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Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Orthopedic Surgery, Full-time, Days

Northwestern Medicine · Lake Forest, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 2, 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

Tell me about your experience with inpatient consults, especially in surgery or vascular patients.

What they are checking: Whether they are ready for an inpatient-focused vascular consult role, which differs from clinic-based work.

Tell me about a time you disagreed with another team about a patient's plan.

What they are checking: Whether they handle disagreements professionally and keep the focus on the patient.

How do you explain a vascular diagnosis to a patient and family who are frightened about amputation?

What they are checking: Whether they communicate honestly and compassionately about serious outcomes.

How have you been involved in teaching students or quality improvement work?

What they are checking: Whether they contribute beyond direct care, as the posting asks for mentoring and quality work.

What would you do

How do you decide when to call your collaborating surgeon right away versus handling a problem yourself?

What they are checking: Whether they know their scope and escalate at the right time for patient safety.

You have several new consults and a deteriorating patient at the same time. How do you prioritize?

What they are checking: Whether they triage by urgency and ask for help when the workload is unsafe.

About the work

You're consulted for a patient with a cold, painful leg. Walk me through your assessment.

What they are checking: Whether they recognize acute limb ischemia quickly and know it is time-sensitive and must be escalated.

How do you assess and manage a patient with a non-healing foot wound and suspected peripheral artery disease?

What they are checking: Whether they understand vascular workup like ABIs, imaging and wound care in a common consult.

What post-operative complications do you watch for after an endovascular or open vascular procedure?

What they are checking: Whether they know complications like bleeding, graft occlusion, compartment syndrome and access-site problems.

How do you manage anticoagulation decisions in a vascular patient who also has a high bleeding risk?

What they are checking: Whether they can weigh clotting and bleeding risks thoughtfully with the team.

Practice this interview out loud.

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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 Practicioner to work in our Orthopaedic department. This APP will be providing care across a hybrid ambulatory, inpatient, and surgical practice , including outpatient clinic support, inpatient patient management, and first-assist responsibilities in the operating room. Schedule: Monday-Friday • Call expectation: Participate in weekday daytime call coverage in collaboration with the attending physicians, with no overnight or weekend call responsibilities currently 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. • 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) • First Assist Certification for all 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 Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff Office (MSO) • Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation – BLS, issued by the American Heart Association Preferred: • 1 year of inpatient and surgical APP experience • Orthopedics experience 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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