Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Neonatology

Medical University of South Carolina•Charleston, SC

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant covering neonatal and newborn services reports to the Neonatal APP Lead. This role involves managing a caseload of neonatal patients in consultation and collaboration with Neonatologists. The Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant utilizes extensive knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physiology and exercises independent judgment in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of neonatal patients. The position provides individualized, safe, effective, goal-directed patient care to families and patients to achieve desired results. The role focuses on inpatient patient populations aged 0 up to age 2, requiring thorough knowledge of physical assessment skills for normal and high-risk newborns, considerable knowledge of risk-screening and developmental assessment tools, and extensive skill in using specialized equipment for critically ill neonates. The practitioner functions independently in the critical care environment, serves as a leader for infant care, and performs all neonatal intensive care and admission procedures for a designated caseload.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program and currently licensed or eligible for licensure as a Physician Assistant
Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program and currently licensed or eligible for licensure as an APRN
Physician Assistant (PA) must have at least one-year experience in neonatal intensive care which may include an NICU fellowship
APRN Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) must provide primary, acute, chronic, and critical care to neonates, infants, and toddlers from birth until discharge from the Neonatal Unit or from the Neonatologist service
All certifications must be current and complete prior to start date
Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification
If applicable, DHEC and DEA license applications must be started prior to first day
APRN or PA must maintain licenses, certifications, CNEs/CMEs, etc. as required by applicable policies and state law
Thorough knowledge of physical assessment skills for normal and high-risk newborns
Considerable knowledge of risk-screening and developmental assessment tools
Extensive skill in the use of specialized equipment utilized in the care of critically ill neonates (e.g.: ventilators, HFV, cardio-respiratory monitors, oxygen saturation and transcutaneous P02/PC02 monitors, phototherapy, etc.)
Ability to function independently in the critical care environment and serve as a leader for the infants’ care
Considerable skills regarding interpretation of laboratory findings
Ability to incorporate explanations and health education into the care of high-risk neonates and their families
Knowledge and skills required to provide care and/or service appropriate to the age and level of development of the patient, with consideration of the needs of the patients’ families
Mastery of physical assessment and technical skills for resuscitation interventions (endotracheal intubation, chest compressions, central and peripheral lines, arterial sticks, and medication administration)
Ability to perform maternal and newborn consults and communicate findings
Skilled team leader with well-developed diagnostic and analytic skills
Sound oral and written communication skills

Responsibilities

Provides direct care to patients through comprehensive history taking and physical examinations
Evaluates and treats on the basis of history, physical examination, radiological, laboratory, and other diagnostic test results pursuant to the practice agreement or scope of practice guideline
Performs therapeutic procedures in accordance with procedural privileges, skill and proficiency as approved by the Clinical Division Chief: Intubation, Central venous and arterial line placement, Insertion and removal of chest tubes, Thoracentesis, Suprapubic bladder tap, Lumbar puncture, Paracentesis, Partial and total exchange transfusion, Arterial puncture, Peripheral arterial line placement, Other procedures as needed
Initiates referrals to other health care providers, and/or consults with the attending physician or the collaborating physician
Documents and bills for direct care provided
Utilizes current research and evidence-based decision-making in all clinical practice
Performs and participates in quality/performance improvement activities and clinical research
Participates in and supports accreditation, compliance, and regulatory activities of the organization
Demonstrates responsibility for professional practice through active participation in professional organizations and continuing education
Potential to precept students at MUSC enrolled as an advanced practice provider student; and facilitates the learning of other new team members
Ensures implementation of established guidelines for the management of neonatology patients
Collaborates with other disciplines to ensure effective and efficient services are provided
Involves unit staff and representatives from other disciplines in decision making
Utilizes research and benchmark data when planning evaluating service operations
Develops, Implements, monitors and evaluates service-specific goals which are based on organizational and departmental goals
Promotes and maintains a safe, warm, hospital environment for all customers
Obtains consent for invasive procedures as required
Incorporates explanations and health education into the care of high-risk neonates and their families
Attends intermediate and high risk deliveries independently and performs resuscitation interventions with mastery of physical assessment and technical skills as required – endotracheal intubation, chest compressions, central and peripheral lines, arterial sticks, and medication administration
Performs maternal and newborn consults and communicate findings
Functions as a skilled team leader with well-developed diagnostic and analytic skills
Performs all neonatal intensive care, admission procedures for a designated case load of patients, including appropriate family history and complete physical examination
Orders diagnostic testing as appropriate, including radiologic and laboratory studies, and accurately interprets findings
Determines the daily plan of care for a designated case load of neonates in collaboration with neonatologists, fellows, residents, interns, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other members of the health care team
Writes daily orders for fluids, medications, nutrition, and respiratory management
Demonstrates sound oral and written communication skills and documents daily progress of patients, writing both discharges and death summaries
Performs highly skilled and technical procedures (lumbar punctures, needle aspiration, chest tube placement, arterial catheterization, PICC placement, suprapubic bladder taps, etc.) under protocol
Monitors nursing care delivered, serving as a role model and educator for nursing staff, student nurse practitioners, and residents, demonstrating teaching expertise
Maintains clinical patient responsibilities for entirety of scheduled shift, and ensures appropriate coverage is in place for any time away from unit
Participates in collaborative scheduling to ensure all shifts (days/nights/weekends/holidays) are covered to maintain patient safety