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Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Orthopedic Surgery

Northwestern Medicine · Lake Forest, IL

Posted October 17, 2026

Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital · 1000 N Westmoreland Rd, Lake Forest, IL, US, 60045

  • Pay: $61.00 – $79.67 per hour
  • Employment: Full-Time (Days)
  • Location: Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital
  • Northwestern Medicine Job IDs: 224512, 222773

Description

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.

Qualifications

  • 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

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.

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.

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.

Qualifications

  • 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

Employer

Northwestern Medicine

Northwestern Medicine is an integrated academic health system serving Chicago and its suburbs, from the Streeterville flagship to the north, west, northwest and south suburbs. Its mission is Patients First, and it partners with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine on research and education.

The Northwestern Medicine system:

  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago, the academic medical center, consistently ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report
  • Central DuPage (Winfield), Delnor (Geneva), Lake Forest, Palos, Huntley, McHenry, Woodstock, Kishwaukee (DeKalb) and Valley West (Sandwich) hospitals, plus Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital (Wheaton)
  • Northwestern Medical Group and regional medical groups, with outpatient centers, cancer centers and Immediate Care clinics across the region

Why physicians and advanced practice providers choose Northwestern Medicine:

  • Work alongside some of the nation's best clinical talent, leading in medical innovation and breakthrough research
  • Teaching, research and faculty opportunities through Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  • A culture of physician leadership and involvement
  • Published pay ranges on every position, plus a CME allowance, paid time off, a well-being fund, 401(k), paid parental leave and malpractice insurance

Livability

19,190
Lake Forest population
$748K
Avg 3-bedroom home
—
Avg high / low
Nearby cities
Chicago
29.2 mi
Pop. 8,489,066
Round Lake Beach
14.5 mi
Pop. 252,224
Aurora
39.2 mi
Pop. 179,867
Source: US Census Bureau
Annual family budget — Lake County
—
Housing, food, transport, healthcare, childcare & taxes for a typical family
$748K
Avg 3-bedroom home
—
Avg monthly rent
Source: EPI Family Budget Calculator
Source: Zillow
—
Avg high / low
—
Yearly rainfall
—
Sunny days / yr
Source: WeatherAPI.com
Population — ZIP 60045
21,159
Total residents
10,287
Male residents
10,872
Female residents
Age distribution
total
21,159
0-9
2,118
10-19
3,092
20-29
2,785
30-39
1,541
40-49
2,133
50-59
3,251
60-69
2,518
70-79
2,268
80+
1,453
Ethnicity
White
18,114
Black Or African American
206
American Indian Or Alaskan Native
132
Asian
1,336
Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander
0
Other
298
Two Or More
1,073
Source: US Census Bureau
9
Walk Score — Car-Dependent
30
Bike Score — Somewhat Bikeable
Source: WalkScore.com
Nearby airports
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) 18.02 mi
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) 62.87 mi
South Bend Regional Airport (SBN) 87.75 mi
Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN) 97.15 mi
Source: FAA database
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Orthopedic Surgery
Northwestern Medicine · Lake Forest, IL