Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant - Perioperative Risk Assessment

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

About The Position

Vanderbilt Health is seeking an Advanced Practice Provider to support its expanding pediatric preoperative care model. The position partners with a newly developed RN perioperative risk assessment team to support safe, efficient, and coordinated care for pediatric patients preparing for procedures and anesthesia. The APP provides specialized clinical care and assessment in inpatient, ambulatory, or combined settings, including management of complex health needs and continuity of care across the patient’s healthcare journey. The APP assesses pediatric patients scheduled for procedures requiring anesthesia, identifies and addresses perioperative risks, and advises the RN screening team when further evaluation is needed. The role collaborates with anesthesia providers, procedural and surgical teams, primary care providers, specialists, families, and other interdisciplinary partners to develop and coordinate appropriate perioperative plans. The APP also supports workflow development, patient safety and quality improvement, education of team members, and efforts to prevent avoidable day-of-procedure delays and cancellations. This position works four 10-hour day shifts, rotating between 5:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. There are no nights, weekends, or call.

Requirements

Certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Primary Care (CPNP-PC), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care (CPNP-AC), or Physician Assistant (PA).
Master’s degree.
Tennessee licensure as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant; Tennessee Registered Nurse licensure is also listed among the certifications.
Relevant work experience; the position qualifications list an experience level of less than one year.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in perioperative services as an RN or APP.

Responsibilities

Provide advanced clinical assessment of pediatric patients undergoing procedures requiring anesthesia, focusing on identifying and addressing perioperative risk factors.
Serve as a clinical resource to the RN Perioperative Risk Assessment Team, providing consultation and guidance for patients needing additional evaluation.
Evaluate patients with complex medical histories, comorbidities, abnormal screening findings, or other factors that could affect readiness for anesthesia or a planned procedure.
Determine whether additional testing, medical records, specialty consultation, or clinical optimization is needed before anesthesia.
Collaborate with anesthesia providers, surgical and procedural teams, RNs, and interdisciplinary partners to develop an appropriate perioperative plan of care.
Support timely escalation and resolution of clinical concerns identified through RN preoperative screening.
Communicate preoperative assessment findings, additional evaluation needs, and preparation information to patients and families.
Coordinate care for medically complex patients undergoing multiple procedures, diagnostic studies, or interventions requiring anesthesia.
Promote continuity of care by facilitating communication among primary care providers, specialists, procedural teams, anesthesia providers, and families.
Identify opportunities to reduce preventable day-of-procedure delays and cancellations through early recognition and management of perioperative concerns.
Partner with nursing and physician leadership to develop, refine, and standardize workflows for the expanding perioperative risk assessment program.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives focused on patient safety, care coordination, efficiency, and the preoperative patient and family experience.
Provide education and clinical support to perioperative risk assessment team members as the program grows.