Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Pediatric Behavorial Health / Psychiatry @ DUH

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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 and is the number one hospital in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health's three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms, as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Pediatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Advanced Practice Provider (APP)

Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

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 the unique mental health needs of pediatric psychiatry patients. 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 and under the supervising physician or backup physician who is either 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 the management of specific problems in conjunction with physicians and other members of the health care team.
• 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.
• Utilize prescriptive privileges 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 or 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 report of the daily census 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 as appropriate.
• 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 though a variety of 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 to other healthcare providers, patients and families, and the community at large related to pediatric psychiatry.
• 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 the attainment of 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 Department and professional organizations.  Meet Continuing Education requirements as 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

PA:       Graduate of an ARC accredited Physician Assistant program

NP:       Graduate of an accredited applicable Nurse Practitioner program for pediatric care, e.g., Pediatric NP or a Psychiatry/Mental Health NP program

Certification

PA:       PA-C with CAQ (certificate of added qualifications preferred)

NP:       PNP or PMHNP

• plus PMHS preferred

Licensure

PA:       Unrestricted medical license issued by NCMB with approval to practice as PA

NP:       Unrestricted RN license issued by or recognized by the NCBON with approval to practice as a NP.

Experience:

1 year APP experience required, preferably as a pediatric behavioral health/psychiatry APP.

Physical and mental requirements:

• Able to clearly articulate scope of practice, and practices within those guidelines as a Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant / CNM in the state of 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 computer and learn new software programs
• Able to provide leadership in 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

Primary hours will be Thursday -Sunday, 10-hour shifts, and other hours as needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. 

Duke is an Affirmative Action/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, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the 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 essentialjob 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.