Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Criteria Based Job Description

Job Title: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner	Reports to: Medical Director of NICU LEVEL II; Nurse Manager NICU LEVEL II
Job Code: 723634, 723633 (Per Diem)	Approved by: Nursing Director, Birth Center
Department: Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU LEVEL II)	Approval Date: September 2021

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:	Graduate of an accredited school of nursing Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner/Clinician program Master’s degree in nursing
Experience:	Minimum of two years of experience and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) experience in a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Licensure/ Registration/ Certification:	Current License to practice nursing in the state of Minnesota Certification as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner through NCC.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:	Able to diagnose, prescribe medications and interventions, order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests, coordinate the interdisciplinary health care team, plan and coordinate patients' discharge, rehabilitation, home health care and follow-up while ensuring continuity of care within the hospital setting. Able to perform procedures within their scope and realm of their collaboration agreement with their physician partner. Must demonstrate current procedural competence.  Able to be flexible to work within a smaller team and be engaged in unit development and education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:	N/A
Experience:	N/A
Licensure/ Registration/ Certification:	N/A
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:	N/A

POSITION SUMMARY STATEMENT:

The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner functions as an associate of the supervising group of Neonatologists in coordinating the patient care needs of the high-risk newborns within Regions Hospital. The NNP functions in an advanced practice provider role, responsible for complete 24 hour/day and 7 days/week management of the NICU LEVEL II patients. The practitioner has responsibility for assessment and management of patients including diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and daily implementation and evaluation of an appropriate plan of care. The NNP is also a participant in and contributor to continuing education and staff development within perinatal services as well as involvement in outreach programs provided to outlying hospitals.

MAJOR JOB DUTIES AND TASKS:	Percentage Of Time:
1.	Responsible for the primary care of neonates (age 0 to 30 days) in the NICU LEVEL II	25%
	a. Performs complete history: elicits records and interprets a complete health history to include all obstetrical, medical, family and psychosocial needs.
	b. Performs a complete newborn physical examination, assessment of gestational age and can distinguish between normal and abnormal findings.
	c. Performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as necessary. Orders appropriate lab tests and x-rays. Interprets findings and consults with physicians as needed.
	d. Based on physical examination and other data, formulates, and implements a plan of care with expected outcomes. Formulates and documents a problem list in accordance with the plan of care. Evaluates and revises daily, the plan as needed. Records patient history, plan of care, orders, and progress notes, as needed, which included ongoing evaluation and treatments. Participates in department team talks and daily patient safety huddles and rounds.
	e. Writes prescriptions as needed in accordance with the Minnesota Board of nursing guidelines. Communicates with the attending physician, parents, nursing staff and other members of the health care team appropriate information about the newborn’s diagnosis, plan of care and prognosis. Orders, interprets, and evaluates initial diagnostic tests to identify and assess infant’s clinical problems and health care needs. Provides complex care coordination, which includes managing a variety of ancillary services, pre-operative plans, discharge planning, and clinician referrals. Provides clinical direction to nursing staff regarding the continued care of patients. Follows through with nursing staff to ensure patient receives recommended care.
2.	Supports education to and is a resource for the perinatal staff and outlying hospitals	25%
	Initiates and participates in quality improvement activities and data collection to evaluate and improve patient care outcomes. Initiates and facilitates Nursing research projects. Serves as a liaison and resource person regarding neonatal issues and care. Serves as a resource to nursing staff while providing continuing staff education and participating in staff development. Participates in teaching the, NRP and STABLE programs. Assumes responsibility for maintaining certification and competence in clinical practice. Continue professional development through attendance at meetings and conferences and CEU programs. Maintains membership in professional organizations. Participates in annual evaluation of job performance.

