APC

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 Advanced Practice Clinician (NP/PA) is service/physician aligned, managing a distinct patient population. The APC may be required to perform some outpatient and inpatient care and facilitate discharges/outpatient follow-up. The APC has a strong foundation in evidence-based practice/education and is responsible for ensuring adherence to clinical pathways/protocols while maintaining an environment of safe, quality care. The APC demonstrates advanced medical and nursing knowledge, clinical/technical competence, sound clinical judgment, professional communication skills, timely and compliant documentation, and is responsible for professional development and competency validation.

Responsibilities

• Assessment of Health Status:
  • Performs and documents 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.
  • Serves as the first responder for nursing and staff in the event of patient status changes, orders, and situations requiring procedural and resuscitative interventions.
  • Assesses risks associated with care, including medication side effects, immobility, impaired nutrition, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, immunocompetence, invasive interventions, and diagnostic procedures.
  • Coordinates daily clinic schedules with the attending physician team, presents patient reports, collaborates on the plan of care, and follows the assigned patient population.
• Formulates Plan of Care:
  • Identifies expected outcomes from diagnosis and formulates 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 applicable across the continuum.
• Implements and Modifies Plan of Care:
  • Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions (pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical) to achieve expected outcomes.
  • Manages further diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, performance, and supervision.
  • Performs 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 communication with patients, families, and staff to promote continuity of care.
• Documentation:
  • Documents key components of patient progress via daily progress notes, transfer and discharge summaries, and/or clinic notes (e.g., H&P, daily progress notes, plan of care, problem lists, procedure notes, acute event notes, discharge summaries).
  • Ensures documentation is timely, meets critical care compliance standards, and captures patient acuity.
• Professional Practice:
  • Demonstrates professional practice behaviors, including precepting/mentoring students, nursing staff, and novice APCs.
  • Seeks opportunities for active engagement in research and analysis of evidence-based practice.
  • Actively participates in Grand Rounds, APN council meetings, faculty and unit meetings, and M&M presentations.
  • Maintains CEUs and membership in a professional organization.

Requirements

• Certification as a Licensed Nurse Practitioner (LIC-NP) or Physician’s Assistant Certified (LIC-PA) in Tennessee.
• Minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field.

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-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Subsidized backup childcare.
• Inpatient nursing supplemental pay program.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with an understanding of how output impacts other areas related to own job area/team.
• Problem Solving/Complexity of Work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area.
• Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.
• Supporting Colleagues:
  • Develops self and others by investing time and energy to improve performance and gain knowledge.
  • Builds and maintains relationships through regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicates effectively by adapting style to suit different situations and audiences.
• Delivering Excellent Services:
  • Serves others with compassion by understanding current and future stakeholder needs.
  • Solves complex problems by approaching them from different angles and identifying new opportunities.
  • Offers meaningful advice and support to increase employee effectiveness.
• Ensuring High Quality:
  • Performs excellent work through regular dialogue about quality and prompt resolution of issues.
  • Ensures continuous improvement by addressing root causes of problems.
  • Fulfills safety and regulatory requirements by understanding and maintaining a safe environment.
• Managing Resources Effectively:
  • Demonstrates accountability by focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.
  • Stewards organizational resources by applying departmental knowledge to manage resources effectively.
  • Makes data-driven decisions by leveraging information to identify and elevate opportunities.
• Fostering Innovation:
  • Generates new ideas by proactively identifying opportunities from multiple sources.
  • Applies technology enthusiastically to address short-term challenges.
  • Adapts to change by viewing difficult situations as opportunities for improvement.