Details
Posted: 18-Sep-23
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Salary: Open
Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of diverse individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your diversity of culture, thinking, learning, and leading is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.
Organization:
Psychiatry - Geriatric
Job Summary:
JOB SUMMARY
The Research Nurse Practitioner Position is located within the Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The nurse practitioner is a master's prepared independently licensed nurse who provides medical evaluation and care to patients enrolled in research studies conducted by the Alzheimer's disease and related disorders research program of the Center for Cognitive Medicine (CCM). This activity is performed in collaboration with physicians of the CCM, and other members of the multidisciplinary research care team. The nurse practitioner practice includes the screening of new patients who are candidates for protocols, medically managing them while on a protocol and providing their follow-up care. This activity may be performed in both the in-patient and outpatient setting. Taking histories and physical examinations, ordering and interpreting data obtained from diagnostic tests and laboratory studies, ordering the appropriate medications and treatments, and providing patient and staff education. Medical management includes assessment of acute and non-acute clinical problems and collaboration with study physicians. It also includes the participation in research study meetings and conferences plus in-depth documentation through written progress notes. The nurse practitioner maintains a high level of clinical competence in an area of specialty practice integrating the art and science of both nursing and medicine into practice.
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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Practice
Practices within the scope of practice permittee for nurse practitioners by the State of Tennessee with an approved Physician Agreement. The nurse practitioner must be certified by the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) or other national certifying bodies. The nurse practitioner must be eligible for credentialing within the Vanderbilt Medical Group (VMG).
Functions independently as a certified nurse practitioner for a patient population in collaboration with the physician staff of the CCM. Performs and documents physical assessments and patient histories, analyzes trends in patient conditions, and develops, documents and implements a patient management plan in response to the data obtained. Plans patient care based on in-depth knowledge of the specific patient population and/ or protocol, anticipating and identifying physiological and/ or psychological problems commonly encountered including the consideration of the patient's cultural background, level of understanding, personality and support systems.
Patient management includes the following: 1) writing admission, transfer and discharge orders; 2) ordering and interpreting appropriate laboratory and diagnostic studies: 3) ordering of appropriate medication and treatments; 4) documentation through in-depth progress notes.
Participates in patient care discussions and conferences. Communicates patient management strategies to members of the research patient care team. Collaborates with members of the multidisciplinary research team to ensure that patient management strategies are successful in meeting patient care and research needs.
Research Support
May serve as an associate investigator on protocols. Contributes to the implementation of specific protocols and the clinical management of patients on protocol. Collaborates with other disciplines in the obtaining and maintaining of informed consent/assent of patients on research protocols and prior to implementing invasive procedures.
Interviews and screens patients for entry onto protocols. Monitors and documents response to therapy and communicates findings to principal investigators with recommendations for appropriate intervention.
Leadership
Uses advanced communication skill to problem solve complex situations and to improve processes and services to patients and colleagues.
A. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Required by the Position
Knowledge of a wide range of nursing and medical principles, theories, techniques, and practices to perform the clinical evaluation and the medical management of patients with mild cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.
Knowledge of clinical research in addition to the biological aspects of the disease process and illness in a research environment
Knowledge and ability to obtain and document complete health histories and physical examinations in addition to the ability to communicate and interpret the data obtained. Must have the ability to obtain and interpret clinical data as they relate to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient as well as educate patients and families about their medical condition.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with advanced interpersonal communication skills. This includes the ability to perform computer-based work on a regular basis.
Knowledge of relevant ethical and legal aspects of providing healthcare to patients in a research environment
Knowledge of the research process, the importance of adherence to protocols, and the accuracy needed in collection and documentation of research data.
Knowledge of administrative requirements, i.e., proper use of time, leave and attendance at required meetings.
Skill to cope with the stresses associated with the provision of care to complex patients participating in research protocols.
B. Supervisory Controls
A CCM faculty physician provides consultation when there is a question pertaining to a clinical issue. The name and signature of a Tennessee licensed physician is written into an approved Physician Agreement to act as a consultant or to assign another physician to act as a consultant when the need arises. Patient management is performed with a high degree of independence and in accordance with established standards.
Incumbent is expected to make sound judgments, creatively solve complex clinical problems and reach valid conclusions. Results of work are subject to review but are generally accepted as accurate requiring minimal revision.
Incumbent establishes priorities independently in work organization, determines guidance needed and seeks appropriate assistance through established organizational channels.
Incumbent is responsible and accountable for his or her own actions and is answerable to:
the recipients of services (individuals, families) for providing safe and competent care; self, peers, and the larger professional nursing and medical community for setting and maintaining acceptable standards of practice; 3) the institution and interdisciplinary health care team to work in accord with goals of institution and/ or clinical research.
C. Complexity
The incumbent uses knowledge, skills, and judgment in performing complex patient care functions that are individualized for each patient. The incumbent must recognize and respond appropriately to deviations from normal. The work involves identifying, interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating patients' conditions and collaborating with physicians to make alterations in treatment and diagnostic regimens if needed. This requires the continuous development of knowledge and the ability to know when to obtain the appropriate resources and consultations while acting independently and exercising good judgment. In many cases, extensive research and analysis of a clinical problem may be required in the management of a complex illness.
D. Scope and Effect
The purpose of the work is to ensure a high level of medical and nursing care in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders evaluated and treated by the CCM. The incumbent is responsible for providing medical care of patients in the outpatient setting. This care may also extend to the in-patient research setting (e.g. the VUMC clinical research center). The work supports and enhances research protocols with immediate and long-range impact through care planning, patient teaching, family/significant other counseling and involvement with interdisciplinary colleagues.
E. Personal Contacts
On a daily basis, the incumbent will interact with physicians, study coordinators, study recruiters, clinical research center nurses, pharmacists, social workers, administrators, other VUMC employees, patients and their families and significant others.
Contacts may also include those made in professional associations and organizations.
F. Purpose of Contacts
Contacts are for the purpose of insuring that medical care is appropriately maintained. Patients may be fearful, or hesitant requiring great skill in approaching the patient to obtain the desired effect. This includes coordinating the performance of diagnostic studies and discussion about results, answering inquires by patients, and counseling patients and their families/significant others about their disease and plan of care. The purpose of contacts outside the institution is primarily to ensure continuity of medical care. Outside contact may also include the provision and exchange of clinical trial data as well as providing information about innovations in patient care.
Other Credentials:
Must have competed a Master's prepared Nurse Practitioner Program, be certified and licensed by the Tennessee Board of Nursing and be credentialed by both the Nursing Department and Vanderbilt Medical Group. Must have at least 2 years of experience as a registered nurse.
TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
Our Nursing Philosophy:
We believe highly skilled and specialized nursing care is essential to Vanderbilt University Medical Center's mission of quality in patient care, education and research. We believe nursing is an applied art and science focused on helping people, families and communities reach excellent health and well-being.
As a Vanderbilt University Medical Center employee, you make a difference to our patients and their families by bringing compassion and care to those in need of hope and healing. Please see our current employee benefits offered:
- Affordable High Quality Health Plan Options
- Dental and /or vision plan
- 403 (b) retirement plan
- Paid Time off (flex PTO)
- Tuition Reimbursement and adoption assistance (maximums applied)
- Short-Long term disability
- Subsidized backup childcare
- And many more... Ask us about our current inpatient nursing supplemental Pay Program!
Achieve the Remarkable:
Learn more about VUMC Nursing:
Core Accountabilities:
Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.
Core Capabilities :
Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.
Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications:
LIC-Licensed Nurse Practitioner - Tennessee
Work Experience:
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level:
Less than 1 year
Education:
Master's
Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled