Physician Assistant Pediatric Acute Care Pathway - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

Children's Mercy KC•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

Thanks for your interest in Children's Mercy! Do you envision finding a meaningful role with an inclusive and compassionate team? At Children’s Mercy, we believe in making a difference in the lives of all children and shining a light of hope to the patients and families we serve. Our employees make the difference, which is why we have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top pediatric hospital, for eleven consecutive years. Children’s Mercy is in the heart of Kansas City – a metro abounding in cultural experiences, vibrant communities and thriving businesses. This is where our patients and families live, work and play. This is a community that has embraced our hospital and we strive to say thanks by giving back. As a leader in children’s health, we engage in meaningful programs and partnerships throughout the region so that we can improve the lives of children beyond the walls of our hospital. Overview The PA Pediatric Acute Care Pathway is a structured, competency‑building program designed to enhance inpatient coverage by equipping novice PAs with the skills and confidence needed for pediatric acute care. Through a comprehensive 6–8 month onboarding experience, participants receive division‑specific clinical training, hands-on support, and progressive responsibility to ensure a strong transition into practice. All PAs in the pathway participate in an expanded general acute care pediatrics curriculum and are concurrently enrolled in the APP Transition to Practice Program, providing a robust educational foundation and ongoing professional development. Participating divisions provide care across inpatient services, and schedules could include days, nights, weekends, and holidays to support 24/7 team coverage. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit The Adelaide C. Ward Pediatric Intensive Care Unit is a 41-bed acute care setting for medical and surgical patients. The PICU achieved the Silver-Level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This 3-year designation recognizes significant milestones along a unit’s journey. For patients and families, the Beacon Award Signifies exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall satisfaction. For nurses, a Beacon Award signals a positive and supportive work environment with greater collaboration between colleagues and leaders, higher morale and lower turnover. The PICU APP will work as part of a team to provide coverage to high acuity pediatric ICU patients following acute respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, bone marrow transplant, kidney transplant, septic shock, burn injury and trauma, among other diagnoses. In this team structure, they will provide direct patient management which includes participating in patient care rounds, ordering/interpreting lab tests, analyzing and prioritizing complex data, developing differential diagnosis and implementing plans of care. These tasks will be done in direct collaboration with a board-certified pediatric intensivist. The APP will be expected to work effectively with the medical team by communicating clearly with families, working well with physicians and physician trainees, being a resource for nursing staff and collaborating with multiple subspecialties that function in the medical PICU. The PA I provides comprehensive, evidence-based advanced practice nursing to address the physiologic, psychosocial, and developmental needs of patients and families within the framework of the collaborative practice agreement. The PA-I participates in beginning leadership, evidenced-based practice/research, and organizational development activities with the support and direction of APP leadership. Upon completion of orientation, PAs will function as integral members of an interprofessional care team, collaborating with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and allied health professionals to deliver high‑quality care to pediatric patients. The Physician Assistant I (PA-I) provides comprehensive, evidence-based advanced practice to address the physiologic, psychosocial, and developmental needs of patients and families within the framework of the collaborative practice/supervisory agreement. The PA-I participates in beginning leadership, evidenced-based practice/ research, and organizational development activities with the support and direction of an experienced PA mentor. At Children’s Mercy, we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcomed within our walls. A successful candidate for this position will join us as we strive to create a workplace that reflects the community we serve, as well as our core values of kindness, curiosity, inclusion, team and integrity. Additionally, it’s important to us that we remain transparent with all potential job candidates. Because we value the safety of the patients and families we serve, as well as the Children’s Mercy staff, we want to let you know that the seasonal influenza vaccine is a condition of employment for all employees in our organization. New employees must be willing to be vaccinated if found non-immune to measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and chicken pox (varicella) and/or without evidence of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination since 2005. If you are selected for this position, you will be asked to supply your immunization records as proof of vaccination. If you and have any concerns about receiving these vaccines, medical and/or religious exemptions can be further discussed with Human Resources.

Requirements

Master's Degree Required
No Experience necessary / On-the-Job Training
Licensed Physician Assistant KS
Licensed Physician Assistant MO
Successful completion of the NCCPA Certification Exam Required Upon Hire
PA certification congruent with population and practice setting (see policy statement: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and Physician Assistant (PA) Roles and Practice Setting) Required Upon Hire
Refer to Nursing and Advanced Practice Provider Licensure and Certification policy for required Life Support Certifications Required Upon Hire

Responsibilities

Clinical Practice: competently provides comprehensive, evidence-based advanced practice care to address the physiologic, psychosocial, and developmental needs of patients and families within the framework of the collaborative practice/supervisory agreement.
Professional Practice: actively participates in beginning leadership, evidenced-based practice/research, and organizational development activities with the support and direction of an Advanced Practice Provider mentor.

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