Job Description

Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for a fellowship within our outpatient General Internal Medicine department. The Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Northwestern is a nationally recognized leader in treating acute and chronic conditions, as well as providing preventative care to help people stay healthy. The division has robust research and education programs, conducting studies to find better treatments and improve healthcare quality as well as educating the next generation of physicians and other healthcare professionals. 

Schedule: 6-month program; M-F, days; no nights/weekends/holidays/on-call

JOB DESCRIPTION

This is an intensive SIX-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM that uses a multidisciplinary approach to prepare clinicians to step into the challenging and fast paced role of an Advanced Practice Provider (APP). Fellows will start with a boot-camp to review fundamentals as well as develop skills needed to act as a primary service provider. There will be dedicated didactic teaching as well as case based learning and simulations.  Fellows will learn to master conducting comprehensive histories, performing physical exams as well as diagnostics and creating treatment plans. Oral presentations and note writing skills will be reviewed weekly. There will be a strong focus on evidenced based medicine and developing critical reasoning skills when interpreting new research. Following the fellowship, preference is given to high-performing fellows for open positions within Northwestern.  

The ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE, CERTIFIED NURSE PRACTITIONER (APRN-CNP) OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA) IN THE ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDER (APP) FELLOW role reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics, Corporate Compliance Program and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Advance Practice Fellowship will provide leading-edge post-graduate, on-the-job training to prepare APP fellows for successful practice in primary care. Exposed to a variety of clinical rotations, APP Fellows will refine critical thinking, diagnostic, and clinical skills necessary for managing complex medical situations and for providing safe, efficient and effective care to adult hospitalized patients in designated specialty. The APP fellowship provides an opportunity for licensed advanced practice providers to receive 6 months of intensive clinical training and preparation for the ambulatory setting.

Grounded in a rigorous didactic curriculum, this intensive training program will offer hands-on clinical care through a structured clinical orientation to primary care as well as rotations in designated specialties in the ambulatory setting. The program places an emphasis on multi-disciplinary learning and communication. All fellows will work under the direct guidance of APP preceptors and attending physicians. Upon completion, advanced practice fellows will have acquired enhanced skills in primary care and designated specialty areas, preparing them for APP ambulatory positions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Complete all requirements for credentialing and privileging at NMH for inpatient core privileges
• Attend all didactic lectures and educational opportunities scheduled for APP fellows
• Provide direct care to patients as assigned by clinical preceptors
• Collaborate and consult with physicians and other health care professionals as appropriate
• Develop organizational skills to manage a patient caseload
• Develop effective communication and presentation skills with the interdisciplinary team
• Develop a deep and broad knowledge base of the common disease processes for which patients are hospitalized through fellowship training and home study as appropriate
• Identify individual professional development needs and work w/ APP preceptors/mentors to create opportunities for learning and practice
• Participate in APP Transition into Practice Program and monthly APP grand rounds.
• Clinical:
  • Conducts comprehensive assessments of patients’ health status by taking health histories and performing advanced physical examinations in specialty area.
  • Provides direct clinical care to patients as needed.
  • Orders and interprets laboratory and diagnostic tests to establish diagnoses and develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
  • Orders/prescribes medications, therapies, interventions and procedures according to clinical privileges.
  • Documents in the medical record all care provided and/or procedures performed for which the Advanced Practice Provider Fellow is responsible. Collaborates with all members of the multidisciplinary team to develop and direct an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan.
• Leadership:
  • Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces and professional organizations.
  • Advocates for patients, families, nursing staff and other members of the healthcare community.
  • Consults with NM leadership in the identification, evaluation and problem solving of clinical system and process issues.
• Education:
  • Teaches and counsels patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, plan of care, anticipated outcomes, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
  • Develops and participates in programs to meet personal educational needs, and needs of the clinical team
  • Provides formal and informal educational programs to healthcare professionals pertinent to APP fellow role.
• Research/Quality/Outcomes:
  • Participate in/review evidence-based research/guidelines and apply to clinical practice.
  • Participate in service-line specific quality initiatives and development of outcome metrics.

Qualifications

REQUIRED:

• APRN-CNP Only
  • Meets all required qualifications of APRN-CNP job description
  • Masters degree from an accredited school/college of nursing
  • Registered Professional Nurse (IL) license
  • Advance Practice Registered Nurse (IL) license
  • Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association) certification
• PA Only
  • Meets all required qualifications of PA job description
  • Must have graduated from an accredited PA program - PA (IL) license
• All required to hold and maintain:
  • Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association) certification

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.