Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Neonatology

Medical University of South Carolina•Charleston, SC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) covers neonatal and newborn services and manages a caseload of neonatal patients in consultation and collaboration with neonatologists. The APP uses extensive knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physiology, and exercises independent judgment in assessing, diagnosing, and managing neonatal patients. The role provides individualized, safe, effective, goal-directed care to patients and families. The APP reports to the Neonatal APP Lead and is assigned a primary supervising or collaborating MUSC physician, to whom the APP reports directly. The position serves an intensive care unit population ranging from birth to age 3. Work is full-time, with 14 shifts of 13 hours per month and rotating nights, weekends, and holidays; weekly hours may vary. The APP attends intermediate- and high-risk deliveries, performs neonatal resuscitation and intensive care, manages a designated caseload, and collaborates with the healthcare team on each patient's care plan. The role also contributes to education, quality improvement, research, accreditation, compliance, and service operations. Candidates must complete an accredited physician assistant or nurse practitioner program and hold, or be eligible for, the applicable license. At least one year of neonatal intensive care experience is required for physician assistants and certified pediatric nurse practitioners in acute care; a NICU fellowship may count toward this experience. Required certifications include current BLS and Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification. Applicable DHEC and DEA license applications must be started before the first day. The work involves caring for critically ill neonates and requires use of specialized equipment and performance of approved procedures. Physical requirements include standing, walking, sitting, bending, kneeling, stair climbing, reaching, repetitive movements, respirator qualification, and lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects up to 50 pounds unassisted. The role is performed indoors and requires working in a latex-safe environment.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program and current or eligible licensure as a Physician Assistant, or completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program and current or eligible APRN licensure as applicable.
Physician assistants must have at least one year of neonatal intensive care experience; a NICU fellowship may count toward this requirement.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners in Acute Care (CPNP-AC) must have at least one year of neonatal intensive care experience; a NICU fellowship may count toward this requirement.
Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification or American Red Cross BLS for Healthcare Providers certification before the start date.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification.
Applicable DHEC and DEA license applications must be started before the first day.
Ability to perform the physical requirements of the job, including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds unassisted and qualifying physically for respirator use.
Ability to maintain corrected 20/40 vision, recognize objects at close and distant range, and work indoors in a latex-safe environment.
Knowledge of physical assessment for normal and high-risk newborns, risk-screening and developmental assessment tools, and laboratory interpretation.
Skill in using specialized equipment for critically ill neonates, including ventilators, high-frequency ventilation, cardiorespiratory monitors, oxygen saturation monitors, transcutaneous PO2/PCO2 monitors, and phototherapy.
Ability to function independently in a critical care environment, lead infant care, and demonstrate diagnostic and analytic skills.
Ability to perform maternal and newborn consultations and communicate findings.
Sound oral and written communication skills.
Knowledge and skills to provide care appropriate to patient age and development, with consideration for family needs.

Nice To Haves

For a Nurse Practitioner, the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) role qualification is described as providing primary, acute, chronic, and critical care to neonates, infants, and toddlers from birth until discharge from the Neonatal Unit or Neonatologist service.

Responsibilities

Take comprehensive patient histories and perform physical examinations.
Evaluate and treat patients using history, examination, diagnostic testing, and the applicable practice agreement or scope-of-practice guideline.
Perform approved therapeutic procedures, including intubation; central venous and arterial line placement; chest tube insertion and removal; thoracentesis; suprapubic bladder taps; lumbar puncture; paracentesis; exchange transfusion; and arterial puncture.
Attend intermediate- and high-risk deliveries and independently perform required neonatal resuscitation interventions.
Conduct neonatal intensive care admissions, including family history and complete physical examinations, for a designated caseload.
Order and interpret appropriate radiologic, laboratory, and other diagnostic testing.
Determine daily plans of care in collaboration with neonatologists, fellows, residents, interns, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare team members.
Write daily orders for fluids, medications, nutrition, and respiratory management.
Initiate referrals and consult with attending or collaborating physicians and other healthcare providers as needed.
Document and bill for direct care, document daily patient progress, and write discharge and death summaries.
Obtain consent for invasive procedures as required.
Use current research, evidence, and benchmark data in clinical practice and service planning and evaluation.
Participate in quality and performance improvement activities, clinical research, and organizational accreditation, compliance, and regulatory activities.
Maintain professional practice through participation in professional organizations and continuing education, and maintain required licenses, certifications, and continuing education credits.
Ensure established neonatology patient-management guidelines are implemented and collaborate across disciplines to provide effective and efficient services.
Involve unit staff and representatives from other disciplines in decision-making; develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate service-specific goals based on organizational and departmental goals.
Promote and maintain a safe, warm hospital environment for patients, families, and other customers.
Provide explanations and health education to high-risk neonates' families and deliver developmentally appropriate care that considers family needs.
Monitor nursing care and serve as a role model and educator for nursing staff, student nurse practitioners, residents, and other new team members; potentially precept advanced practice provider students.
Maintain clinical responsibilities throughout the scheduled shift and ensure appropriate coverage during time away from the unit.
Participate in collaborative scheduling to ensure coverage of day, night, weekend, and holiday shifts.