Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Neurosurgery Clinic

About Us:

Our award-winning Pediatric Neurosurgery Center provides comprehensive pediatric neurosurgery services for problems relating to the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Working collaboratively with other pediatric subspecialties such as neonatology, neurology, orthopaedic surgery, physiatry, ophthalmology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, otolaryngology (ENT) and oncology, the department ensures high-level, compassionate, coordinated care for infants, children and adolescents. 
 
Minimally invasive and microsurgical techniques with advanced intra-operative tools are utilized to surgically treat a variety of neurosurgical conditions. Our surgical outcomes are excellent and our infection rates are one of the lowest in the country. 

Job Summary:

The Nurse Practitioner is an Advanced Practice Practitioner who is accountable for a "defined" patient population. Functions in the roles of expert practitioner, consultant, educator, patient advocate, care coordinator and researcher within a specialized area of practice. Possesses and exhibits a high degree of knowledge, skill and competence in the provision of health care directly to the patient, family or community, or indirectly through guidance of care by other professional personnel. Provision of patient care is conducted and performed utilizing the medical model within the scope of licensure and in accordance with applicable law, regulations, and in accordance with VCH policies. Some positions will be responsible for being on call according to a predetermined schedule or as needed, pursuant to hospital needs. Upon acceptance of an offer of employment and prior to providing patient care, candidate must submit Scope of Practice and all information for credentialing, to the Medical Staff office, Hospital Interdisciplinary Professional Practice Council.

Qualifications:

The Physician Assistant / Nurse Practitioner (Advanced Practice Practitioner) is responsible for a defined patient population and functions in multiple key roles: expert practitioner, consultant, educator, patient advocate, care coordinator, and researcher. This role is centered within a specialized area of practice and requires a high level of clinical knowledge, skill, and competence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Rounding on inpatients. List of inpatients is usually between 10-20 patients divided among the team of 6 APPs.
• Discharging/Admitting patients
• ER, NICU, PICU, and floor consults
• Procedures including but not limited to: ICP monitor placement, EVD placement, Ventriculoperitoneal shunt tap/adjustments, Lumbar Punctures, Fontanelle tap, Suturing/Stapling, Intrathecal administrations.
• Outpatient clinic- H&P, post-op follow-ups and Plagiocephaly/Sacral dimple/Macrocephaly/Back Pain clinic. On average 5-8 patients both in person and phone follow-ups
• Function as a First Assist in the operating room.

Call Responsibilities/Requirements:

• Call is rotated among eligible staff and average number of call shifts is 7 per 6-week-block (based on the number of APPs).
• Ability to return to hospital and answer calls from physicians, nursing staff and families from 8am-8am the day of call shift
• Assist on call attending with after hour consults/admission/procedures/ORs
• Respond to hospital for Level 1 pages and existing emergent/urgent consultations. 
• Must live or stay within 30 minutes of hospital when on call. Or required to be in house if candidate lives beyond the 30-minute window.
• After training will be available to cover weekend call shifts, on average one weekend every 6 weeks and 4 weekday calls within a 6-week period. This call is subject to change based on the number of APPs.

Nurse Practitioner Requirements

Experience:

• Minimum 1 year of related experience
• Minimum 5 years increasingly responsible experience which demonstrates professional working knowledge of nursing theory and practice, with competence in physical assessments, different diagnosis, pathophysiology, pharmacology and management of acute and chronic pediatric problems preferred
• Applicant should be able to demonstrate professional working knowledge of nursing theory and practice, with competence in physical assessment, differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, pharmacology and management of acute and chronic pediatric problems. Experience in pediatrics, Neurosurgery and/or clinic setting a plus
• Bilingual skills desirable

Education/Licenses/Certifications:

• Graduate of a Nurse Practitioner program and Master’s degree in nursing required
• Active California Registered Nurse licensure (RN)
• Active California Nurse Practitioner license (NP) – Must successfully complete the credentialing process through the Medical Staff office via CIDP for the appropriate scope of practice, written standardized protocols and furnishing privileges
• Nurse Practitioner National Certification (NP-C) within  months of hire or transfer into position
• Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days of hire or transfer into position

Physician Assistant Requirements

Experience:

• Minimum 1 year of related experience
• Experience in pediatrics, Neurosurgery and/or clinic setting a plus
• Bilingual skills desirable

Education/Licenses/Certifications:

• Graduate of a Physician Assistant program
• Associates degree required, bachelor’s or master’s degree in related field preferred
• Active California Physician Assistant license (PA) required - Must successfully complete the credentialing process through the Medical Staff office via CIDP for the appropriate scope of practice, written standardized protocols and furnishing privileges
• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) required
• Other certifications in applicable area of specialty preferred
• Applicant should be able to demonstrate professional working knowledge of nursing theory and practice, with competence in physical assessment, differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, pharmacology and management of acute and chronic pediatric problems. Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days of hire or transfer into position

Additional Position Details:  Position includes floor coverage, clinic coverage and first assist in the operating room.  Additionally, there is a variable amount of night call shared on rotation and pending staff availability. 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation Range:

$84.64 - $122.73

Workshift:

Day (United States of America)

Position Exempt:

Yes

FTE %:

100

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Daily Hours:

8

Have Questions?

Call Recruitment Services at 559-353-7071 or email us at recruiting@valleychildrens.org
Disclaimer: Final compensation will be dependent upon skills and experience.