PA or CRNP (ACNP), Neurotrauma and Spine Neurosurgery - UPMC Presbyterian

University of Pittsburgh Physicians is hiring a Full-Time Physician Assistant or Acute Care Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner to help support the Neurosurgery department.

Hours: Monday-Friday daylight

Location: UPMC Presbyterian

This is an outpatient-only position based at Presby, focused on managing complex patients with traumatic brain and spinal injuries, post-operative neurotrauma care, and functional neurosurgical conditions such as movement disorders and spasticity. The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in neurology, neurosurgery, or trauma and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving outpatient practice.

You’ll work directly alongside this dual-specialty neurosurgeon as their primary APP, helping to establish and grow a busy and diverse clinic while becoming an integral part of our nationally recognized department.

Outpatient Clinical Care

• Manage a daily outpatient clinic for neurotrauma and functional neurosurgical patients, including new consults, follow-up visits, and post-operative assessments
• Perform comprehensive neurologic exams, order and interpret imaging, and develop evidence-based treatment plans in collaboration with the attending neurosurgeon
• Educate patients and families on diagnoses, recovery trajectories, surgical options, and rehabilitation strategies
• Coordinate multidisciplinary care with Physical Medicine & Rehab, Pain Management, and Neurology as appropriate
• Assist with surgical scheduling coordination, pre-op clearances, and post-op wound management
• Maintain timely and thorough documentation using EPIC, including clinic notes, orders, and follow-up plans

Program Development

• Serve as an APP for this growing subspecialty service line, contributing to workflow development, EMR template design, and patient education materials
• Collaborate with APP leadership and neurosurgery faculty to establish best practices for outpatient neurotrauma and functional patient management
• Help identify process improvements to enhance patient throughput, satisfaction, and continuity of care

This is a rare opportunity to join a high-profile academic neurosurgery department in a role that is both clinically meaningful and professionally rewarding. As the first outpatient APP dedicated to this neurosurgeon’s practice, you will be instrumental in shaping the long-term success of a clinic that blends two dynamic subspecialties: neurotrauma and spinal neurosurgery.

Here’s what makes this role stand out

• Be part of something new: Help launch and define an outpatient practice with a high-impact focus
• Diverse clinical exposure: Manage a unique mix of trauma recovery, post-op spine/brain care, and innovative functional procedures such as deep brain stimulation and neuromodulation
• Outpatient focus, academic support: Enjoy the work-life balance of an outpatient-only role while being embedded in a top-tier academic medical center
• Access to professional development: UPMC’s Department of Neurosurgery is committed to APP advancement, offering CME support, subspecialty learning opportunities, and mentoring
• Collaborative and innovative environment: Join a team that values APP autonomy, clinical leadership, and continuous improvement

See what being an Advanced Practice Provider can do for UPMC and what UPMC can do for Advanced Practice Providers – it’s more than just a job!

What Can You Bring to UPMC?

• Contribute to UPMC’s mission of Life Changing Medicine
• Set the standards for the level and quality of care for the care delivery team
• Provide patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with all team members.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the community and to your health care profession

What Can UPMC Do for You?

• A career path that provides you with the right experience to be successful in the position you want to obtain now and, in the future
• Health and welfare benefits like medical, vision, dental, and life and disability, and an exceptional retirement program
• Work life balance to help manage other important aspects of your life such as: PTO, wellness programs, paid parental leave
• Competitive pay for the work that you do – base pay, merit, and premium pay

Staff Level:

The Staff Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is a Physician Assistant or Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner and a member of the care delivery team. The APP is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The APP has responsibility, authority, and accountability for the provision of care through supervision by and collaboration with a physician. The APP manages and provides patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with all team members. The role of the APP encompasses the beginnings of leadership, partnership, collaboration, and supervision. The APP establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care. The APP begins to demonstrate a commitment to the community and to their healthcare profession.

The successful candidate will be placed according to years and months of experience for employment purposes.

Responsibilities

• Applies basic professional practice knowledge and skills appropriate for practice setting. Communicates effectively, both verbally and in documentation. Demonstrates critical thinking in all areas of professional practice. Learns to incorporate acceptable standards of professional practice as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality, and satisfaction. Formulates a plan of care that considers individual patient needs. Demonstrates initiative and seeks formal and informal opportunities to improve clinical practice. Seeks guidance and asks questions to continuously improve professional practice. Builds relationships with patients, families, and colleagues. Identifies ethical situations within patient care or within the workplace and seeks assistance. Professionally accepts assignments that gradually increase patient load and complexity.
• Actively engages in clinical development of all members of the healthcare team. Requests opportunities to learn advanced professional practice techniques from senior healthcare team members. Seeks, accepts, and utilizes performance feedback from peers, preceptors, and unit/department Leaders as a learning opportunity and to improve practice. Demonstrates enthusiasm for continuous learning and identifies and creates a plan for the continuation of learning and development. Identifies patient and family needs for education and provides basic education to support the episode of care. Seeks professional development and involvement through membership in a professional organization and/or reading professional literature on a regular basis.
• Demonstrates a basic knowledge of research, how it affects practice and who/what resources are available to assist with evidence-based practice by asking questions, demonstrating interest, participating in journal clubs. Clinical practice demonstrates knowledge of how quality and innovation impacts patient satisfaction, safety, and clinical quality outcomes. Identifies opportunities for improvement in the clinical area.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team. Begins to demonstrate awareness of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions. Cares for patients and self by supporting safety in the workplace.
• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care. Makes recommendations for the improvement of clinical care and the health of the workplace and welcomes and participates in change initiatives. Leads by investing and building healthy relationships among colleagues and other disciplines. Shows the ability to set priorities. Begins to serve as an engaged member of a team supporting colleagues in service to patients and families and may participate in task forces or other initiatives.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and/or interact appropriately with the patients served as specified below
• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span
• Possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs
• Provide the care needs as described in the department policy and procedures

Special Skills and Abilities Required

• Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients/families
• Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment
• Handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment
• Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities required as related to various aspects of patient care
• Good clinical judgment
• Critical thinking skills necessary to exercise and lead others in application of acceptable standards of practice
• Mobility and visual manual dexterity
• Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients

This position is dependent upon successful attainment and maintenance of hospital privileges, if applicable to the Business Unit practice.

Licensure, Education, Certifications, and Clearances

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)

• The successful completion of an approved nurse practitioner program is required
• BSN, MSN is preferred
• Professional nursing experience and/or nurse practitioner experience is preferred
• Current state RN license and CRNP certification are required
• National certification, eligible for licensure by Pennsylvania board of nursing, eligible for certification as a CRNP by Pennsylvania state board of nursing
• Current CPR certification is required
• Act 34 Clearance required

Physician Assistant (PA)

• A graduate of a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the physician assistant (ARC-PA) is required
• BS or MS candidate is preferred
• Experience as a physician assistant and/or experience in a clinical setting is preferred
• Current state PA license certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is required
• Current CPR certification is required
• Act 34 Clearance required