Advance Practice Nurse Practitioner, Neurology

Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C has an open full time Pediatric Neuromuscular Advanced Practice Provider position to join an established multidisciplinary pediatric neuromuscular program that serves as a major care center in the mid-Atlantic region for children with pediatric inherited or acquired neuromuscular disorders. The neuromuscular team consists of two board certified child neurologists with specialty in neuromuscular disorders, care coordinators, research coordinator, EMG technician, and a genetic counselor with focus on neuromuscular disorders. In addition, the neuromuscular program is part of a comprehensive neuromuscular care team in multidisciplinary clinics along with physical medicine and rehabilitation, pulmonology, cardiology, orthopedics, physical and occupational therapy, endocrinology, nutrition, and social work. The role will be to care for children with suspected or confirmed neuromuscular disorders including initial evaluation, follow up care, and follow up within the larger multidisciplinary neuromuscular program. With newly FDA approved therapies for conditions like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as well as the initiation of newborn screening for SMA regionally in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, the practice of neuromuscular medicine is rapidly evolving translating to improved outcomes for children affected by neuromuscular disorders.

The candidate should have strong clinical background and be willing to contribute to a culture of collaborative work, compassionate and timely patient centered care, and a coordinated and team based approach to care. The candidate should have some interest in advancing care for patients through activities such as quality improvement and/ or clinical research and should have a strong interest to work with pediatric neuromuscular patients and their families. Clinical responsibilities include, but not limited to, outpatient care of children followed in our specialized neuromuscular programs including clinical and diagnostic workup for developmental delay and a suspected neuromuscular disorder, as well as medical management for conditions such as myasthenia gravis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, spinal muscular atrophy, myotonic disorders, hereditary neuropathies, muscular dystrophies, and congenital myopathies. Additional responsibilities may be in follow up and monitoring patients on various disease modifying therapies (which may include treatments such as newer genetic modifying or gene replacement therapies or immune modulation for acquired neuromuscular disorders). An interested candidate may have the opportunity to participate in outpatient or surgical procedures for the administration of disease modifying therapies. Additionally, the candidate will support the work of advanced practice providers within the Department of Neurology. Previous pediatric experience with medically complex patient populations is preferred. Children’s National Hospital provides superb care for our community, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

• Assess, diagnose, monitor and promote clinical status of each patient utilizing evidenced based practice and medical knowledge.

• Develops appropriate plan of care.

• Writes patient care orders, prescribes therapy, and provides necessary home care orders as needed.

• Identifies significant changes in patient status using physical exam, lab values, diagnostic tests, and patient/family input.

• Differentiates between normal and abnormal findings.

• Performs procedures as needed after obtaining appropriate credentialing.

• Participates in and leads multidisciplinary patient care and planning conferences.

• Is a clinical resource for patient, parents and the interdisciplinary team.

• Communicates and escalates clinical/administrative issues as appropriate.

• Collaborates with nursing, medicine, and other members of the healthcare team to regularly ensure quality patient care.

Administrative

• Serves as a clinical preceptor to APRN or PA students.

• Acts as a clinical resource for staff in patient care issues.

• Provides formal/informal educational presentation to staff on areas of expertise.

• Participates in quality improvement work for the department.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details – practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance