Nurse Practitioner - NICU (BCH-Cross Bay)

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Nurse Practitioner is a member of the care team and takes primary responsibility for the safe delivery of care to inpatient newborns and infants. The role is based in the neonatal care services of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, whose San Francisco Intensive Care Nursery and Oakland Newborn ICU care for critically ill newborns and infants, including those with complex, life-threatening conditions. The position is allocated 70% to inpatient direct patient care and 30% to inpatient care coordination; no outpatient duties are allocated. The Nurse Practitioner is expected to meet productivity expectations set by the Division Chief and perform duties related to patient care that are appropriate and clearly delineated. In direct patient care, the Nurse Practitioner evaluates and manages patients independently or collaboratively with physicians; performs histories and physical examinations; responds to changes in patient status; orders or furnishes medications, diagnostics, treatments, therapies, consultations, referrals, equipment, and home health services; and documents care in the electronic medical record. The role includes participating in rounds and care planning, reviewing and acting on test results, recognizing acute decompensation, initiating consultations, planning transitions to lower levels of care, and managing patient discharge and family education. Procedures and operating-room first assisting are limited to those for which the practitioner is appropriately privileged and certified. In care coordination, the Nurse Practitioner coordinates admissions, inpatient care with staff and consulting services, and discharge planning; determines routine follow-up timing; participates in staff huddles; consults with nursing staff on individualized care plans; prepares case summaries for relevant agencies; and develops protocols to improve quality, efficiency, and resource use. Credentialing through UCSF's Office of Medical Affairs and Governance is required before the first working day and takes an estimated 60–90 days.

Requirements

Graduation from a California Board of Registered Nursing-recognized Nurse Practitioner program with a master's or doctoral degree aligned with a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialization.
At least one year of recent experience working as a Nurse Practitioner in a Level III or IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Unrestricted California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
Unrestricted California Nurse Practitioner (NP) license.
California Nurse Practitioner Furnishing Number.
National board certification from an accepted certifying agency aligned with the patient population and clinical role: Neonatal (NNP-BC).
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration with Schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4, and 5 registered to a California address.
American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Advanced American Heart Association Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification.
Credentialing through UCSF's Office of Medical Affairs and Governance before the first working day.

Nice To Haves

More than two years of experience working as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in a Level III or Level IV Neonatal ICU.
Lactation education experience or IBCLC certification.
California Driver License, if required for the position.

Responsibilities

Independently or collaboratively evaluate and manage inpatient newborns and infants, including taking histories, performing physical examinations, and responding to changes in patient status.
Order or furnish medications, diagnostic tests, treatments, therapies, consultations, referrals, durable medical equipment, and home health services as appropriate.
Document care in the electronic medical record, complete clinically relevant paperwork and discharge summaries, and ensure provider services are billed in accordance with UCSF requirements.
Perform procedures granted through privileges or standardized procedures; may first-assist in the operating room if appropriately privileged, certified, and proctored.
Identify and respond to acute patient decompensation or failure, review the hospital plan of care with a physician, and initiate consultations as indicated.
Participate in service rounds, patient evaluations, and treatment planning; review laboratory, radiographic, and other diagnostic results and initiate appropriate team plans.
Evaluate complex cases and establish individualized plans of care, including disposition to a lower level of care.
Communicate findings, treatment options, and care plans effectively to patients' families.
Monitor patients for discharge, define discharge regimens with the multidisciplinary team, provide discharge teaching, and arrange medications, equipment, and follow-up care.
Coordinate care across the continuum, including hospital admission, coordination with staff and consulting services, and hospital discharge planning.
Coordinate episodic care and determine timing of routine clinic follow-up.
Participate in huddles with clinic and hospital staff to anticipate patients requiring close management or intervention.
Consult with nursing staff regarding the plan and implementation of individualized nursing care plans.
Prepare case summaries for disability, insurance, workers' compensation, work-release, and medical-supply agencies.
Formulate and implement protocols to improve quality and efficiency and control waste in the clinical specialty.
Respond to clinical documentation integrity inquiries from the Department of Quality and Patient Safety within three days.
Meet productivity expectations established by the Division Chief.