Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Outpatient Pediatric Orthopedics

Washington University in St Louis • Springfield, MO

14h • Onsite

About The Position

The Pediatric Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) at WashU Orthopedics is an integral clinical leader and valued member of the team. This is a salaried, 40-hour-per-week position, Monday through Friday, with no call or weekend work. The role is based in outpatient locations in Springfield, Missouri. The NP or PA facilitates multidisciplinary care for pediatric patients, focusing on clinical outcomes, patient experience, and compassionate care. The position calls for leadership, adaptability, collaboration, excellent communication, and relationship-building with patients, families, physicians, and care teams.

The NP or PA provides direct patient care, including patient histories and assessments, diagnostic studies, preventive care, treatment and management of acute and chronic conditions, and patient-centered care planning in collaboration with physicians and other care providers. The role includes educating patients and families, maintaining accurate medical records, managing health conditions through prescriptive authority or referrals, and carrying out diagnostic or therapeutic interventions consistent with certification and state regulations.

The position champions safety and quality for patients receiving ITB therapy and serves as an expert in ITB pump care and management. The NP or PA helps develop patient education and leads program quality and safety initiatives. The role also includes clinical research project management, monitoring study participants, medication administration and education, quality and process improvement, professional development, and contributions to rehabilitation nursing through research, publications, and presentations.

The work takes place in a normal office and patient-care setting, with exposure to blood-borne pathogens, chemicals, and disagreeable elements such as dust, dirt, or grease. Protective devices are required. Work may involve sitting, standing, walking, bending, crouching, stooping, using high-dexterity tools, and occasional lifting of 25 pounds or less. Office, laboratory/research, and clinical/diagnostic equipment may be used.

Requirements

• Master's degree.
• For Nurse Practitioner applicants: Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in a Nurse Practitioner program.
• For Nurse Practitioner applicants: Advanced Practice Nurse licensure, or ability to obtain it within three months of hire.
• For Physician Assistant applicants: Graduation from a PA program.
• For Physician Assistant applicants: Current PA licensure to practice in Missouri and/or Illinois, depending on location, or ability to obtain it within three months of hire.
• Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross; online BLS certifications without a skills-assessment component do not satisfy the requirement.
• Additional certifications may be necessary depending on specialty.
• No specific work experience is required.
• Strong leadership, adaptability, collaboration, communication, and relationship-building capabilities are expected.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred master's degree in Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant Studies.
• Preferred credentials include Advanced Practice Nurse, Certified Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant licensure/certification from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or Missouri Division of Professional Registration.
• Preferred skills include adaptability, clinical decision-making, clinical diagnostics, communication, customer empathy, attention to detail, disease management, Epic EHR, family support, HIPAA compliance, interpersonal communication and relationships, multitasking, organization, patient care, patient education, patient evaluations and management, pharmacology, preventive care, teamwork, and time management.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care, including obtaining patient histories and performing assessments through observation, interviews, and examinations.
• Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic studies; provide preventive assessments, screenings, immunizations, and care.
• Treat and manage acute and chronic conditions and develop patient-centered care plans collaboratively with physicians, patients, consultants, nurses, and other care providers.
• Provide counseling and education to patients and caregivers about disease management, complication prevention, disease prevention, quality-of-life measures, and outcomes.
• Monitor and ensure accuracy of medical records and maintain required reports, records, and statistics.
• Maintain a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic patient and family environment in accordance with clinic and hospital standards.
• Manage health conditions through prescriptive authority or referral, and perform diagnostic or therapeutic interventions consistent with certification and state regulations.
• Champion safety and quality of care for patients receiving ITB therapy and serve as an expert in ITB pump care and management.
• Help develop patient education and lead quality and safety initiatives for the program.
• Serve as a clinical expert in rehabilitation nursing and exercise autonomy and expertise in complex clinical nursing situations.
• Manage clinical research study projects, monitor participating subjects, administer medication, and educate patients and families.
• Follow departmental policies and procedures and quality assurance, safety, environmental, and infection-control standards.
• Participate in continuous quality and process improvement focused on evidence-based patient care.
• Support professional growth through educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, and workshops.
• Contribute to rehabilitation nursing through research, publications, and presentations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays or coinsurance.
• Free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• Eligible employees may participate in a defined-contribution 403(b) retirement savings plan, with employee and university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness resources include wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, an employee assistance program, financial resources, and access to dietitians.
• Four weeks of caregiver leave to bond with a new child, plus family-care resources for childcare and adult care.
• Tuition coverage for employees and family, including dependent undergraduate tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time