Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant - Inpatient Pediatric Surgery

Discover Vanderbilt Health : With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region. Organization: Pediatric Advanced Practice Surgery Job Summary: The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is a key member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, collaborating closely with physicians and other care providers to manage a distinct patient population in the inpatient acute care setting. Working with hospitalized patients, the APP provides specialized care and supports the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based medical services. This role requires a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and clinical education, with the APP responsible for adhering to established clinical pathways and protocols to ensure safe and effective patient care. The APP will demonstrate advanced medical knowledge, clinical and technical competence, sound clinical judgment, and professional communication skills. In addition, the APP is accountable for timely and compliant documentation and actively participates in professional development and competency validation to maintain high standards of care. . 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. The APP is expected to demonstrate: •    Strong medical knowledge •    Sound clinical judgment •    Technical competence in relevant procedures •    Professionalism and effective interpersonal communication •    Timely, accurate, and compliant documentation •    Commitment to ongoing professional development and competency validation Position Hours: .6 FTE (Approximately 24 Hours Per Week) 11am - 11pm Department Summary: The Department of Pediatric Surgery and Trauma is dedicated to promoting excellence in surgical and trauma care for children of all ages. Our Surgeons and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are specially trained in caring for newborns, infants, toddlers, children, and young adults, providing expertise across the full spectrum of pediatric general surgical conditions and traumatic injuries. Our team performs a broad range of general surgical procedures and is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate, and family-centered care. We strive for excellence not only in patient care, but also in clinical and basic science research, as well as the education and mentorship of medical students, residents, and fellows. Our pediatric surgery experts treat conditions from the most common to the rarest surgical diagnoses and manage traumatic injuries of all kinds. Close collaboration is integral to our work: we partner with other surgical and medical specialties, as well as all ancillary services throughout the hospital, to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care for every patient. Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care CPNP-AC or Physician Assistant PA Prior APP Experience Strongly Preferred KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Obtains and documents a health history; performs and documents complete, system-focused, or symptom-specific physical examination, assessment and plan of care. In collaboration, provides healthcare services for primary, acute and complex care of patients and manages patients’ overall care, identifying expected outcomes for diagnoses. Orders, performs, interprets and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques, relevant supporting diagnostic information and diagnostic procedures where indicated. Forms differential diagnoses and treats acute and chronic conditions. Prescribes therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes. Utilizes evidence-based, approved practice protocols in planning and implementing care. Initiates appropriate referrals and consultations Provides specialty specific consultation services upon request and within a specialty scope of practice. Facilitates the patient’s transition between and within health care settings, such as admitting, transferring, and discharging patients. The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES Health Systems and Policy Management (Advanced): Demonstrates sufficient fundamental proficiency in behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, an understanding and a responsible attitude toward their patients, their profession and society. Participates in professional organizations and activities that influence advanced practice. Patient and Family Centered Care (Advanced): Demonstrates care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease and care at the end of life. Within scope of licensure and certification, manages previously diagnosed and undiagnosed patients. Uses health assessment skills to differentiate between normal, variations of normal, and abnormal findings. Employes screening and diagnostic strategies in the development of diagnoses. Prescribes medications within scope of practice. Manages health/illness status of patients and families over time and across the continuum. Provides patient/centered care recognizing the patient or designee as a full partner in decision making. Creates a climate of p