Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Medical Intensive Care Unit / Rapid Response Team, Full-time, Rotating

Northwestern Medicine; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine seeks a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to join the Canning Thoracic Institute (CTI) in the Medical ICU and Rapid Response Team. The APP-led unit manages critically ill patients, stabilizes those deteriorating, and participates in multidisciplinary rounds across the hospital.

Ideal candidates hold an advanced degree, acute care certification, and Illinois licensure. Schedule includes 3x12hr shifts with some admin time; rotating days/nights/holidays and no on-call

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nursing or PA program is required.
• Acute care certification required for APRNs.
• Current Illinois RN license and Illinois APRN license/PA license.
• MSO credentialing and DEA as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Manage care of critically ill patients in MICU with advanced monitoring and therapies.
• Lead rounds with intensivists and interprofessional team.
• Perform ICU procedures as credentialed (arterial lines, central venous catheters, bronchoscopy).
• Coordinate transfers, admits, and discharges from MICU.
• Respond to Rapid Response activations and stabilize deteriorating patients.

Skills

Nurse Practitioner

Physician Assistant

Critical Care

Ventilator Management

ICU Procedures

Education

Master’s degree in Nursing

Master’s in Physician Assistant Program

Acute care certification

Tools

Acute care certification tools

Job description

Description

Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for either a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to join The Canning Thoracic Institute (CTI) as part of our Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and Rapid Response Team (RRT). CTI operates collaboratively across the Northwestern Medicine health system to advance our mission of delivering the highest quality care for patients with diseases of the chest, promoting clinical innovation and discovery, and improving lung health in the Greater Chicago community. In this dual‑function role, the APP will work alongside leaders in pulmonary and critical care as part of an APP‑led team responsible for the management of medically complex ICU patients as well as the early recognition and stabilization of deteriorating patients throughout the hospital. The team cares for a wide variety of critically ill patients, including those with advanced lung failure, shock, sepsis, multiorgan dysfunction, and acute GI or oncologic emergencies. This position is 100% inpatient.

Medical ICU Responsibilities:

Manage the care of critically ill patients requiring advanced monitoring and interventions. Participate in daily multidisciplinary rounds and collaborate closely with intensivists and the interprofessional team. Manage ventilators, vasoactive medications, and complex critical care therapies. Perform ICU procedures as credentialed (e.g., arterial lines, central venous catheters, bronchoscopy depending on skillset). Coordinate care transitions, including admissions, transfers, and discharges from the MICU. Apply evidence‑based practice guidelines to optimize clinical outcomes.

Rapid Response Team Responsibilities:

Respond to all Rapid Response and Code Blue activations throughout the hospital to assess and stabilize acutely deteriorating patients. Provide advanced clinical assessment, initiate urgent interventions, and determine need for ICU transfer. Collaborate with bedside nursing staff to identify early signs of deterioration and support escalation of care. Serve as a clinical resource for hospital units, reinforcing best practices in prevention of clinical decline. Participate in quality‑improvement initiatives aimed at reducing unplanned ICU admissions, improving code metrics, and enhancing patient safety.

Schedule:3x12hr shifts plus 4hrs administrative time

• Rotating days/nights/weekend/holidays. Candidate may work 100% nights if desired
• No on-call required

Essential Functions

• Demonstrates clinical expertise and expanded knowledge through patient care activities which may include diagnosis and management of a wide range of health problems.
• Responsible for health outcome of an assigned patient population.
• Confers with collaborating physician and other health professionals in area of clinical expertise.
• Develops appropriate educational systems for patients, families and staff in areas of expertise.
• Mentors graduate students in aspects of advanced practice and patient care.
• Actively participates in quality improvement and/or research pertinent to area of expertise.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients' health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations in clinical area.
• Provides direct clinical care to patients.
• Prescribes/orders medications, therapies; orders/interprets laboratory tests, x-rays and procedures according to clinical privileges.
• Evaluates patients to determine their need for further health care.
• Provides comprehensive teaching to patients and families.
• Documents in the medical record all care and education provided and/or procedures performed for which the Licensed Advanced Practice Provider is responsible.
• Refers to other disciplines as appropriate.
• Consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise.Integrates research based knowledge and clinical expertise in decision making.
• Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation.
• Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community.
• Maintains certifications and continuing education as required for licensure and privileging.
• Serves as a patient advocate and role model for 'Patients First'.
• Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces as appropriate.
• Provides comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and their families.
• Develops and participates in programs to meet continuing education needs of staff.
• Serves as a role model and preceptor to students.
• Provides formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty.
• Participates in quality improvement and/or research initiatives for specific patient population as appropriate.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree from an accredited school/college of nursing OR master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program
• Acute care certification required for APRNs
• Current license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by a national certifying body as approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number OR Master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program/Current license as a Physician Assistant in the State of Illinois. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number
• Privileged and credentialed through the Medical Staff Office (MSO)
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation – BLS, issued by the American Heart Association

Preferred

• Critical care experience

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) 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.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position):

Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.