prescribing/furnishing medications, ordering DME, and recommending or referring for ongoing follow‑up care, providing discharge teaching, and completing discharge summaries.

• Coordinates care throughout the continuum including hospital admission, care coordination with staff and consulting services, and hospital discharge planning.
• Coordinates episodic care and determines timing of routine clinic follow‑up.
• Participates in huddles with clinic/hospital staff and anticipates patients who require close management or intervention.
• Consults with nursing staff on plan and implementation of individualized nursing care plans.
• Independently provides case summaries for disability, insurance agencies, workers’ compensation, work releases,…