Summary

The Structural Cardiology Nurse Practitioner provides comprehensive care to patients with structural heart disease throughout the continuum of care, including outpatient evaluation, inpatient management, peri-procedural care, and longitudinal follow-up.

Job Duties

Outpatient Responsibilities:

• Perform comprehensive cardiovascular histories and physical examinations.
• Evaluate patients referred for structural heart interventions, including valvular heart disease and congenital structural abnormalities.
• Assess candidacy for procedures such as:
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
  • Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER/MitraClip)
  • Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (Watchman)
  • Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) closure
  • Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) closure
  • Balloon valvuloplasty and other transcatheter therapies
• Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with the structural heart team.
• Optimize medical therapy before and after procedures.
• Manage cardiovascular medications, including anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, heart failure medications, antihypertensives, and lipid-lowering therapies.
• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic results to guide clinical decision-making.

Inpatient Responsibilities:

• Conduct daily rounds on hospitalized structural heart patients.
• Monitor patients before and after structural heart interventions.
• Assess and manage acute cardiovascular issues, including heart failure, arrhythmias, vascular complications, and hemodynamic instability.
• Coordinate consultations with cardiac surgery, electrophysiology, heart failure, anesthesia, and other specialties.
• Facilitate discharge planning and ensure smooth transitions of care.

Peri-Procedural Responsibilities:

• Complete pre-procedure assessments and informed consent discussions as appropriate.
• Review diagnostic imaging and testing to confirm procedural readiness.
• Participate in multidisciplinary Heart Team conferences.
• Provide peri-procedural management in collaboration with physicians and procedural staff.
• Evaluate access sites and monitor for procedural complications.
• Manage post-procedure recovery, including pain control, rhythm monitoring, anticoagulation, and discharge readiness.
• Recognize and manage procedural complications such as bleeding, vascular injury, conduction abnormalities, stroke, infection, and heart failure exacerbation.
• Initiate timely interventions or escalation of care when clinically indicated.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher from an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program
• Current licensure as an NP or PA in the State of Texas (or eligibility to obtain prior to start)
• National board certification (AANP, ANCC, or NCCPA)
• DEA registration or eligibility
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• 2+ years of clinical experience in cardiology or a related acute care setting preferred; candidates with strong acute care/critical care backgrounds and interest in subspecialty training will be considered
• Experience with EMR documentation (Epic preferred)