Advanced Practice Providers Bring More Quality and Access to Care
The health care industry is undergoing many changes to keep up with the demand for pediatric services and access to health care. Although they’ve been part of our care teams for decades, the advanced practice provider (or “APP”) is a growing solution to meet that demand.
What is an Advanced Practice Provider?
Advanced practice providers (“APPs,” for short) elevate the fields of medicine and nursing to ensure our children and families receive safe, high-quality, evidence-based care. As part of a multidisciplinary team, they are certified and licensed to:
- Assess, diagnose, treat and manage illnesses
- Prescribe medications
- Order diagnostic studies
- Perform clinical procedures
- Conduct research
- Assist in surgeries
APPs would include nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). The credentials you see after their names would look like these:
- Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAA or AA)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Nurse Practitioners (NP, ARNP, APRN)
- Physician Assistants (PA, PA-C)
Opportunities, Programs and Benefits for APPs Throughout Nemours
APP presence is felt throughout the enterprise in all three key regions, across nearly all clinical departments and divisions. This has led to recognized training, advancement and benefits for new and existing APP associates, as well as better options for clinical mentorship and both formal and informal career opportunities and recognition as APP roles continue to expand. Examples at Nemours Children’s include:
Presence and Leadership
- Professional advancement models
- APP councils for each key region (Central Florida, Delaware Valley and North Florida)
- Post-graduate APP training programs in Delaware Valley and Florida (learn more below)
Opportunities and Development
- Student loan forgiveness, tuition reimbursement
- Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) grants
- Health equity
- Community involvement work
- Volunteer activities
- Professional development
- Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
- LEADER program
- CME Opportunities (In-Person or Online)
- APP lecture series
- APP pharmacology conference
- Grand rounds
Wellness Resources
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Peer support program
- Calm app
- Health coaching
- Well-being rounds
- Employee fitness centers
- Volunteer time off
Clinical Preeminence
- New-to-Practice Series (All novice APPs participate in a year-long program to teach the soft skills of professionalism and help smooth the transition to practice.)
- Continuous improvement (CI), Quality improvement (QI), research
- Faculty appointments
- Clinical pathways
Other
- License and DEA renewal
- Malpractice support
Unique APP Training Programs at Nemours
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are the top two fastest growing sections in health care. Nemours offers doctoral and residency/fellowship programs to reflect the need to meet this need. In addition to being a pediatric health system, we offer programs such as:
- Pediatric General Surgery Physician Assistant Residency
- Neonatal Physician Assistant Residency
- Pediatric Acute Care APP Fellowship
- Plus, hospital medicine, NICU, anesthesia and emergency medicine.
Advanced Practice in the News
Here are some articles covering a variety of topics related to APPs. Please note these are studies and articles published by external organizations and therefore do not represent the opinions of Nemours Children’s Health; they are being shared for informational purposes only.
A 2024 survey conducted by SullivanCotter highlights a range of trends in advanced practice provider pay, particularly higher salaries. Read More
Burnout and depression among nurse practitioners have not declined, according to a recent report. Read More
Vanderbilt University Hospital will change its reporting structure and add advanced practice clinician directors to segments of its leadership teams. Read More
Advanced Practice Provider Careers
Advanced practice providers care for children throughout our health system, and our APPs provide clinical care and leadership throughout the enterprise. Wherever you are in your career journey, there’s a place for you at Nemours.
Advanced Practice Providers Get Social
Advanced practice providers have an active “social” life as well. Join us online to see everything from clinical activities to how we celebrate (and get celebrated) during APP week.
