Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant - Inpatient Pediatric Surgery

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is a key member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, collaborating with physicians and other care providers to manage a distinct patient population in the inpatient acute care setting. The APP provides specialized care to hospitalized pediatric patients and supports delivery of high-quality, evidence-based medical services while following established clinical pathways and protocols. The role requires advanced medical knowledge, clinical and technical competence, sound judgment, professional communication, and timely, compliant documentation. The APP also participates in ongoing professional development and competency validation. The position is within Pediatric Advanced Practice Surgery and supports the Department of Pediatric Surgery and Trauma, which provides surgical and trauma care for children from newborns through young adulthood. The team treats a broad range of pediatric general surgical conditions and traumatic injuries, collaborates with other specialties and hospital services, and contributes to clinical and basic science research and medical education. This position is scheduled at 0.6 FTE, approximately 24 hours per week, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Qualified candidates must have didactic education, clinical competency, and national certification in Pediatric Acute Care Advanced Nursing Practice, or be a certified Physician Assistant with pediatric clinical experience or rotations. A Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care (CPNP-AC) or Physician Assistant certification is specified; prior APP experience is strongly preferred.

Requirements

Didactic education, clinical competency, and national certification in Pediatric Acute Care Advanced Nursing Practice, or certification as a Physician Assistant with pediatric clinical experience or rotations.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (CPNP-AC) or Physician Assistant (PA).
Tennessee licensure as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant; Tennessee Registered Nurse licensure is also listed.
Master’s degree.
Strong medical knowledge and sound clinical judgment.
Technical competence in relevant procedures.
Professionalism and effective interpersonal communication.
Ability to provide timely, accurate, and compliant documentation.
Commitment to ongoing professional development and competency validation.

Nice To Haves

Prior Advanced Practice Provider experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Obtain and document health histories; perform and document complete, system-focused, or symptom-specific physical examinations, assessments, and plans of care.
Collaborate in providing primary, acute, and complex care; manage patients’ overall care and identify expected outcomes for diagnoses.
Order, perform, interpret, and collect data using appropriate assessment techniques, supporting diagnostic information, and diagnostic procedures when indicated.
Form differential diagnoses and treat acute and chronic conditions.
Prescribe pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical therapeutic interventions needed to achieve expected outcomes.
Use evidence-based, approved practice protocols when planning and implementing care.
Initiate appropriate referrals and consultations.
Provide specialty-specific consultation services upon request and within the scope of practice.
Facilitate transitions between and within healthcare settings, including admission, transfer, and discharge.
Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant documentation.
Participate in professional development and competency validation.
Educate patients, families, students, and healthcare team members on clinical topics and application of clinical knowledge.
Use scientific evidence and data to evaluate and improve patient care practices and quality.
Collaborate with patients and families in developing care plans that respect their preferences, values, beliefs, and decision-making role.