Career Center

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

Welcome to the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We strive to provide outstanding medical care to people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, to train gastroenterology clinicians and researchers, and to perform cutting-edge biomedical research to improve our understanding of digestive diseases. The division has nearly 80 physician-scientists, clinician-educators, medical center clinicians, advanced practice providers, and research-track investigators.

There are three goals that define our division:

• Innovative biomedical, discovery-based research

• Education and training of medical students, residents, postdoctoral fellows, GI research and GI clinical fellows

• Clinical and endoscopic practice focused on compassionate and outstanding patient care

The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition seeks a balance in its clinical and research activities. We strive to serve as a beacon to attract world-class clinicians, investigators and trainees to VUMC with the ultimate goal of providing exceptional patient care and performing innovative, discovery-driven research.

Standard job description and expectations are as follows:

The specialty Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) in the ambulatory care setting works in collaboration with a multidisciplinary health care team. The specialty NP or PA is generally service/physician aligned, managing a distinct patient population in the in-patient and outpatient settings. The care is focused for patients with general GI symptoms including for example, abdominal pain, diarrhea, GI bleed, anemia, dysphagia, nausea and vomiting. The NP or PA functioning both in a clinic and consult inpatient settings with no weekend or after hours call schedule. The specialty clinic NP or PA has a strong foundation in evidenced based practice/education and is responsible for ensuring adherence to clinical pathways/protocols and ensures an environment of safe quality care. The NP or PA demonstrates an advanced level of medical and nursing knowledge, clinical/technical competence, sound clinical judgment, professional communication skills, timely and compliant documentation, and responsible for professional development and competency validation. Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team is essential, including participation in twice monthly multidisciplinary pancreas conference.

Key Functions and Expected Performances:

• Assessment of Health Status

• Performs and documents in the medical record a complete history and physical examination for acute and complex chronically ill patients.

• Orders and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques, relevant supporting diagnostic information and diagnostic procedures where indicated.

• The NP or PA may serve as the first responder for both nursing and house staff in the event of patient status changes, orders, and in situations requiring procedural and resuscitative interventions.

• Assesses for risks associated with the care of the acute and complex chronically ill patient with determination of need for procedures such as upper endoscopy and/or colonoscopy.

• Coordinates daily clinic and consult schedules with the attending physician team, presents patient report, collaborates in plan of care, and follows assigned patient population.

Diagnosis. Collaborates with interdisciplinary health care team in making diagnoses of acute and complex chronic conditions on the GI consult service with coordination with the fellows and residents on that service.

• Manages diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, performance, and supervision.

• Formulates differential diagnoses by priority.

• Diagnoses complications and orders appropriate interventions.

Formulates Plan of Care. Identifies expected outcomes from diagnosis and formulates and documents a plan of care to address complex acute and chronic health care needs.

• Utilizes evidenced based practice guidelines or protocols in an individualized, dynamic plan of care that can be applied across the continuum.

• Implements and modifies plan of care. Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes.

• Manages further diagnostic tests through ordering, interpretation, performance, and supervision.

Communication and Collaboration. Maintains ongoing communication and collaboration with interdisciplinary health care team.

• Implements and modifies plan of care. Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes.

Documentation. Documents/dictates key components of patient's progress via daily progress note, transfer, and discharge summary, and/or clinic note where applicable. (H&P, daily progress notes, plan of care, problem lists, procedure notes, acute event note, discharge summaries in medical record per specific patient unit or service, death summary)

• Implements and modifies plan of care. Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes.

Professional Practice. Demonstrates Professional Practice behaviors including: preceptor/mentoring, education and instruction of students, nursing staff, nurses, graduate and novice nurse practitioners and physician assistants,

• Implements and modifies plan of care. Prescribes diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes.

PRN council meetings, staff and unit meetings, M&M presentations. membership in a professional organization.

Advanced degree and Gastroenterology experience preferred.