Physician Assistant - Heart Center Fellowship

Job Summary The Duke Pediatric Heart Center Advanced Practice Provider (NP or PA‑C) Fellowship rotates through clinical settings in the pediatric heart center, including inpatient and outpatient locations. The fellowship emphasizes the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and pediatric cardiac stepdown units. Fellows work alongside APPs and MDs to provide direct patient care for newborn congenital heart, surgical, and medically ill pediatric heart center patients from birth to young adults at Duke University Hospital or in the clinics. Goals of Pediatric Heart Center Fellowship Acquire a deep and broad knowledge base of common congenital heart anomalies and disease processes for which patients are hospitalized, understanding the pathophysiology, various presenting clinical presentations, and disease prognosis. Develop a diverse differential diagnosis and respective diagnostic and treatment plan based upon the patient’s presenting symptoms and evidence‑based, cost‑effective medical care. Manage patients effectively throughout the whole hospital stay, including admission, daily rounds, continuing evaluation, and discharge, while remaining cognizant of the patient’s or family’s emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. Learn practice management, including strategies in training APPs and APP students. Develop keen verbal skills to effectively communicate with colleagues, physicians, patients, and ancillary staff to become a key part of the inpatient health care delivery team. Job Duties and Responsibilities Clinical Expert In collaboration with cardiology attendings, PCICU attendings, surgeon(s), and/or APPs, 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 under the supervision of a hospitalist or backup physician. Collaborate with residents, fellows, attendings, NP/PA colleagues, nurses, and patient resource managers to formulate treatment plans and monitor patient progress. Perform procedures specific to the work environment after demonstrating competency and within the guidelines of scope of practice and credentialing protocols. Assess patients for change in status and institute appropriate interventions, initiating emergency interventions to stabilize the patient until physician support arrives. Postoperative stabilization and management. 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 increase effectiveness and efficiency. Communicate verbally and in writing all pertinent patient information to 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, patient condition and response to therapies/interventions, and communications with supervising MD. Use prescriptive privileges only for identified patient populations. Prescribe, order, and/or administer drugs, including schedule II, III, IV, and V drugs and necessary medical devices. Model competence in all nurse practitioner/physician assistant advanced skills. Give daily handoff to appropriate APP, attending, resident, and/or intern at the end of the shift. Assess educational needs of the patient‑care staff and provide one‑on‑one and formal education as needed. Ass ift educational needs of the patients/families and provide culturally sensitive patient/family education interventions as indicated, using non‑technical language and documenting all pre and post‑op/procedure education in the medical record. 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 through 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. 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, families, and the community related to cardiothoracic diseases, procedures, interventions, and conditions. Implement and evaluate appropriate educational programs for referring MDs. Develop, implement, and evaluate standards of care, practice guidelines, policies, procedures, care maps, and protocols within the area of specialization. Develop programs and projects in areas of expertise to facilitate the attainment of the goals and objectives of Duke University Hospital and Duke University Health System. Professional Leadership and Development 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 Cardiology department, CAP Department, and professional organizations. Meet continuing education requirements as designated by the NC Medical Board and/or NC Nursing Board and maintain professional certification. Enhance the body of knowledge in the area of specialization through written publications, oral presentations, posters, continuing education, etc. Attend educational conferences regularly, morbidity and mortality conferences, code reviews, NP monthly meetings, and twice‑yearly adult congenital sessions. When caring for adult patients with congenital heart disease, plan for situations beyond expertise and consult with and refer to other health care providers as appropriate. Job Eligibility Requirements Education (MUST GRADUATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2025) PA: Graduate of ARC accredited Physician Assistant Program, Masters or DMSc degree preferred. NP: Graduate of accredited MSN or DNP Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program. Certification

PA: PA‑C.

NP: PNP‑AC.

License PA: Current unrestricted medical license issued by the NCMB with authorization to practice as PA. NP: Current unrestricted RN license issued or recognized by the NCBON with authorization to practice as NP. Both: Federal and State DEA with unrestricted full prescriptive authority. Experience New PA or PNP‑AC graduates welcome to apply; no APP experience required. Life Support BLS (required) PALS (required) ACLS (recommended) Physical and Mental Requirements Able to clearly articulate scope of practice within guidelines. 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 a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 13, 12‑hour shifts every 4 weeks, covering 7 days a week including days, nights, weekends and holidays. Flexibility is required to meet clinical needs of the service. Equal Opportunity Employer Duke is an 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 (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status. Job Location Durham, NC, US, 27710 Nearest Major Market Durham Nearest Secondary Market Raleigh Read More Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo. #J-18808-Ljbffr Duke PF