3.	Understands the concept of and is committed to Regions Hospital Mission and Vision by demonstrating behaviors consistent with the Mission and Vision Statements	25%
	Daily contact with patient’s families providing updates on plan of care, treatment, test results and answering any questions they may have. Maintains professional accountability. Recognizes and understands the influence of culture, belief and family systems in improving and maintaining health. Participates in the team approach for health care. Serves as the patient/family advocate. Models accountability by adapting to changes in health care, independently seeking learning opportunities, sharing knowledge, seeking out information about unit activities, demonstrating awareness and support of decisions made by the NICU LEVEL II and hospital groups. Recognizes and affirms the contribution of co-workers.

4.	Attends all high-risk deliveries and monitors high-risk infant care in NICU LEVEL II and Newborn observation	25%
	Provides delivery room neonatal resuscitation and stabilization, involving observation, assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Communicates in a professional manner with the delivering provider, obstetric nurse. and parents of the infant regarding identified cares/needs. Will attend all deliveries where requested with support of NICU LEVEL II RN or NRP trained obstetric RN. Facilitates the transfer of neonates to/from other hospitals.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

Values

All team members are expected to demonstrate our values: 

Excellence:  We strive for the best results and always look for ways to improve.

Compassion:  We care and show empathy and respect for each person.

Partnership:  We are strongest when we work together and with those we serve.

Integrity:  We are open and honest, and we keep our commitments.

We are committed to living our values. That means our patients and families can expect certain things from each of us:

They can expect us to be their partner and treat them with dignity and respect. They can expect us to listen carefully and give good, timely information. They can expect us to do our best to provide affordable, coordinated, high quality care and services that are easy to find and simple to use. They can expect safe, clean spaces. And they can expect that we will do our very best to earn their trust by being open and honest, and keeping our word.

Additional Expectations:

• Complies with safety instructions, observe safe work practices, provides input on safety issues and promotes a safe work environment.

• Maintains regular and timely attendance

• Protects confidentiality

• Demonstrates participation in and support of the organization's Corporate Integrity Program by participating in compliance-related education and training and complying with the organization's policies and procedures. 

• Timely completion of all mandatory education and organizational requirements (i.e. licensure/certification, Employee Health and Wellness requirements, annual training, etc.)

POPULATION SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

X Yes

No

Does this employee have direct patient contact?

If “Yes,” departments will need to determine the appropriate competencies in their areas for their specific patient populations.

Examples of items that can be included are:

• Identifies expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the patient or situation specific to the needs of the population served.

• Communicates effectively with patients, families and team members.

• Integrates practices that supports patient safety, acknowledges variations in populations served.

• Anticipates the needs of the population served as well as the unique characteristics of the communities served.

• Anticipates the needs of the population in providing cultural responsive care and develops an individualized plan for patients and families.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

Please describe the degree to which the position directs the work of others or coordinates workflow of a clinic, department or functional area. If applicable, indicate the number of people and the titles for which this position directly and/or indirectly directs the work of others or coordinates workflow.

None

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Please list any physical requirements necessary to the performance of this job (e.g. lifting, carrying, stretching, sitting or standing for long periods of time). Please specify details such as number of pounds expected to lift, number of hours must be on feet, etc.

Physical:

Hearing, seeing, touching

Mental:

Adaptability, analyzing, assessing, calculating, decision-making, dependability, judgement, memorizing, reading, social skills, speaking, stress control, writing

Standing - up to 4/hours per day

Walking - up to 1/hour per day

Sitting – up to 3/hours per day

The following are performed on an occasional basis (1% - 33% of time):

Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling, Climbing, Balancing, Bending, Twisting, Rotating, Reaching

Lifting of 10-24lbs, Carrying 20-24 lbs., Reaching above shoulder, Reaching below shoulder

The following are performed frequently (34%-66% of time):

Lifting of <10 lbs., Carrying of <10 lbs., Reaching at shoulder

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Please list unusual environmental conditions, if any (e.g. extremely cramped quarters, noise, fumes, gases, extreme heat/cold, etc.).

No extreme conditions, 99% inside, 1% outside

EQUIPMENT:

Please list the equipment used in this position.

Incubators Ventilators (Alladin)

Heart monitors Otoscopes

Oximeters Stethoscope

Laryngoscopes Central line trays