Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant - PICU (.75 FTE)

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) operates at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care. It 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 sought and celebrated.

About the Role

The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is an integral member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, delivering expert care in the Critical Care setting. This role involves managing high-acuity intensive care unit (ICU) patients with unstable conditions who require intensive oversight, frequent rounding, and specialized care. The APP is responsible for managing complex conditions while ensuring delivery of safe, high-quality care, combining evidence-based practice with clinical expertise to meet the unique needs of critical care patients.

Schedule

0.75 FTE (30 hours per week), night shifts (12-hour shifts, mix of 1700–0500 and 1800–0500).

Department Summary

Monroe Carell’s state-of-the-art, 42-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is dedicated to the care of critically ill children. The ICU team includes pediatricians board-certified in critical care medicine, working alongside nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, case managers, child life specialists, pharmacologists, and nutritionists to provide high-quality, round-the-clock care.

Responsibilities

• Obtains and documents a health history; performs and documents complete, system-focused, or symptom-specific physical examinations, assessments, and plans of care.
• Provides healthcare services for primary, acute, and complex care of patients, managing overall care and identifying expected outcomes for diagnoses.
• Orders, performs, interprets, and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques, diagnostic information, and procedures.
• Forms differential diagnoses and treats acute and chronic conditions.
• Prescribes therapeutic interventions, including pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical interventions, to achieve expected outcomes.
• Utilizes evidence-based, approved practice protocols in planning and implementing care.
• Initiates appropriate referrals and consultations.
• Provides specialty-specific consultation services upon request and within a specialty scope of practice.
• Facilitates patient transitions between and within healthcare settings, including admitting, transferring, and discharging patients.
• Demonstrates advanced proficiency in health systems and policy management, patient and family-centered care, clinical knowledge, practice-based scholarly inquiry, interpersonal communication, and professionalism.
• Participates in professional organizations, continuous learning, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Educates patients, families, students, and healthcare team members on clinical topics.
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing, maintaining professional relationships with patients, families, and team members.
• Ensures timely and compliant documentation using electronic health records.

Requirements

• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CPNP-AC) or Physician Assistant (PA).
• Active licensure as a Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, or Registered Nurse in Tennessee.
• Master’s degree.
• 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: Executes job responsibilities with an understanding of how output affects other areas related to the job.
• Problem Solving: 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: Invests in self/others to improve performance, builds relationships, and communicates effectively.
• Delivering Excellent Services: Serves others with compassion, solves complex problems, and offers meaningful advice and support.
• Ensuring High Quality: Engages in dialogue about quality, addresses issues promptly, and applies continuous improvement.
• Managing Resources Effectively: Demonstrates accountability, stewards organizational resources, and makes data-driven decisions.
• Fostering Innovation: Generates new ideas, applies technology, and adapts to change proactively.