General Neurology Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant

General Neurology Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant

OB SUMMARY:

The Neurology nurse practitioner (NP) or physicians' assistant in the ambulatory care setting works in collaboration with a multidisciplinary health care team. The Neurology NP or PA is generally service/physician aligned, managing a distinct patient population in the outpatient setting. The NP or PA functioning primarily in a clinic setting may be required to perform some coordination of inpatient care and facilitate discharges/outpatient follow up. The clinic NP or PA has a strong foundation in evidenced based practice/education and is responsible for ensuring adherence to clinical pathways/protocols and ensures an environment of safe quality care. The NP or PA demonstrates an advanced level of medical and nursing knowledge, clinical/technical competence, sound clinical judgment, professional communication skills, timely and compliant documentation, and responsible for professional development and competency validation.

Department Summary

The Department of Neurology boasts a strong research portfolio across its subspecialties. Faculty members are regular contributors to scientific journals and receive generous funding from public, private, and government institutions. Grants and contracts are growing, and faculty members are focused on recruiting and supporting clinical and translational research programs focused on precision in diagnosis and treatment. These research activities provide patients with hosts of opportunities to participate in clinical trials and other investigations aimed at improving quality of life and ultimately changing the course of neurological disease. Total sponsored research in the department has doubled since 2016, and there has been a three-fold increase in clinical trials in recent years.

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VUMC Recent Accomplishments

Because we are committed to providing the best in patient care, education and research, we are proud of our recent accomplishments:

* US News & World Report: #1 Adult Hospital in Tennessee and metropolitan Nashville, named to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll of the top 20 adult hospitals, 10 nationally ranked adult specialty programs, with 3 specialties rated in the top 10 nationally, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt named as one of the Best Children's Hospital in the nation, with 10 out of 10 pediatric specialties nationally ranked.

* Healthcare's Most Wired: Among the nation's 100 "most-wired" hospitals and health systems for its efforts in innovative medical technology.

* Becker's Hospital Review: named as one of the "100 Great Hospitals in America", in the roster of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs and to its list of the 100 Hospitals with Great Heart Programs.

* The Leapfrog Group: One of only 10 children's hospitals in the to be named at Leapfrog Top Hospital.

* American Association for the Advancement of Science: The School of Medicine has 112 elected fellows

* Magnet Recognition Program: Received our third consecutive Magnet designations.

* National Academy of Medicine: 22 members, elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding achievement

* Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index: 6 ^th year in a row that Vanderbilt University Medical Center was a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Assessment of Health Status

* 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 or physician's assistant may serve as the first responder 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.

* Coordinates daily clinic schedule with the attending physician team, presents patient report, collaborates in plan of care, and follows assigned patient population.

* Diagnosis

* 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 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 evidenced based practice guidelines or protocols in an individualized, dynamic plan of care that can be applied across the continuum.

* Implements and modifies plan of care

* 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.

* Communication and Collaboration

* 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 outpatient continuum of care.

* Documentation

* 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 critical care compliance standards and captures patient acuity.

* Professional Practice

* 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.