Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Where compassion meets innovation and technology and our employees are family.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB:
The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a skilled individual, qualified by academic and clinical education who provides assistance in the provision of specialty/critical care nursing and/or medical care for children with a wide variety of complex acute, critical and chronic illness in the Pediatric / Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. This position will function independently, under the supervision an attending pediatric intensivist in accordance with a standard care arrangement and specialty board certification. Operates in accordance with the Texas Board of Nursing APRN regulation. Maintains a Standard Care Arrangement with a collaborating physician(s). The Critical Care APRN demonstrates excellent communication and customer service skills, as well as proven excellence in clinical care. The Critical Care Unit operates within the framework of Driscoll Children's Hospital Mission Statement and Core Values.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; employees
will perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and/or hospital administration as required.

• Maintains utmost level of confidentiality at all times.
• Adheres to hospital policies and procedures.
• Function independently within scope of practice, under the supervision of an attending.
• Have excellent communication and customer service skills, proven excellence in clinical care and supervisory skills.
• Participate and assist with coordination and continuity of care.
• Demonstrates business practices and personal actions that are ethical and adhere to corporate compliance and integrity guidelines.
• If applicable, performs and records history and physical examinations (initial admissions and consults will be seen by attending cardiologist prior to implementing plan of care).
• Write appropriate orders (e.g. nursing care, medication orders, laboratory and imaging/radiological examinations).
• Review pertinent abnormal findings in the patient's history, physical examination, radiological and laboratory data with supervising physician, obtain appropriate referral/consultation, additional laboratory or radiological studies as needed, and initiate appropriate medical intervention(s).
• If applicable, completes consultations approved by the supervising physician with follow-up as indicated. Ensure testing has been completed, results verified, review labs/studies and vital signs. Complete progress note as indicated.
• Review of laboratory and radiologic data. Make appropriate interventions as indicated.
• Advise supervising physician of unexpected events, providing an accurate synopsis of events related to a major change in the patient’s condition and describing corrective measures already taken.
• Daily assessment of patient’s hospital course, write note of patient’s progress in chart as it pertains to the supervising physician and implement indicated therapy as determined by the supervising physician.
• Communicate with Supervising Physician, Medical Team and patient/family to establish anticipated discharge needs and initiate discharge teaching.
• Assists with the coordination of discharge planning and/or follow-up.
• Serve as a resource for clinical staff.
• Assess, perform, and document parent/patient education.
• Participate in PICU/CICU based service conferences.
• Serve as liaison with the high risk/chronic patient populations.
• Collaborate with research personnel on research projects and data collection.
• Performs other duties as assigned

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s or Post Master’s Degree, Required.
• Graduation from a Nurse Practitioners Program with practice authority in the State of Texas, required.
• Advanced Specialty Courses as required by DCH Credentialing obtained within time frame required and continuously maintained ongoing
• Minimum of 2-3 years of pediatric critical care experience, recommended.
• BLS, PALS and ACLS, required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSURE, REGISTRATION:

• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CPNP-AC)
• Active and unencumbered nurse practitioner and registered nurse license in the State of Texas, required.
• Advanced specialty courses and ongoing education requirements as required by DCH.
• DCH Credentialing obtained within time frame required and continuously maintained ongoing.
• Must obtain DCH credentialing as an active member of medical staff and appropriate medical privileges, required.
• Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Pediatric Certification, required