Career Center

JOB SUMMARY:

Vanderbilt School of Medicine is accepting applications for a Nurse Practitioner (ENP, FNP, ACNP) in our Division of Acute Care Surgery.

We are committed to providing the best in patient care. To further support our programs, we seek a specialty nurse practitioner in the ambulatory care setting to work as a part of an integrated health care team.

The specialty NP is a full-time billing provider and will work with faculty to manage a wide variety of patients, including pre and post-operative patients, and a distinct non-surgical patient population in the outpatient setting independently and through collaboration with our multidisciplinary team.

The specialty clinic NP has a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and is responsible for adherence to clinical pathways and protocols providing safe, quality care in a welcoming environment. The NP will demonstrate an advanced level of medical and nursing knowledge, clinical/technical competence, sound clinical judgment, professional communication skills, timely and compliant documentation, and is responsible for professional development and competency validation. The NP will participate in further improving and refining clinical pathways to serve our patients. The NP will also exhibit strong customer service skills during all interactions with patients, referring providers, and colleagues.

Department/Unit Summary:

The Division of Acute Care Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center handles close to 8,000 acute traumas admitting over 5,000 of those annually. Essential for the quality of trauma care provided by Vanderbilt University Medical Center are its facilities. These include a 20-bed burn unit, a 31 bed integrated Acute and Sub Acute care unit, which contains a 18 bed ICU, a 7 bed Acute Admission Area and a 10 bed Sub-Acute unit, and LifeFlight, an active air medical transport program. In 2019, trauma unit expanded their footprint to include 17 additional stepdown beds. The Trauma Units' unique geography allows close integration and management of patient progress from admission to discharge.

The Division of Acute Care Surgery also manages the hospital's Emergency General Surgery service line. The Emergency General Surgery Service evaluates and treats a wide variety of emergency surgical conditions, including acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis/cholelithiasis, small and large bowel obstructions, diverticulitis, skin and soft tissue abscesses, and surgical feeding access. Over 3,000 consults are seen by the Emergency General Surgery service annually, resulting in nearly 2,000 surgical procedures each year.

The Vanderbilt Burn Center is the only dedicated burn center serving adults and children in Tennessee. Our team is solely dedicated to meeting the complex physical, medical and emotional needs of burn treatment and recovery. We use the most advanced technology and treatment methods to help our patients lead a full, productive life.

Position Shift:

* Day Shift/ Exempt Position

Additional Key Elements/ Responsibilities:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key Functions:

• Performs and documents in the medical record a complete history and physical examination for acute and complex chronically ill patients.
• Orders and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques, relevant supporting diagnostic information and diagnostic procedures where indicated.
• The nurse practitioner may serve as the first responder in the ambulatory setting for both nursing and house staff in the event of patient status changes, orders, and in situations requiring procedural and resuscitative interventions.
• Assesses for risks associated with the care of the acute and complex chronically ill patient including: medication side effects, immobility, impaired nutrition, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, immunocompetence, invasive interventions and diagnostic procedures.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary health care team in making diagnoses of acute and complex chronic conditions.
• Manages diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, performance, and supervision.
• Formulates differential diagnoses by priority.
• Diagnoses complications and orders appropriate interventions
• Formulates, implements and modifies a Plan of Care
• Identifies expected outcomes from diagnosis and formulates and documents a plan of care to address complex acute and chronic health care needs.
• Utilizes evidence-based practice guidelines or protocols in an individualized, dynamic plan of care that can be applied across the continuum.
• Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes.
• Manages further diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, performance, and supervision.
• May perform advanced procedures consistent with privileges and competency validation including minor suturing, complex wound management, line and tube placements and removals.
• Maintains ongoing communication and collaboration with interdisciplinary health care team.
• Facilitates and communicates with patient, family and staff to promote continuity of care across the inpatient and outpatient continuum of care.
• Documents/dictates key components of patient's progress via daily progress note, transfer, and discharge summary, and or clinic note where applicable. (h&p, daily progress notes, plan of care, problem lists, procedure notes, acute event note, discharge summaries, in medical record per specific patient unit or service, death summary)
• Documentation is timely, meets acute care compliance standards and captures patient acuity.
• Demonstrates Professional Practice behaviors including: preceptor/mentoring, education and instruction of students, nursing staff, nurses, graduate and novice nurse practitioners.
• Seeks opportunities for active engagement in research and the analysis of evidenced based practice.
• Actively participates in Grand Rounds, APN council meetings, faculty and unit meetings, M&M presentations.
• Maintains CEUs, and membership in a professional organization.

Position Qualifications:

Master's Degree (or equivalent experience) and < 1 year experience. 12 months of nursing experience preferred; Inpatient acute care advanced practice nursing experience desirable.

Registered Nurse License Required

Qualifications - External

Additional Qualification Information:

• Prefer National Specialty Board Certification, TN APN certificate/certificate of fitness to prescribe, eligible for DEA