APP Fellowship Program in Neonatology

Applications are accepted at any point in time during the year and fellowship cohorts are accepted for rolling admission.

Program Outline

• Applications due: rolling admission
• Interview dates: to be set up following application submission
• Duration of program: 12 months

Curriculum/Rotations

The APP Fellowship in Neonatology at The University of Rochester Medical Center is a 12 month post-graduate specialty training program for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. The program is 75% clinical and 25% didactic and includes side-by-side education with the UR Medicine Pediatric Residency and Neonatal Fellowship programs. The APP Fellowship includes a core program of neonatal medicine and also several specialty rotations meant to enhance neonatal provider education. Neonatal medicine rotations include experiences in the Golisano Children’s Hospital Level IV NICU, Newborn Nursery and Birthing Centers.  In addition, Fellows participate in Neonatal skills labs and NICU simulations. The program also offers protected time throughout the fellowship to enrich the academic experience with participation in quality improvement or research projects. This program is designed to provide a foundation in neonatology while fostering the provider in developing the skills to give comprehensive high quality care to the most complex and critically-ill newborns and well newborns.

The program is targeted for Nurse Practitioners or Physicians Assistants interested in Neonatal Medicine, but do not have any previous experience in the field.

APP Clinical Rotations

Education

The first week of the program will include neonatal unit based education and presentations from various Neonatologists and Advanced Practice Providers. Education will continue throughout the fellowship year with mandatory weekly conferences and seminars targeted at advancing the APP Fellow in perinatal and neonatal medicine.  The APP Fellow will complete the University of Rochester School of Nursing, Advanced Practice Care of the High Risk Neonate course during the year. The APP fellow will also participate in case conferences, journal club reviews and literature reviews throughout the academic year.

Procedures You Could Learn

• Placement of Umbilical Venous and Umbilical Arterial Catheters
• Endotracheal Intubations
• Lumbar Puncture
• Placement of PICC lines
• Neonatal Circumcision
• Placement of Peripheral Arterial Line
• Thoracentesis
• Placement of Pleural Chest Tube

APP Fellowship Benefits

• APP Fellows are offered full employee benefits:
  • Competitive Fellowship salary
  • Health insurance coverage
  • Dental insurance coverage
  • Life insurance policy
  • Disability insurance coverage
  • 5 weeks Paid vacation
• The Fellowship program includes certifications such as:
  • BLS through RQI training
  • NRP
  • STABLE
• Additional Benefits: scrub allowance/NICU jacket, book stipend $300, CME stipend $1250, Peri-Facts perinatal education subscription, attendance at NICU specific conferences
• Upon successful completion of the program, Fellows may be offered full-time medical staff positions in the NICU

Requirements

The APP Fellow must meet the following qualifications:

• Nurse Practitioner
  • Master’s degree in Nursing
  • Active New York State licensure as Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner in good standing
  • Current national certification as a Nurse Practitioner (completed during program)
• Physician Assistant
  • Completion of an AMA approved Physician Assistant program
  • Active New York State Physician Assistant licensure in good standing
  • Current national certification as a Registered Physician Assistant

Applicants for the Neonatal Intensive Care APP Fellow position should demonstrate clinical competence as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills. The APP Fellow should have excellent customer relation skills, a passion for Neonatal Care and an active desire to learn.