PennyNP

I work as a hospitalist with a neursurgery practice, and I love it. i have learned a tremendous amt about Internal Med issues, trauma, and neuro. I make rounds on non-SICU pts, do discharges, see pts in the clinic, education, first assist, do consults, see pts in the ER, I do minor procedure like apply halos, remove ventric and lumbar drains and do spinal taps. Good Luck

I presently work as a neurosurgery nurse practitioner hospitalist in a busy trauma hospital. Some of the surgeons in my practice were reluctant at first however, when they saw the results, their minds were changed. I make rounds on all the non-SICU pts, put on halos, remove ventric drains , do spinal taps, discharge pts and do the discharge summary, see pts in the ER, pre-op teaching, gen education, do consults and first assist . I am also available to assess situations for the surgeon when he/she is in the OR. I think the thing they like best is having someone with the skills to trouble shot. This is a large teaching hospital, and lots can go wrong esp. when a pt is scheduled for surgery like the pt's coags are out of range or Na+ low. Yes, I know simple stuff. Again, it is a large teaching hospital. Since the introduction of a mid-level provider hospitalist, surgeries are rarely canceled due to problems with the pt's fitness. In the the hospital were I work, there are trauma nurse, cardiology and I believe pulmonology mid-level providers who are hospitalist. I am hired by a neurosurgery practice, not the hospital. My office manager tells me that the doctors and administration folks at the hospital are pleased with the improved level of pt care. There is someone there in house to address issues from 6am-6pm five days a week. I do not work weekends or take call. We do not have a resident assigned to our service. This is a new role for my practice. I am presently writing the job description and scope of practice. I will keep you posted.