Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner - Neonatal ICU

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Duke Nursing Highlights:

• Duke University Health System is designated as a Magnet organization
• Nurses from each hospital are consistently recognized each year as North Carolina's Great 100 Nurses.
• Duke University Health System was awarded the American Board of Nursing Specialties Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy for being strong advocates of specialty nursing certification.
• Duke University Health System has 6000 + registered nurses
• Quality of Life: Living in the Triangle!
• Relocation Assistance (based on eligibility)

***NNP and PA applicants with 2 years neonatal APP experience or more are eligible for a $10,000 Commitment bonus.  Relocation Assistance is also available ***

Job Location:  Duke University Hospital / NICU

Job Summary

The Neonatal APP provides direct patient care services and performs medical procedures under the supervision of a supervisory physician to infant’s (birth through 2 years of age) in specialized neonatal units to include Intensive Care Nurseries, Intermediate Care Nurseries and the Special Care Nurseries in the Duke University Health System. The Neonatal APP performs physical exams, collects and documents data, conducts diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, orders and schedules laboratory studies and professional consultations, prescribes appropriate interventions and medications, and provides direct patient care services. The NNP contributes to excellence in patient care, research, teaching, and provides leadership in the organization.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the attending of service and/or fellows, round daily on patients to assess, diagnose, plan treatment, set priorities and realistic outcomes, and evaluate the effectiveness and cost efficiency of patient care.
• Provide and coordinate clinical care for service specific patients through established protocols and under the hospitalist supervising physician or back up physician who is either on site or available by pager.
• Collaborate with fellows, attending, other APP colleagues, nurses, and patient resource managers to formulate treatment plans and monitor patient progress.
• Perform procedures specific to the work environment after demonstrated competency and within the guidelines of scope of practice and credentialing protocols.
• Assess patients for change in status and institute appropriate interventions. Initiate emergency interventions in an effort to stabilize the patient until physician support arrives.
• Post-procedural stabilization and management.
• Develop patient care pathways, protocols and guidelines for the management of specific problems in conjunction with physicians and other members of the health care team.
• Communicate verbally and in writing all pertinent patient information to supervising MD, nursing staff, patient resource manager, home health agency, and other relevant healthcare providers.
• Document in the patients’ medical record all relevant data including but not limited to results of diagnostic tests; laboratory results; patients’ condition and response to therapies/interventions; communications with supervising MD.
• Prescriptive authority for prescribing, ordering, and or administering drugs; including (but not limited to) schedule II, III, IV, and V drugs and necessary medical devices.
• Role model competence in all nurse practitioner / physician assistant advanced skills.
• Give daily handoff to appropriate attending, APP, or fellow at the end of the shift.

• Assess educational needs of the patient-care staff and provide one-on-one as well as formal education as needed.
• Assess educational needs of the patients / families and provide culturally-sensitive patient/family education interventions as indicated.  Use non-technical language when educating patients and families.  Document all education in patients’ medical record.
• Implement and evaluate appropriate educational programs for DUHS patient care staff and other healthcare providers as appropriate.
• Role model and precept healthcare learners through contractual agreements.

• Utilize current research and evidence-based decision-making in all clinical practice.
• Incorporate clinical research findings in the development and implementation of standards of care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary quality improvement and/or research activities.

• Provide expertise and resource information to other healthcare providers, patients and families, and the community at large related to pediatric diseases, procedures, interventions, and conditions.
• Develop, implement and evaluate standards of care/practice guidelines/policies and procedures/care maps/protocols within area of specialization.

• Maintain all professional requirements for licensure and certification

Job Eligibility Requirements

Education

NP:         Graduate of accredited MSN or DNP Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program

PA:         Graduate of accredited Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree Physician Assistant Program plus a Neonatal APP Fellowship

Certification

NP:         Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)

PA:         PA-C

Both:     BLS, NRP mandatory before hire

License

NP:         Current and unrestricted RN license issued by or recognized by the NCBON with approval to practice as NP

PA:         Current and unrestricted medical license issued by the NCMB with approval to practice as PA

Both:     Fed & State DEA license

Experience

NP:         3 years RN experience as neonatal nurse, 1-year NNP experience preferred

PA:         1 year PA experience thru neonatal fellowship or as neonatal provider

Job Hours

Primary hours will be rotational covering 24 hours / 7 days per week including nights, weekends, and holidays. The Neonatal APP must also be flexible to provide on-call coverage, as needed.