Advanced Practice Provider (PA/NP) - Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated.

About the Role

The Pediatric Emergency Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is accepting applications for a full-time acute care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. Pediatric Emergency Medicine is an exciting specialty that offers exposure to a wide variety of patient pathology in a fast-paced setting. Practitioners will be expected to obtain a history and perform a physical exam on pediatric patients from newborn to adolescence. Under the supervision of attending physicians, they will exercise critical thinking and develop differential diagnoses, management plans, and disposition for pediatric patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department.

Communication with families, consultants, community providers, and emergency medicine staff will be expected. The practitioner will also participate in common procedures in pediatric emergency medicine such as suturing, abscess drainage, and splinting of extremity injuries. The clinical expectation is an average of three 12-hour shifts per week, which include weekends. Practitioners have the opportunity to participate in weekly fellow conferences as well as journal clubs, procedure workshops, and simulation scenarios provided by the division.

Responsibilities

• Assessment of Health Status:
  • Performs and documents in the medical record a complete history and physical examination for acute and complex chronically ill patients.
  • Orders and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques, relevant supporting diagnostic information, and diagnostic procedures where indicated.
  • Serves as the first responder for both nursing and house staff in the event of patient status changes, orders, and in situations requiring procedural and resuscitative interventions.
  • Assesses for risks associated with the care of the acute and complex chronically ill patient including medication side effects, immobility, impaired nutrition, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, immunocompetence, invasive interventions, and diagnostic procedures.
  • Coordinates daily rounds with the Attending physician teams, presents 24-hour patient report, collaborates in the plan of care, and follows assigned patient population throughout the day.
• Diagnosis:
  • Collaborates with the interdisciplinary health care team in making diagnoses of acute and complex chronic conditions.
  • Manages diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, performance, and supervision.
  • Formulates differential diagnoses by priority.
  • Diagnoses complications and orders appropriate interventions.
• Formulates Plan of Care:
  • Identifies expected outcomes from diagnosis and formulates and documents a plan of care to address complex acute and chronic health care needs.
  • Utilizes evidence-based practice guidelines or protocols in an individualized, dynamic plan of care which can be applied across the continuum.
  • Implements and modifies the plan of care.
  • Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes.
  • May perform advanced procedures consistent with privileges and competency validation including minor suturing, complex wound management, line and tube placements, and removals.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  • Maintains ongoing communication and collaboration with the interdisciplinary health care team.
  • Facilitates and communicates with patient, family, and staff to promote continuity of care across the inpatient and outpatient continuum of care.
  • Documents/dictates key components of patient's progress via daily progress note, transfer, and discharge summary, and/or clinic note where applicable (H&P, daily progress notes, plan of care, problem lists, procedure notes, acute event note, discharge summaries, in the medical record per specific patient unit or service, death summary). Documentation is timely, meets acute care compliance standards, and captures patient acuity.
  • Demonstrates professional practice behaviors including preceptor/mentoring, education, and instruction of students, nursing staff, nurses, graduate, and novice nurse practitioners.
  • Seeks opportunities for active engagement in research and the analysis of evidence-based practice.
  • Actively participates in Grand Rounds, APN council meetings, faculty and unit meetings, M&M presentations.
  • Maintains CEUs and membership in a professional organization.

Requirements

• Nurse Practitioner: 3 years minimum clinical nursing experience in Emergency Department or ICU preferred.
• Physician Assistant: Graduated from an accredited program.
• Preferred National Specialty Board Certification (Acute Care).
• TN APN certificate/certificate of fitness to prescribe, eligible for DEA.
• Certifications: LIC-Licensed Nurse Practitioner - Tennessee, LIC-Physician's Assistant Certified - Tennessee, LIC-Registered Nurse - Tennessee.
• Master's degree required.

Benefits

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

Schedule

Average of three 12-hour shifts per week, including evenings and weekends.