Nurse Practitioner or Physcian Assistant - Pediatric Acute Care Psychiatry

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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 Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Job Location

Duke University Hospital

Job Summary

The Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider (APP) will provide direct, specialized mental health care to children and adolescents requiring psychiatric evaluation and management who are in the emergency department or admitted to Duke University Hospital. The APP performs physical and mental health exams, gathers comprehensive medical histories from patients and their families, 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 APP will work closely with physicians and other team members to provide comprehensive care to address pediatric psychiatry patients' unique mental health needs. The APP contributes to excellence in patient care, research, and teaching, and provides leadership in the organization.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Expert

• In collaboration with attending Pediatric Psychiatry physicians, 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 under the supervision of a physician or backup physician on-site or available by pager.
• Collaborate with residents, fellows, attendings, other APP colleagues, nurses, patient resource managers, and other health professional team members to formulate treatment plans and monitor patient progress.
• Develop patient care pathways, protocols, and guidelines for managing specific problems in conjunction with physicians and other health care team members.
• Analyze clinical practice patterns to provide the best medical care and to increase effectiveness and efficiency.
• Communicate verbally and in writing all pertinent patient information to the supervising MD, nursing staff, patient resource manager, home health agency, and other relevant healthcare providers.
• Document in the patient’s medical record all relevant data, including but not limited to results of diagnostic tests, laboratory results, patients’ condition and response to therapies/interventions, and communications with the supervising MD.
• Prescriptive privileges should be utilized only for the identified patient population and in accordance with Duke University Hospital and the NC Board of Nursing/NC Medical Board.
• Prescriptive authority for prescribing, ordering, and administering drugs, including (but not limited to) schedule II, III, IV, and V drugs and necessary medical devices.
• Role model competence in all APP advanced skills.
• Maintain a daily census report in the EMR in collaboration with other team members and provide handoff reports for those covering in the evening and on the weekends.

Educator:

• Assess the educational needs of the patient-care staff and provide one-on-one and formal education as needed.
• Assess the 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 pre- and post-op education in patients’ medical records.
• Implement and evaluate appropriate educational programs for DUHS patient care staff and other healthcare providers.
• Role model and precept healthcare learners through contractual agreements.

Research Utilization and Investigation:

• 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.
• Support IRB-approved clinical research/trials through various activities, including but not limited to: obtaining consent; ordering diagnostic tests; recording laboratory & diagnostic results; administering therapeutic interventions; and reporting patient outcomes, including toxicities or adverse events.
• Participate in interdisciplinary quality improvement and/or research activities.
• Participate in measuring and documenting outcomes.

Consultant:

• Provide expertise and resource information on pediatric psychiatry to other healthcare providers, patients, families, and the community.
• Implement and evaluate appropriate educational programs for consulting MDs
• Develop, implement, and evaluate standards of care/practice guidelines/policies and procedures/care maps/protocols within the area of specialization.
• Develop programs and projects in areas of expertise to facilitate attaining the goals and objectives of the Duke University Hospital and Duke University Health System.

Professional Leadership and Development:

• Role model advanced practice professionalism through conduct, communication, dress, leadership, ethical decision-making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Participate in at least one professional organization.
• Demonstrate responsibility for professional practice through active participation in the Psychiatry[G1]  Department and professional organizations.  Meet Continuing Education requirements designated by the NC Medical Board and/or NC Nursing Board.  Maintain professional certification.
• Enhance the body of knowledge in the area of specialization through written publications, oral presentations, posters, continuing education, etc.
• Maintain all professional requirements for licensure and certification.

Job Eligibility Requirements

Education

NP:         Graduate of MSN or DNP Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program and/or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program

PA:         Graduate of ARC accredited Master’s or Doctoral Degree Physician Assistant program

Licensure

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

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

Certification

NP:         Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – PMHNP or PNP with PMHS certification

PA:         PA-C, with added qualifications (CAQ) in Psychiatry is preferred.

Experience

• One (1) year experience as a NP/PA in a psychiatric capacity is strongly preferred.

Physical and mental requirements:

• Able to articulate the scope of practice and practices within those guidelines as a Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant in North Carolina and within the Duke University Health System. 

• Able to independently seek out resources and work collaboratively to solve complex problems

• Able to communicate clearly with patients, families, visitors, healthcare team, physicians, administrators, leadership, and others.

• Able to use sensory and cognitive functions to process and prioritize information, perform health assessments, treatment, and follow-up.

• Able to use fine motor skills

• Able to record activities, document assessments & interventions; prepare reports and presentations;
• Able to use a computer and learn new software programs
• Able to provide leadership in the clinical area of expertise and in meeting organizational goals
• Able to navigate the Hospital and DUHS to provide clinical expertise to specific patient populations

• Able to withstand prolonged standing and walking, with the ability to move or lift at least fifty pounds
• Able to remain focused and organized
• Able to work collaboratively with all levels of personnel

Job Hours

The inpatient Pediatric Psychiatry APP will provide coverage Thursday – Sunday, 10 hours daily. The schedule may be changed based on service needs and as determined by the Center for Advanced Practice in consultation with clinical leadership.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends onthe robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.