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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Vascular Surgery, Full-time, Days

Northwestern Medicine · McHenry, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This role covers inpatient rounding and outpatient clinic, and possibly the OR. Which of those are you strongest in, and which would you need support with?

What they are checking: Honest self-assessment across three settings, rather than claiming all three equally.

Tell me about a time you disagreed with the surgeon about a patient's plan.

What they are checking: Whether they can hold a clinical position without damaging a working relationship they depend on daily.

Tell me about a patient whose outcome you were responsible for and which did not go the way you wanted.

What they are checking: Whether they can talk honestly about a bad outcome, which is what makes a colleague safe to work with.

The role mentions mentoring graduate students. What is your approach to teaching someone who is still learning to examine a patient?

What they are checking: Whether teaching is something they want to do or something they will tolerate.

What quality improvement work have you been part of?

What they are checking: The posting asks for it directly. This checks whether they have done any or only heard it described.

What do you want to be doing clinically in five years that this role moves you toward?

What they are checking: Whether they chose vascular surgery deliberately or are taking the job that was open.

What would you do

You are rounding at McHenry and a patient at Huntley needs you. How do you handle covering two hospitals?

What they are checking: Whether they have thought about the practical reality of split coverage, including the drive.

How do you handle a call night where two patients need you at the same time?

What they are checking: Triage under fatigue, which is the part of call that is hardest to teach.

How do you teach a patient about a vascular condition they do not want to hear about, like quitting smoking before surgery?

What they are checking: Patient education where compliance genuinely changes the outcome.

How do you keep your notes current when clinic runs long and you still have inpatients to see?

What they are checking: A habit that decides whether the team trusts their documentation and whether they burn out.

About the work

Tell me about your vascular surgery experience. What procedures and what patient population?

What they are checking: Whether the specialty experience is real and current, since the posting is specific about it.

Walk me through how you would assess a patient with a suspected acute limb ischemia.

What they are checking: Clinical reasoning on a vascular emergency where time genuinely decides the outcome.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for a Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner to work in our Vascular Surgery department. This Advanced Practice Provider will cover inpatient rounding and outpatient; potentially can cover OR. Locations: McHenry and Huntley Hospitals Schedule : Monday - Friday • 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. AA/EOE Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. VEVRAA Federal Contractor. 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 (inpatient experience as an NP will be considered in lieu of acute care certification) • 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 Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff Office (MSO) • Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation – BLS, issued by the American Heart Association Preferred: • Experience in Critical Care and/or Vascular • First Assist Certification for all APRN 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. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: 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 as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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