"Nurse Practitioner (Critical Care & Stepdown) - Critical Care - Per Diem 12 Hour Rotating Shift (Non-Exempt) (Union)"

The Nurse Practitioner is a member of the intensive care team and has as his/her primary responsibility the management of critically ill complex patients in an intensive care and stepdown care setting. The NP has specialized skill and knowledge related to the unique ICU setting in which s/he practices and performs physical exams, collects and documents data, conducts approved diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, orders and schedules laboratory studies and professional consultations, prescribes appropriate interventions and medications, and provides direct patient care services in a specific ICU or Stepdown, according to established protocols and utilizes evidence-based clinical practice standards. The NP contributes to excellence in patient care, research, teaching, consulting, and provides leadership to the organization and nursing profession. Duties may include obtaining patient health histories and complete physical examinations, documenting findings noting pertinent normal and abnormal findings, ordering and interpreting appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests. May also need to explain the necessity, preparation, nature and anticipated effects of procedure(s) to patients, patient's family, staff, and healthcare learners. Perform approved therapeutic or diagnostic procedures based upon patient's clinical status. Document patient preparation and response to procedure(s). Formulate and implement treatment plan for acute illness management in collaboration with the designated primary supervising physician and/or attending back-up physician(s). The Nurse Practitioner will work alongside trainees (residents and fellows) as part of the ICU Team.

Essential Duties:

• Primary responsibility is the management of critically ill complex patients in an intensive care setting and stepdown.
• Demonstrates the ability to manage high acuity patients requiring specialized monitoring and care.
• Develops Plans of Care with individualized interventions and completes patient care procedures correctly.
• Conducts in-depth interviews with patients and/or family, constructs comprehensive medical histories, performs initial and periodic physical examinations and explores patients interpretation of health needs. Identifies and treats patients diseases. Manages treatment of hospitalized patients.
• Directly performs or orders appropriate diagnostic studies and interprets finished results including lab studies, professional consults and approved diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Develops and implements long and short range treatment plans. Formulates and implements treatment plans for acute illness management in collaboration with the designated primary supervising physician and/or attending back-up physicians.
• Performs procedures such as obtaining specimens, performing injections, immunizations, lumbar punctures, skin biopsies, suturing, wound care establishing central access, emergency airways, insertion of A-lines, thoracentesis, paracentesis and management of conditions produced by trauma or infection.
• Writes orders to increase, decrease or change medication, subject to checking and counter-signing by physician.
• Prescribes appropriate interventions and medications and provides direct patient care services in the ICU and stepdown settings, according to established protocols and utilizes evidence-based clinical practice standards.
• Identifies records pertinent progress of patients, updating and summarizing charts, changing orders when appropriate and notifying the responsible physician of changes in the patients condition.
• Instructs and counsels patients and families regarding preventive care, medical problems, psychological problems, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
• Maintains compliance with established University and department policies and procedures, quality assurance, safety, environmental, infection control and complies with requirements of accreditation and regulatory agencies.
• Participates in in-service education programs and professional associations. Provides leadership to the organization and nursing profession.
• Responsible for responding to emergency codes (i.e.: RRTs and Code Blue alerts) when assigned to emergency response teams.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree Graduate from an accredited school of Nursing (MSN).
• Five years clinical nursing experience required.
• 2 years minimum Critical Care Nurse Practitioner experience required.
• 2 years minimum ICU/critical care nursing experience required.
• Must be able to intubate patients (or willing to perform this function once trained) and manage critical situations and codes.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Registered Nurse - RN (CA Board of Registered Nursing)
• Nurse Practitioner - NP (CA Board of Registered Nursing)
• Nurse Practitioner Furnisher (CA DCA) Current license to furnish medications in the State of California.
• DEA Certificate Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Justice for Schedule II-V controlled substances.
• NP Board Certified Possession of National Board Certification in Nurse Practitioner area of specialty accredited by Accreditation Board of Specialty Nursing (ABSNC) or National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). If work in Hospital/Acute Care Setting must have Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) or Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) upon hire. (*Grandfathered from Acute Care Certification requirement if hired/transferred prior to 12/2015.)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association - *ACLS as required by the NPs Job description for NPs in the Hospital/Acute Care Setting and Ambulatory Infusion Centers (*Required for Hospital/Acute & Infusion Center Clinic settings only)
• Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only).

The hourly rate range for this position is $77.64 - $127.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidates work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.