Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Fellow

The APN fellow is a licensed independent practitioner who is responsible for managing health problems and coordinating health care for children in accordance with professional standards and hospital guidelines. The APN fellow will receive extensive education and training in Pediatric Physiatry/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for a period of one year, with increasing independence and progression throughout the year. The APN fellow will work collaboratively with other members of the medical staff and interdisciplinary team to provide care to children with special health care needs. The APN fellow provides staff and patient education and is an integral member of the health care team.

Essential Job Functions

Meets expectations of department staff positions as required to meet customer expectations.

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Demonstrates understanding of diagnosis: pertinent medical findings; rationale and goals of treatment; and medical interventions for patients through practice and written documentation.

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Works collaboratively with the health care team to meet the comprehensive medical patient care needs, utilizing quality and cost effective methods.

Assists in identifying and resolving ethical problems or dilemmas of individuals or systems.

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Recognizes the need for continuity and completeness of care, above and beyond basic needs.

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Communicates and incorporates relevant research findings into practice in conjunction with physician and APN preceptors.

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Maximizes potential of self and colleagues by supporting professional growth and attending training and orientation sessions.

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Maintains credentials and continuing education according to professional practice standards and relevant statues and regulations.

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Refers to policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of services to meet customer expectations.

Develops and maintains cooperative relationships with colleagues as well as external contacts.

• Maintains a Joint Protocol specific to their clinical practice area and consults with collaborating physicians as established in the joint protocol.
• Collaborates with the full interdisciplinary team (including patients and families) and all other areas of the organization to ensure the development and implementation of Patient and Family Centered Care practices.
• Participates in team meetings and conferences when available to enhance an interdisciplinary approach to health care delivery.
• Maintains accurate billing.
• Identifies knowledge and skill needs through self-assessment and ongoing competency evaluation.

Pediatric Physiatry/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation APN Fellowship

Overview:

The Pediatric Physiatry/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation APN Fellowship is an intensive 12 month program designed to provide advanced didactic education with focused clinical experience to prepare the APN to provide optimal care to children with special health care needs such as cerebral palsy, brain injury, and neurodevelopmental conditions. The APN Fellowship Program is integrated with the ACGME Fellowship program in Physiatry at CSH so that APN fellows will receive comparable training and experiences in the first year. The APN fellow will also complete the Rutgers Bogg s Center LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders) Fellowship. The goal of the program is to provide APNs with depth, breadth, volume and intensity of clinical training to collaboratively and independently manage children with special health care needs. Graduates of this APN fellowship will receive a certificate of completion from CSH.

Purpose:

The Physiatry - APN Fellowship program will provide the trainee with varied clinical and educational opportunities to prepare them for autonomous practice at CSH. The fellow will be provided opportunities for the following during their fellowship:

• Understand the complex developmental processes of infants, children, adolescents and young adults, in the context of their families and communities;
• Understand the biological, psychological, and social influences on development in the emotional, social, motor, language, and cognitive domains;
• Understand the processes for identification, diagnosis and management of the child with abnormal muscle tone, and/or mobility impairment.

• Understand and manage equipment use in children with mobility issues.

Fellowship plan:

The fellow will be considered a full time salaried employee of CSH. She/he will be eligible for benefits and will be a member of the medical staff.

The fellow will sign a 3 year contract of employment (one year of fellowship, two years of employment with CSH post fellowship, in a full time capacity.)This assumes satisfactory job performance.

Team members:

Oversight of the program will be by the Lead APN in conjunction with the Chief Medical Officer and the Section Chief for Physiatry. The primary preceptor will be an interested and willing physician who has completed a GME physiatry program in addition to a senior APN for APN role development.

Application process:

Qualifications of the applicant include Master s or Doctoral degree in nursing, with a minimum 3.5 GPA, national board certification as an NP, NJ state RN license and APN certification, CDS, DEA, and BLS. New graduates will be considered and prior experience as an APN is not necessary.

Application will include a narrative statement of interest in this specialty and goals for future professional growth, as well as 3 professional references.

Site of practice Will vary depending on preceptor availability. Outpatient sites, inpatient rehabilitation, New Brunswick and inpatient Long Term Care, Mountainside.

Job Specific Contacts

Hospital personnel, patients, families, visitors, physicians, students, nursing school faculty and hospital administrators. Rutgers University LEND faculty.