Pediatric Orthopedics - Physician Assistant or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with Registered Nurse First Assist Certificate

Service Summary:

The Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Pediatric Orthopaedics will assist in the medical and surgical care of pediatric orthopaedic patients in the outpatient and perioperative/surgical clinical settings. The PA/NP works under the supervision of the pediatric orthopaedic team using established and approved protocols as required by state law and institutional policy. The PA/NP demonstrates an advanced level of medical and nursing knowledge, clinical/technical competence, sound clinical judgment, professional communication skills, timely and compliant documentation, and is responsible for professional development and competency validation.

This role will also include working as a surgical assistant in the perioperative/surgical setting. This is a full-time position, primarily located at Vanderbilt Children's Specialty Clinics and ambulatory surgery center in Murfreesboro; days may vary.

Principal duties and Responsibilities:

1. Function as member of a multidisciplinary team that includes Attending Physicians, Resident physicians, Advanced Practice RN/Case Manager, RNs, ortho-cast technicians, social worker, child life specialist, and nurse manager.
2. Facilitates and guides care in the Pediatric Orthopaedic outpatient setting by performing comprehensive problem-focused patient evaluations; formulates and implements therapeutic plans of care; management of simple and complex fractures to include closed reduction, preoperative education and postoperative management of care, peer-to-peer reviews to ensure proper and timely authorization of tests/surgical procedures.
3. As needed, provide routine medical management of an inpatient Pediatric Orthopaedic population to include evaluations and consultations in collaboration with the Pediatric Orthopaedic physicians.
4. This role will also include working as a surgical assistant in the operating room by performing retraction, suturing, tying and cutting suture, stapling, cauterizing, aspirating, and other assistance as requested by the surgeon. This requires the presence of the attending physician for all key portions of the operation.
5. Perform procedures (under direction and appropriate level of supervision of the Attending Physician) including but not limited to closed fracture reduction and management, splinting and casting, aspiration and/or injection of joints or cysts, wound suturing and dressing, and suture removal.
6. Complete appropriate documentation of all evaluations, care, and services rendered in the patient electronic medical record per policy.
7. Provide follow-up care in accordance with established protocols
8. Attend Pediatric Orthopaedic preoperative and postoperative conference twice each week.

Key Functions and Expected Performances:

1. Diagnosis
   1. Collaborates with interdisciplinary health care team in making diagnoses of acute and chronic conditions.
   2. Manages diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, and collaboration
   3. Formulates differential diagnoses by priority.
   4. Diagnoses complications and orders appropriate interventions

2. Formulates Plan of Care
   1. Identifies expected outcomes from diagnosis and formulates and documents a plan of care to address complex acute and chronic health care needs.
   2. Utilizes evidenced based practice guidelines or protocols in an individualized, dynamic plan of care that can be applied across the continuum.

3. Implements and modifies plan of care
   1. Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes.
   2. Manages further diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, performance, and supervision.
   3. May perform advanced procedures consistent with privileges and competency validation

4. Communication and Collaboration
   1. Maintains ongoing communication and collaboration with interdisciplinary health care team.
   2. Facilitates and communicates with patient, family and staff to promote continuity of care across the continuum of care.

5. Documentation
   1. Documents/dictates key components of patient's progress via clinic note (H&P, plan of care, problem lists, procedure notes in medical record per specific patient)
   2. Documentation is timely, meets acute care compliance standards and captures patient acuity.

6. Professional Practice
   1. Demonstrates Professional Practice behaviors including preceptor/mentoring, education and instruction of students, nursing staff, nurses, and graduate and novice nurse practitioners.
   2. Seeks opportunities for active engagement in research and the analysis of evidenced based practice.
   3. Actively participates in Grand Rounds, APN council meetings, faculty and unit meetings, M&M presentations.
   4. Maintains CEUs, and membership in a professional organization

Background screens will be performed, and education will be verified prior to employment. Please be prepared to provide required information and/or documentation

Vanderbilt is a smoke-free workplace in compliance with the Non-Smoker Protection Act, Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-1801-1810. In accordance with that law and Vanderbilt policy, smoking is prohibited in all buildings on Vanderbilt property and on the grounds of the campus with the exception of designated outdoor smoking areas.

Vanderbilt is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer

Minimum Requirements:

This position requires a Masters Degree in Nursing, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program, or Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program completion and certification, minimum of 1 year of experience as a pediatric nurse practitioner strongly preferred.

Or

The position requires a graduate of a physician assistant training program accredited by C.A.H.E.A., C.A.A.H.E.P. or A.R.C.-P.A.; and has successfully completed the examination of the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants.

New graduate candidates with at least 1 year of pediatric surgical care or pediatric intensive care nursing will be considered.

License and Certifications Required:

If APRN Candidate:

1. Current Tennessee Registered Nurse License with Current Tennessee Registered Nurse First Assistant Certificate

2. Current Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License with certification of fitness to prescribe controlled substances

3. Current Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (PNP-AC) or Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (PNP-PC)

If PA Candidate:

1. Current Tennessee Physician Assistant License with certification of fitness to prescribe controlled substances

2. Current Physician Assistant Board Certification (PA-C)

Position Shift: