Advanced Practice Fellow - Pediatric Cardiology

About the Organization

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) operates at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care. VUMC is a community where expertise is valued, knowledge is expanded, and abilities are challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive, and uniqueness is celebrated. The mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

About the Role

The Advanced Practice Fellow works as an integral member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team within the Pediatric Heart Institute at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. This 12-month postgraduate fellowship provides immersive training in pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, and pediatric cardiac critical care. The fellowship is designed to develop and refine specialty-specific clinical and critical thinking skills, promoting top-of-license practice in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Program Highlights

• Specialized Clinical Training: Gain experience across all areas of the pediatric heart institute, including pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, and pediatric cardiac ICU, with additional exposure to subspecialties such as pediatric heart failure/transplant, single-ventricle team, cath lab, and pediatric cardiac imaging.
• Expert Mentorship: Work alongside experienced APPs, physicians, and multidisciplinary team members dedicated to your professional growth.
• Structured Fellowship Curriculum: Participate in didactic education, simulation training, procedural learning, case reviews, and evidence-based practice experiences.
• Progressive Clinical Responsibility: Build confidence and autonomy through a graduated training experience with individualized support and competency-based milestones.
• Leadership & Professional Development: Explore opportunities in quality improvement, research, education, committee involvement, and professional conference participation.
• Nationally Recognized Heart Program: Train within a leading pediatric cardiac center committed to innovation, excellence, and outstanding patient outcomes.

Time Commitment: 12 months (January 1, 2027 - December 31, 2027).

Responsibilities

• Assessment of Health Status:
  • Performs and documents a complete history and physical examination in the medical record.
  • Orders and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques and relevant diagnostic information.
  • Assesses risks associated with care, including medication side effects, immobility, impaired nutrition, and other factors.
  • Participates in daily huddles or rounds with the interdisciplinary team and collaborates on the ongoing plan of care.
• Diagnosis:
  • Collaborates with the healthcare team to make accurate diagnoses of acute and complex chronic conditions.
  • Manages diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, performance, and supervision.
  • Formulates differential diagnoses by priority and identifies appropriate interventions for complications.
• Plan of Care:
  • Identifies expected outcomes from diagnoses and formulates a dynamic, evidence-based plan of care.
  • Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions, including pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical approaches.
  • Performs advanced procedures consistent with privileges and competency validation.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  • Maintains ongoing communication with the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
  • Facilitates communication with patients, families, and staff to promote continuity of care.
• Documentation:
  • Documents key components of patient progress via daily progress notes, transfer/discharge summaries, and clinic notes.
  • Ensures documentation is timely, compliant, and accurately captures patient acuity and complexity.
• Professional Practice:
  • Provides preceptor/mentoring and education to students and nursing staff.
  • Seeks opportunities for engagement in research and evidence-based practice analysis.
  • Attends Grand Rounds, AP Council meetings, faculty/unit meetings, and other educational opportunities.
  • Maintains continuing education to meet licensure and certification requirements.
  • Actively participates in the required professional development fellowship curriculum.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Nursing or Physician Assistant studies.
• National Board Certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care (PNCB-AC) or Physician Assistant (PA).
• TN License/Certificate of Fitness to prescribe, eligible for NPI and DEA.
• Interest in Pediatric Cardiac Care.
• Less than 1 year of relevant work experience.

Benefits

• Affordable, high-quality health plan options.
• Dental and/or vision plans.
• 403(b) retirement plan.
• Paid Time Off (flex PTO).
• Tuition reimbursement and adoption assistance (maximums applied).
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Subsidized backup childcare.
• Inpatient nursing supplemental pay program.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance.
• Problem Solving: Uses existing procedures and research to solve standard job-related problems requiring some judgment.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements.
• Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/work teams.

Core Capabilities

• Supporting Colleagues:
  • Develops self and others by identifying development opportunities.
  • Builds and maintains relationships across areas.
  • Communicates effectively by openly sharing information in a clear and courteous manner.
• Delivering Excellent Services:
  • Serves others with compassion by understanding their needs.
  • Solves complex problems by understanding issues and raising concerns to supervisors.
  • Offers meaningful advice and support by listening carefully and providing accurate information.
• Ensuring High Quality:
  • Performs excellent work by checking quality before delivery.
  • Ensures continuous improvement by learning new knowledge and displaying willingness to go above and beyond.
  • Fulfills safety and regulatory requirements by demonstrating basic knowledge of safety conditions.
• Managing Resources Effectively:
  • Demonstrates accountability by taking responsibility for assigned activities.
  • Stewards organizational resources by understanding the impact of personal actions.
  • Makes data-driven decisions by using accurate information to achieve results.
• Fostering Innovation:
  • Generates new ideas by proposing or accepting initiatives that impact day-to-day operations.
  • Applies technology by quickly absorbing new tools and procedures.
  • Adapts to change by keeping an open mind to changing plans.