THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

THE NEXT GENERATION OF

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

A NEW FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TRAINS NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital celebrated when the new Advanced Practice PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED CARE FOR PATIENTS. Provider Fellowship Program received accreditation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. NOTE: This photo was taken

In 2006, about 10 advanced practice FIRST IN NEW JERSEY before mask and social distancing recommendations providers (APPs) were members of In 2016, RWJUH introduced a fellowship were in place. the medical staff at Robert Wood program for APPs in New Jersey. In 2019, Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH). the hospital was the first in New Jersey Today, more than 375 APPs help care for to receive Accreditation with Distinction culture,” says Nicastro. “APPs develop an patients undergoing heart transplants, by the American Nurses Credentialing appreciation for each team’s role in patient cancer treatment, palliative care and Center. “We developed the program care. When you’ve worked in a certain area more. “They’re trained to work in because we have highly specialized of the hospital, you develop a relationship different areas of the hospital,” says Olivia departments, such as cardiothoracic with people there and you know who to Nicastro, MSN, RN, APN, ACNP-BC, surgery, rapid response and many call later. You can provide better care for an ICU nurse practitioner and Director Intensive Care Units, which use APPs,” patients as a result.” of the Advanced Practice Provider says Stein. “We wanted to give APPs the The fellowship program enables Fellowship Program at RWJUH. support, education and training they APPs to practice to the highest level of

APP is an umbrella term that refers to need.” In the one-year, intensive program, their licensure, says Nicastro. It’s highly skilled healthcare providers, such as clinical APPs rotate through various clinical competitive. Each year, there are more nurse specialists, Certified Registered areas in the hospital, such as cardiology, than 20 applicants for just three spots. Nurse Anesthetists, physician assistants neurology, neurosurgery, infectious Graduates are often hired to fill open (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). APPs disease, renal, endocrine, trauma and positions at RWJUH. Currently, the are licensed healthcare providers who work acute care. They also work with physicians program is working to expand advanced in collaboration with attending physicians. in the medical, surgical, neurological and training for other specialties, such as NPs and PAs are versatile because they cardiovascular ICUs. primary care. “We have a shortage of can help care for patients with a variety So far, seven people have graduated from primary care providers, so APPs can help of medical problems. “Their autonomy is the APP fellowship program. Three APPs combat the physician shortage,” says Stein. unmatched,” says Sherry Stein, MS, RN, are participating this year. “The program “We want to train the next generation of APN, ACNP-BC, Administrative Director, creates a collaborative, multidisciplinary skilled healthcare providers.” Hospital Based Providers at RWJUH. “They can perform many procedures. They can place central venous catheters in the ICU, To learn more about the Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Program, manage critically ill patients and suture visit www.rwjbh.org/RWJUHappfellowship. wounds in the Emergency Department.”