Advanced Practice Provider - Pediatric Clinical Decision Unit - Part Time

Essential Job Statements

Performance Expectation: Clinical & Patient Care Responsibilities

Demonstrates mastery of treatment and patient care of specialty population served. Demonstrates expert knowledge to coordinate patient care across the continuum of services through the patient's trajectory of illness. Assesses the health status of individuals through health histories, by performing physical examination, initiating screening, ordering or performing diagnostic tests, providing direct patient care, assisting with surgical procedure, therapeutic intervention, prescribing medication and/or counseling patients to a specified patient population. Initiates emergency procedures as needed. Practices safety, environmental and/or infection control methods. Makes rounds with the attending physicians as necessary. Supervises and/or coordinates the activities of patient care and support staff within assigned area. Documents all pertinent information and data in the patient's medical record. Interpreting information obtained from history and physical and develops a treatment plan. Formulates and prioritizes appropriate short-term and long-term therapeutic plans when indicated. Incorporates in the plan of care the physical, spiritual, cultural and psychosocial aspects of patients and families to promote optimum levels of health. Explores strategies to decrease length of stay and resource consumption within specialty area. Establishes priorities to meet the health needs of the individual, family or community. Maintains effective communications about patient care with all members of the health care team to assure care is coordinated. Assists with the coordination of care between primary and specialty health care services when needed.

Performance Expectation: Consultation

Functions as a consultant to other health care professionals in the multi-disciplinary team regarding routine and unusual therapeutic interventions. Serves as a liaison, translator and negotiator for staff, patients and families. Collaborates in the development, implementation, communication and monitoring of the multi-disciplinary plan of care for complex patients. Shares responsibility for patient education which may include the patient, family members or other caregivers. May provide training to residents, fellows and other health care staff in area of specialty. Participates in the continual assessment and revision of practices and procedures in specialty area. Promotes teamwork through effective communication, feedback to team members. Recognizes team as integral to individual effectiveness and quality patient outcomes.

Performance Expectation: Research

Utilizes current research to develop, implement and evaluate critical paths and standards of care for identified patient population. Contributes to the profession through participation in research, publications, consultation and/or educational activities. Demonstrates knowledge and support for clinical trials within specialty area.

Performance Expectation: Ethical Decision Making Skills

Incorporates the use of clinical judgment in ethical decision making. Practices the principles of ethics in decision making for patients. Promotes the use of interdisciplinary collaborative processes to resolve ethical dilemmas. Demonstrates appropriate use of skills of negotiation, mediation, collaboration, compromise and accommodation to assist families struggling with ethical decisions. Displays the ability to examine patient's values that impact treatment decision-making preferences. Recognizes patient rights as a foundation for ethical decisions.

Performance Expectation: Professional Development

Seeks out opportunities for professional growth through organizational affiliations. Functions in collaborative relationships with physicians, allied health professionals and administration. Assesses own learning needs and develops and implements a plan for professional growth. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service and workshops. Participates in teaching program as needed. Participates in continuing education activities to maintain competencies and to meet re-certification requirements. Maintain appropriate certification requirements to continue VCUHS privileges.

Performance Expectation: Miscellaneous Responsibilities

Performs other duties as assigned and/or participates in special projects in order to support the mission of VCU Health. Provides assistance to team members. Accepts alternate assignments, as required, graciously.

Patient Population

Age Specific groups served:
As appropriate based on unit assignment.

Employment Qualifications

Required Education:

Graduation from an accredited Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife or Physician Assistant Program

Preferred Education:

Service-specific education

Licensure/Certification Required:

Current Virginia licensure from the appropriate Board as a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife, or Physician Assistant

Current national certification as appropriate for the role

Credentialing in accordance with medical staff by-laws for specific job titles

Current CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) certifications; Additional certifications, including

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) for Pediatric services, may be determined at the department level

Licensure/Certification Preferred:

Service-specific certification

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience

Previous clinical experience with the population served

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

Cultural Responsiveness

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

Three (3) years of previous clinical experience with the population served

Previous experience in an academic healthcare system

Working Conditions

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Lifting/ Carrying (50-100 lbs.), Lifting/ Carrying (100+ lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (50-100 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Crawling, Climbing, Balance, Bending

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards

Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Perform Shift Work, Maneuver weight of patients, Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Reach above shoulder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Color Vision, Acuity - near, Acuity - far

Hazards: Depth perception, Use of Latex Gloves, Exposure to toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents, Exposure to moving mechanical parts, Exposure to dust/fumes, Exposure to potential electrical shock, Exposure to x ray/electromagnetic energy, Exposure to high pitched noises, Gaseous risk exposure

Mental/Sensory -Emotional

Mental / Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional: Fast pace environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change

PCDU APPs provide direct patient care to pediatric patients from newborn to young adult requiring short stay observation in the new free standing Children's Tower at the Children's Hospital of Richmond.

The PCDU APPs collaborate with the Pediatric Hospital Medicine faculty to provide individualized care to pediatric patients. They evaluate and accept patients based upon predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria reviewed and approved by the Medical Director of the PCDU. Treatment algorithms for PCDU patients are drawn from those already in place for pediatric inpatient care. PCDU patients are admitted and discharged anytime of the day or night. The APPs customarily work 12 hour rotating shifts to provide day, night, weekend, and holiday coverage of patients.

PCDU APPs may also perform administrative and quality improvement duties, including the development of pediatric clinical guidelines, in collaboration with pediatric specialists. Clinical efficiency in throughput flow is analyzed monthly by the APPs and the Director.

The PCDU is an essential partner in the pediatric patient throughput for CHoR. It allows for a decrease in length of stay and an increase in patient discharge volume in a previously physically constrained environment. The new Tower has added patient volume and admission numbers with a need for continued enhancement of safe, effective, and efficient throughput capacity.

CHoR at VCU seeks APPs who excel at efficient, effective medical decision making and function independently with remote supervision using defined practice guidelines. Prior pediatric experience (credentialled or on the job) is preferred but not required. Licensure in Virginia as either a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant is required. Drug Enforcement Agency licensure is required. Pediatric Advanced Life Support training is preferred but not required (can be earned after employment).

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