Nurse Practitioner; Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

We are seeking a Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner to join the Blalock Taussig Thomas Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center for the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU). The Nurse Practitioner will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary health care team and would be responsible for providing comprehensive care to critically ill children with congenital and acquired heart disease.

The 12 bed PCICU provides state-of-the-art cardiac critical care to infants, children, and adolescents with both medical and post-surgical cardiac disease. Our multi-disciplinary team provides the full spectrum of contemporary cardiac critical care including pediatric heart transplant, a robust extracorporeal support team including ECMO and mechanical circulatory devices including Berlin Heart, Pedi Mag/Centri Mag, and ventricular assist devices. Our PCICU NPs independently manage their own patients and work directly with attending cardiac intensivists as an integral part of our care team.

As the birthplace of pediatric cardiac surgery, Johns Hopkins has been at the forefront of caring for children with congenital heart disease. The PCICU team is the centerpiece of our rapidly growing Heart Center. Our team works closely with cardiovascular surgery, cardiac anesthesia, and cardiology to provide a team-based approach to patient care in all locations within the Heart Center. Additionally, the PCICU NP works closely with physicians and other APPs in our cardiac step-down unit.

The ability to work collaboratively with a variety of disciplines and roles is integral to the PCICU NP role.

The Department of Pediatric Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins is one of the premier departments in the country and one of the most highly funded pediatric critical care divisions with current areas of research including ECMO, quality and safety in congenital heart care, simulation and CPR quality, early mobility, and developmental outcomes for critically ill children.

As part of the PCICU NP group, opportunities for professional development including, but not limited to research, publication, quality improvement, multidisciplinary and/or interdepartmental collaborative efforts are available. Johns Hopkins University benefits incorporate funds to support annual conference attendance, continuing education, and more. Mentorship from senior nurse practitioners and faculty are foundational to our standing as an academic center focused on advancing the care of pediatric heart disease.

The ability to work effectively with faculty and multi-disciplinary teams is particularly important. At least two years of experience working in a pediatric cardiology, cardiac surgery or cardiac ICU is preferred for new graduate nurse practitioner candidates.

• Conducts comprehensive and/or episodic health assessments for critically ill children with congenital and acquired heart disease.
• Records and documents assessment data necessary to maintain, coordinate, and/or expedite required services.
• Perform history and physical exams, discriminating between normal and abnormal findings.
• Identify differential diagnosis.

• Order appropriate lab, radiographic and other studies.
• Appropriately interpret results of lab, radiographic and other studies.
• Performs tests and procedures as indicated within scope of practice.
• Establish a plan of care related to patient’s identified problems, including medication and therapeutic procedures.
• Consult with other team members regarding proposed treatment guidelines as necessary.

• Prescribe and regulate medications and performs other related procedures within the Maryland Board of Nursing scope of practice for the Nurse Practitioner.
• Record patient visit/interaction in concise clear logical and timely manner.
• Arrange referrals to appropriate specialties when needed.
• Triage patient telephone calls, messages, and interactions appropriately.
• Tracks patient compliance with treatment plan.

• Utilize time management to see patients in an efficient manner as identified by departmental goals.
• Maintain consistent level of productivity. Identifies problems that impede overall functioning and initiates appropriate interventions.
• Work collaboratively with the health team members to facilitate smooth operations of the unit.