Cardiac Surgery PA-C / RNFA, First Assist

Cardiac Surgery Advanced Practice Provider

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, every role supports our mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to the communities we serve. For more than 160 years, St. Elizabeth Healthcare has been a trusted provider of quality care across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. We're guided by our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve and by our values of excellence, integrity, compassion, and teamwork. Our associates are the heart of everything we do.

We invest in you personally and professionally.

Enjoy:

• Competitive pay and comprehensive health coverage within the first 30 days.
• Generous paid time off and flexible work schedules
• Retirement savings with employer match
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
• Wellness, mental health, and recognition programs
• Career advancement through mentorship and internal mobility

Job Summary:

The Cardiac Surgery Advanced Practice Provider serves as a dedicated first assist in complex cardiac surgical procedures and provides perioperative patient care across the continuum of care. This role requires advanced surgical knowledge, independent clinical judgment, and prior operating room experience. Strong preference will be given to Physician Assistants with first assist experience and Nurse Practitioners who have successfully completed an RNFA program and have demonstrated first assist experience. This position is best suited for experienced surgical APPs seeking a long-term career in cardiac surgery. Operative responsibilities are a primary component of the role, with additional inpatient, outpatient, and call coverage responsibilities.

Job Description:

Direct Patient Care

• Provide care to patients including assessment, comprehensive evaluation, interpretation of diagnostic data, and coordination of patient plans of care as well as staff, patient, and caregiver education. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of St. Elizabeth Healthcare's clinical pathways (for appropriate area of practice) and applicable clinical policies and procedures. Demonstrates competence in patient assessment, prescribing of pharmaceutical agents, and utilization of evidence-based practices. Initiates medical orders including, but not limited to, orders for prescribing and dispensing certain medications within the PA/NP scope of practice as defined by applicable state law and established hospital protocols.
• Participates in call coverage with the cardiac surgeons and other advance practice providers as assigned.
• Arrive a minimum of 15 minutes prior to case start time to assist with prepping and draping.
• Demonstrates aseptic technique while providing care to perioperative patients utilizing advanced surgical instruments, including cardiac and cardiac robotic instrumentation and technology. Under direction of surgeon(s), completes and/or assists with procedures including but not limited to endoscopic harvesting of saphenous vein(s) for bypass procedures, tissue dissection and exposure, sternal wiring and wound closure, cannulation and decannulation, placement of drains, placement and removal of small bore chest tubes, placement of central lines, provision of hemostasis, wound exposure, handling of tissue to reduce possible injury, suturing, and application of wound dressings.
• As directed, make daily inpatient rounds and record pertinent patient progress in charts.

• Perform histories and physicals.
• Write orders in hospital charts for review and counter signature by surgeon.
• Write standing orders as directed by supervising surgeon.
• Record pertinent data on patient charts for signature by surgeon.
• Provide preliminary assessment and interpretation of various diagnostic studies including laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, and radiologic studies.
• Initiate consultation and monitor patients for special tests.
• Dictate or write progress notes and discharge summaries.
• As needed, perform postoperative follow-up care inpatient and ambulatory to include:
• Remove sutures, staples
• Incise and drain superficial skin infections
• Debride, suture care for superficial wounds
• Change/remove wound dressings
• Administer medication upon request of supervising surgeon
• Initiate emergency resuscitation and stabilization measures on any patient as required
• Change postoperative or neckline dressings
• Provide patient education and discharge instructions.
• Arrange patient admissions and dismissals to include referral of patients to appropriate healthcare facilities, agencies, other resources in the community or other physicians.
• Communicates with families, employers, institutions and other health care providers regarding patient's treatment and status.

Planning/Organizing/Initiating

• Organize and prioritize clinical responsibilities to maximize time, efficiency, and productivity. Implement and evaluate progress toward goals for prescribed plan of care based on protocols/guidelines/pathways.
• Provide patient care information to staff and collaborate with supervising physician(s) about the patient's progress. Demonstrates flexibility, sound judgment, and adaptability in decision making/problem solving/team building to function as an effective team member.

Communication

• Maintain effective verbal and written communication skills with all members of the healthcare team to promote continuity of care.
• Documentation in the patient's medical record regarding all treatments and interventions is clear, concise and completed in a timely manner.
• Interactions with all health care professionals are conducted in a professional manner. Keep hospital staff/management informed of pertinent information.
• Provide educational sessions / mentorship for facility staff as needed.
• Effectively communicates with patient family/significant other in a professional manner.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service skills with patients, visitors, and healthcare team.

General Work Practice

• Maintain a safe work environment, which is conducive to and complies with all state, federal, and facility and regulatory standards, policies, and procedures.
• Maintain a current collaborative practice agreement with applicable physician(s).
• Adhere to HIPAA guidelines, professional code of ethics and appropriate billing practices in executing role.
• Participates in the quality improvement activities and community education.

Health and Safety

• Adhere to infection control, emergency, safety, fire and disaster plans and policies, completing required initial training and updates.
• Demonstrate consistent use of standard precautions and proper body mechanics.
• Participates in accurate and complete surgical counts.
• Follow OSHA guidelines. Provide a safe environment to protect patients, visitors and facility staff.

Personal Growth and Development

• Evaluate own educational needs and seeks to enhance knowledge base.
• Participate in professional organizations associated with area of specialty.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Credentials, Licenses (PA-C):

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant Program; meets the requirement for certification/re-certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) in appropriate specialty area.
• Licensure as a Physician Assistant in the state where work is being performed; completion of CME requirements.
• Requires Certificate of Authority and Standard Care Arrangement with collaborating physician to practice as a physician assistant.
• St. Elizabeth Medical Staff Membership & Privileges.
• DEA Certificate with prescribing/dispensing privileges in the state where work is being performed.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Education, Credentials, Licenses (APRN):

• Graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program- Master's degree in nursing with National Nurse Practitioner Certification in appropriate specialty area.
• Licensure as a Nurse Practitioner in the state where work is being performed including completion of CME requirements.
• Successful completion of an RNFA program and associated proctoring.
• Requires Certificate of Authority and Standard Care Arrangement with collaborating physician to practice as a nurse practitioner.
• St. Elizabeth Medical Staff Membership & Privileges.
• DEA Certificate with prescribing/dispensing privileges in the state where work is being performed.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Knowledge:

Expert knowledge of surgical procedures, instrumentation, and operative techniques. Experience with suturing and wound closure. Knowledge of tissue dissection/exposure, blood vessel clamping, coagulating