Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Neonatology

Job Description Summary

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Job Description

Fair Labor Standards Act Status: Salary exempt 
 

Hours per week: 40  
 
Scheduled Work Hours/Shift: 14 (13-hour shifts) per month with rotating nights, weekends, and holidays 

Patient Population Focus: Inpatient 

Patient Population Age Range : 0 up to age 2  
 
Required Training and Experience    
 
Required Minimum Training: Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program and currently licensed or eligible for licensure as a Physician Assistant or completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program and currently licensed or eligible for licensure as an APRN. 

• Physician Assistant (PA)  

• must have at least one-year experience in neonatal intensive care which may include an NICU fellowship. 

or 

• APRN - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP): primary, acute, chronic, and critical care to neonates, infants, and toddlers from birth until discharge from the Neonatal Unit or from the Neonatologist service 

Degree of Supervision  
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant will be assigned a Primary Supervising/Collaborating Physician employed by MUSC and will report directly to this physician. 

Required Licensure, Certifications, Registrations 

All certifications must be current and complete prior to start date: 

• Neonatal Resuscitation Program 

• If applicable, DHEC and DEA license applications must be started prior to first day. 

Job Duties (list job tasks) 

Provides direct care to patients through the following activities: 

- Takes comprehensive history and performs physical examinations 

• Evaluates and treats on the basis of history, physical examination, radiological, laboratory, and other diagnostic test results pursuant to the practice agreement or scope of practice guideline 

• Performs the following therapeutic procedures in accordance with procedural privileges, skill and proficiency as approved by the Clinical Division Chief:

- Intubation 

- Central venous and arterial line placement 

- Insertion and removal of chest tubes 

- Thoracentesis 

- Suprapubic bladder tap 

- Lumbar puncture 

- Paracentesis 

- Partial and total exchange transfusion 

- Arterial puncture 

- Peripheral arterial line placement 

- Other procedures as needed     

• Initiates referrals to other health care providers, and/or consults with the attending physician or the collaborating physician 

• Documents and bills for direct care provided 

• Utilizes current research and evidence-based decision-making in all clinical practice 

• Performs and participates in quality/performance improvement activities and clinical research 

• Participates in and supports accreditation, compliance, and regulatory activities of the organization 

• Demonstrates responsibility for professional practice through active participation in professional organizations and continuing education 

• Potential to precept students at MUSC enrolled as an advanced practice provider student; and facilitates the learning of other new team members 

• APRN or PA must maintain licenses, certifications, CNEs/CMEs, etc. as required by applicable policies and state law 

• Ensures implementation of established guidelines for the management of neonatology patients. 

• Collaborates with other disciplines to ensure effective and efficient services are provided. 

• Involves unit staff and representatives from other disciplines in decision making. 

• Utilizes research and benchmark data when planning evaluating service operations. 

• Develops, Implements, monitors and evaluates service-specific goals which are based on organizational and departmental goals. 

• Promotes and maintains a safe, warm, hospital environment for all customers. 

• Thorough knowledge of physical assessment skills for normal and high-risk newborns. 

• Considerable knowledge of risk-screening and developmental assessment tools. 

• Extensive skill in the use of specialized equipment utilized in the care of critically ill neonates (e.g.: ventilators, HFV, cardio-respiratory monitors, oxygen saturation and transcutaneous P02/PC02 monitors, phototherapy, etc.). 

• Ability to function independently in the critical care environment and serve as a leader for the infants’ care. 

• Considerable skills regarding interpretation of laboratory findings. 

• Obtains consent for invasive procedures as required. 

• Ability to incorporate explanations and health education into the care of high-risk neonates and their families. 

• Demonstrates knowledge and skills required to provide care and/or service appropriate to the age and level of development of the patient, with consideration of the needs of the patients’ families. 

• All job duties require knowledge and skills to care for patients between the age of 0 and 1. 

• Attends intermediate and high risk deliveries independently and performs resuscitation interventions with mastery of physical assessment and technical skills as required – endotracheal intubation, chest compressions, central and peripheral lines, arterial sticks, and medication administration. 

• Ability to perform maternal and newborn consults and communicate findings. Functions as a skilled team leader with well-developed diagnostic and analytic skills. 

• Performs all neonatal intensive care, admission procedures for a designated case load of patients, including appropriate family history and complete physical examination. 

• Orders diagnostic testing as appropriate, including radiologic and laboratory studies, and accurately interprets findings. 

• Determines the daily plan of care for a designated case load of neonates in collaboration with neonatologists, fellows, residents, interns, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other members of the health care team. 

• Writes daily orders for fluids, medications, nutrition, and respiratory management. 

• Demonstrates sound oral and written communication skills and documents daily progress of patients, writing both discharges and death summaries. Performs highly skilled and technical procedures (lumbar punctures, needle aspiration, chest tube placement, arterial catheterization, PICC placement, suprapubic bladder taps, etc.) under protocol. 

• Monitors nursing care delivered, serving as a role model and educator for nursing staff, student nurse practitioners, and residents, demonstrating teaching expertise.  

• Maintains clinical patient responsibilities for entirety of scheduled shift, and ensures appropriate coverage is in place for any time away from unit.  

• Participates in collaborative scheduling to ensure all shifts (days/nights/weekends/holidays) are covered to maintain patient safety.  

Additional Job Description

Physical Requirements 

Continuous requirements are to perform job functions while standing, walking and sitting. Ability to bend at the waist, kneel, climb stairs, reach in all directions, fully use both hands and legs, possess good finger dexterity, perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders, reach in all directions. Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required. Maintain 20/40 vision corrected, see and recognize objects close at hand and at a distance, work in a latex safe environment and work indoors. Frequently lift, lower, push and pull and/or carry objects weighing 50 lbs (+/-) unassisted, exert up to 50 lbs of force, lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. Infrequently work in dusty areas and confined/cramped spaces.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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