Nurse Practitioner - Pediatric ICU

UCSF Health; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital is seeking a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner to join the PICU and related inpatient, outpatient, and shared‑encounter teams. The NP will collaborate with attendings, fellows, and residents, providing high‑level care across 12‑hour shifts and aiming to meet productivity expectations set by the Division Chief.

Responsibilities span direct patient care, care coordination, telehealth, and performance of procedures within privileges.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a California Board‑recognised Nurse Practitioner program with a master’s or doctoral degree in Acute Care Pediatric Nursing.
• Minimum two (2) years of recent RN experience in a Pediatric ICU or two (2) years of NP experience in a pediatric inpatient or emergency department setting plus two (2) years of inpatient RN experience in pediatric critical or transitional/intermediate care.
• Preferred: at least three (3) years of experience working as an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in a Level III Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Responsibilities

• Inpatient – Direct Patient Care (70%): Evaluates and manages patients, takes histories, orders tests, documents in EMR, and discharges with plans.
• Inpatient – Care Coordination (30%): Coordinates admission through discharge planning and follow‑ups, participates in huddles, and develops protocols.
• Outpatient – Independent Encounters: Manages telehealth and in person visits, documents care, and orders services.
• Outpatient – Shared Encounters with Physicians: Manages patients with attending physicians, improves clinic volume, documents care, and assists in OR.
• Outpatient – Care Coordination: Coordinates across continuum, determines follow‑up timing and attends quality meetings.

Education

Master’s or Doctoral degree in Acute Care Pediatric Nursing

California RN License

California NP License

DEA Registration

NP Furnishing Number

Tools

American Heart Association BLS and PALS certifications

Job description

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital is recognized worldwide as a leader in health care with a 183‑bed facility home to more than 150 specialists across 40+ specialties.

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) provides high‑level clinical care for infants and children requiring continuous monitoring. The PICU has 20 beds, while the Pediatric Transitional Care Unit (TCUP) is an 18‑bed unit that serves patients with moderate to high complexity of disease during recovery from surgery, transplant, or other significant interventions. Both units admit over 1,000 children annually from the western United States.

The Nurse Practitioner will act as a full member of the team, taking responsibility for the safe delivery of care in collaboration with attending physicians, fellows, and residents. The role involves rotating 12‑hour shifts and meeting productivity expectations set forth by the Division Chief.

Responsibilities

Inpatient – Direct Patient Care (70%)

• Independently or collaboratively evaluates and manages patients, including taking histories, performing physical examinations, and responding to changes in patient status.
• Orders medications, diagnostic tests, and durable medical equipment, and provides home health services as indicated.
• Documents all care in the electronic medical record per UCSF Rules and Regulations.
• Provides accurate billing statements that reflect the performing provider and adhere to the APP Billing Policy 3.08.01.
• Responds to clinical documentation integrity inquiries within three days.
• Performs procedures within the scope of privileges and standard procedures.
• Identifies patients with acute decompensation, initiates the hospital plan of care, and reviews with the physician.
• Initiates consultations as indicated.
• Recommends appropriate treatments after documenting independent assessment findings.
• Participates in service rounds and patient evaluation and treatment planning.
• Reviews lab, X‑ray, and other diagnostic results and initiates team plans.
• Develops individualized plans of care for complex cases and disposition to a lower level of care.
• Interprets and acts upon completed tests, procedures, and radiographic studies.
• Completes all required paperwork and electronic health record documentation, including medication orders, episodic care notes, and discharge summaries.
• Communicates findings, treatment options, and care plans effectively with patients and families.
• May assist in the operating room, if privileged, following required certification and proctoring.
• Monitors patients for discharge, sets parameters, and defines discharge regimen with the multidisciplinary team.
• Discharges patients, prescribes medications, orders durable medical equipment, and recommends or refers for ongoing follow‑up care, providing discharge teaching and completing discharge summaries.

Inpatient – Care Coordination (30%)

• Coordinates care throughout the continuum—admission, intra‑hospital care coordination with staff and consulting services, and discharge planning.
• Coordinates episodic care and schedules routine clinic follow‑ups.
• Participates in huddles with clinic and hospital staff, anticipating patients who require close management or intervention.
• Consults with nursing staff on individualized nursing care plans.
• Provides case summaries for disability, insurance agencies, workers’ compensation, work releases, and medical supply agencies.
• Formulates and implements protocols to improve quality and efficiency and to control waste in the clinical specialty.

Outpatient – Independent Encounters

• Evaluates and manages patients in independent APP encounters, including telehealth, for new, follow‑up, acute, routine, and specialty patients.
• Performs histories, physical examinations, interprets diagnostic tests, forms evidence‑based assessments and plans, responds to changes in patient status, and orders necessary services.
• Collaborates with attending physicians as needed.
• Documents care in the electronic medical record per UCSF Rules and Regulations.
• Provides accurate billing and complies with Appendix Billing Policy 3.08.01.
• Performs procedures via standardized procedures/privileges.
• Identifies high‑risk groups and complex cases for review with attending physicians and initiates consultations.
• Develops individualized plans of care for rehabilitation and facilitates occupational and physical therapy and physical medicine & rehabilitation consultations.
• Interprets and acts upon ordered tests, procedures, and radiographic studies promptly.
• Completes relevant paperwork and electronic health record documentation, including medication orders and episodic care notes.

Outpatient – Shared Encounters with Physicians

• Evaluates and manages patients in shared encounters with attending physicians, including telehealth, aiming to increase clinic volume.
• Provides care to new, follow‑up, acute, routine, and specialty patients, performing examinations, interpreting tests, collaborating on evidence‑based assessments, and responding to changes in status.
• Documents care per UCSF Rules and Regulations and complies with the billing policy.
• Assists in the operating room if privileged and certified.
• Identifies high‑risk groups and complex cases, initiates consultations, and formulates rehabilitation plans.
• Interprets and acts upon ordered tests and radiographic studies promptly.
• Completes all required paperwork and electronic health record documentation.

Outpatient – Care Coordination

• Coordinates care across the continuum, including admission, intra‑hospital coordination, and discharge planning (not inpatient management).
• Determines timing of routine clinic follow‑ups and coordinates episodic care.
• Participates in huddles, anticipates patient needs, and attends quality improvement meetings.
• Consults with nursing staff on individualized care plans.
• Provides case summaries for disability, insurance, workers’ compensation, work releases, and medical supply agencies.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a California Board‑recognised Nurse Practitioner program with a master’s or doctoral degree in Acute Care Pediatric Nursing.
• Minimum two (2) years of recent RN experience in a Pediatric ICU *or* two (2) years of NP experience in a pediatric inpatient or emergency department setting plus two (2) years of inpatient RN experience in pediatric critical or transitional/intermediate care.
• Preferred: at least three (3) years of experience working as an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in a Level III Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Licenses & Certifications

• California Registered Nurse (RN) License without restriction.
• California Nurse Practitioner (NP) License without restriction.
• California NP Furnishing Number with national board certification (e.g., CPNP‑AC). See Addendum A for details.
• Valid California Driver’s License, if required.
• DEA Registration with schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4, and 5 registered to a California address.
• American Heart Association BLS and PALS certifications.
• No additional required certifications.

About UCSF

UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through research, education, and excellence in patient care. It serves as the only campus in the UC system devoted exclusively to health sciences.

UCSF values diversity, inclusion, and equity, fostering a community that respects professionalism, integrity, and the well‑being of patients and staff.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

Final salary and offer components are subject to UC policy and approvals. Your placement within the salary range will depend on experience and internal equity. For more information about UCSF compensation and benefits, visit UCSF Compensation and Benefits.