ACNP/PA - Vascular Surgery

ACNP/PA - Vascular Surgery

The Vascular Surgery Advanced Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant) provides specialized care to patients with arterial, venous, and lymphatic disorders across inpatient, outpatient, and procedural settings. The APP works collaboratively with vascular surgeons, nursing, and multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes, streamline care pathways, and support the clinical and operational goals of the vascular service line.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Clinical Care
• Perform comprehensive history and physical examinations for vascular surgery patients.
• Assess, diagnose, and manage acute and chronic vascular conditions under physician supervision or collaborative practice agreements.
• Develop and implement treatment plans, including ordering/interpreting labs, imaging, and diagnostic tests (e.g., ABI, duplex ultrasound).
• Manage preoperative and postoperative care, including wound care, anticoagulation monitoring, graft surveillance, and medication adjustments.
• Conduct inpatient rounding, progress notes, and discharge planning.
• Provide outpatient follow-up care, triage, and chronic disease management (e.g., PAD, carotid disease, aneurysms, venous insufficiency).
• Assist in clinic-based procedures such as suture/staple removal, incision & drainage, wound debridement, and dressing changes.
• First-assist in surgical procedures depending on credentialing and scope.
• Care Coordination
• Collaborate with surgeons, radiology, wound care, cardiology, endocrinology, and primary care teams.
• Support vascular imaging protocols and follow longitudinal surveillance schedules for carotid, EVAR/TEVAR, and bypass patients.
• Coordinate referrals, testing, pre-op optimization, and transitions of care.
• Patient Education
• Provide education on disease processes, medications, risk-factor modification, wound care, and postoperative expectations.
• Support smoking cessation counseling and lifestyle interventions.
• Quality, Safety & Program Support
• Participate in vascular quality initiatives (e.g., VQI data collection, evidence-based pathway development).
• Contribute to clinical documentation quality, billing accuracy, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Engage in research projects, protocol development, or quality-improvement initiatives as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program.
• Current Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) or PA-C certification.
• Current state licensure as an NP or PA.
• BLS and ACLS certification (required or obtained within onboarding timeline).
• DEA licensure (if prescribing)
• Experience 1–2 years of experience in vascular surgery, general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, critical care, or related field preferred. New graduates with strong surgical/vascular rotations may be considered depending on practice needs.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of vascular anatomy, physiology, common vascular pathologies, and surgical procedures.
• Ability to interpret vascular imaging (e.g., duplex ultrasound, CTA/MRA) or willingness to learn.
• Excellent clinical decision-making and procedural skills.
• Strong communication and patient-teaching abilities.
• Ability to work autonomously while collaborating within a multidisciplinary team.
• Competence in EMR documentation and efficiency metrics.

Working Conditions:

• May include inpatient rounding, outpatient clinics, procedural support, and occasional OR assistance.
• Schedule may require call, weekends, or holiday rotation depending on service structure.
• Requires walking, standing, lifting equipment or wound supplies, and exposure to clinical environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior vascular surgery or wound care experience.
• Experience with vascular imaging interpretation.
• Surgical first-assist training or certification.
• Participation in VQI or other vascular quality/registry programs.