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Looking to build confidence to practice in the UVA Health Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)? The new Neonatal Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Transition to Practice post-graduate program is welcoming any APPs, physician assistants, and neonatal nurse practitioners to apply. The program is designed to encompass the first 12 months of employment as an APP, with the current goal of retaining 100% of new hire-APPs who complete this program. 

From Academia to Clinical Practice 

The program — supporting UVA Health strategic plan goals including Best Place to Work and more — offers a comprehensive framework and strategies to support newly-hired APPs transitioning from academia to clinical practice. 

“Our goal is to prepare APPs with the medical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and procedural expertise necessary for excellence in neonatal critical care,” explains Sarah Lepore, RN, MSN, NNP-BC, APP Manager, UVA Health Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, and UVA School of Nursing alum. “This program is rooted in a foundation of organizational orientation, hands-on clinical practice, mentorship, and the promotion of professional development and wellness.” 

3 Components 

The new program aims to foster the development of well-prepared and supported neonatal APPs through: 

• Clinical Mentorship
  Experienced APPs and neonatologists provide hands-on training in critical care skills including delivery room management, neonatal procedures, and principles of neonatal critical care management. 

• Didactic Learning
   
  Boot Camp covers essential topics such as perinatal concepts, basic fluid and electrolyte management, introduction to ventilation and blood gas analysis, sepsis management, and transition from fetal to neonatal circulation.
  
  Neonatal Core Curriculum spans six to nine months of in-depth classes led by UVA Health’s experienced APPs, neonatologists, neonatology fellows, and other members of the multidisciplinary team. 

• Evaluation
  Encompassing simulation exercises, skills assessments, and ongoing evaluation of learning. Participants also complete quarterly surveys to track their progress on core neonatal management milestones. 

Who Can Apply? 

All APPs — not only new graduates — are welcome to apply. APPs who have been working in a different field or environment also may benefit from this program. 

New hire APPs in this program are paid employees with full salary and benefits based on FTE status.  

Next Steps 

The program offers rolling enrollment based on job openings in the Neonatal APP Team. Internal candidates can log on to Workday and search for “Neonatal Advanced Practice Provider.” They must complete their application through Workday. 

External candidates can search current job openings through the UVA Health jobs website. Search “Neonatal Advanced Practice Provider” for a job link to apply, then complete your application through Workday.  

Learn more about the program on the UVA School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics Neonatal APP Transition to Practice Program web page.