PA or CRNP (ACNP), Spine Surgery - UPMC Washington

Job Description

University of Pittsburgh Physicians is hiring a Full-Time Physician Assistant or Acute Care Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner to help support the Spine Surgeons in the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at UPMC Washington.

This role seeks individuals with clinical and procedural interest to support the full continuum of care for patients with spinal problems.  This role will include participating in operating room as a first-assist, seeing inpatient consults with supervision, and outpatient clinic responsibilities.  The ideal candidate will demonstrate either prior background in surgical experience, or willingness to learn spinal surgical skills to be a first-assist. The candidate should have interest spinal diseases, with goals to ultimately be clinically independent in the outpatient setting as well as for inpatient consults.  Prior experience in spine surgery is preferred but not necessary, as long as the candidate has willingness to learn nuances of a busy spine practice. 

Key Responsibilities:

Surgical/Perioperative (Operating Room)

• Serve as first assist in spine surgical procedures under the supervision of attending spine surgeons
• Ensure pre-operative readiness by reviewing imaging, completing H&Ps, and participating in surgical planning and site verification
• Assist with positioning, closure, and post-op orders, and document operative notes as needed
• Facilitate smooth OR flow by coordinating with scrub techs, nursing staff, and anesthesia teams
• Participate in post-op surgical huddles and track complications or deviations from expected recovery

Inpatient Consults & Management

• Serve as a spine provider for all inpatient spine consults at Washington Hospital
• Conduct comprehensive assessments, formulate differential diagnoses, order and interpret imaging (CT, MRI, X-ray), and communicate findings with the supervising surgeon
• Develop and initiate treatment plans for both operative and non-operative cases, including bracing, therapy referrals, and discharge planning
• Manage post-operative spine patients including pain management, mobilization, drain care, and coordination of rehabilitation services
• Lead daily progress notes, orders, and documentation, ensuring timely updates for transitions of care
• Serve as liaison with internal medicine, trauma, orthopedics, and rehabilitation teams to ensure comprehensive inpatient spine care

Outpatient Clinic

• Run an independent spine clinic, seeing new patients, surgical follow-ups, and routine spine evaluations
• Review outside records, order and interpret imaging and diagnostic tests (EMG, labs), and develop conservative or surgical treatment plans
• Educate patients and families on diagnoses, treatment options, surgical expectations, and post-operative care
• Coordinate scheduling of surgery and pre-operative clearances, including communication with central schedulers and pre-op services
• Manage post-op wound checks, pain management plans, imaging follow-up, and physical therapy coordination
• Participate in multidisciplinary spine case conferences as appropriate

Why Join Us:

At Washington Hospital, you won't just be filling a role—you'll be pioneering it. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to become the go-to Advanced Practice Provider for a busy  and growing spine program. You'll practice at the top of your license, with a high level of autonomy, procedural involvement, and clinical complexity—all while having the full support of a world-class team behind you. You will directly impact patient care across every setting—clinic, OR, and inpatient—making your role vital, respected, and highly visible within the hospital.

We are proud to offer:

• Clinical autonomy in a high-impact role
• A culture of collaboration where APPs are seen as essential partners in surgical care
• System-wide access to ongoing professional development, academic resources, and research opportunities
• A highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including CME support, retirement contributions, and paid time off
• The stability and strength of being part of a top-tier health system with a strong commitment to neurosurgical care and APP advancement
• If you’re an experienced and motivated APP who thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on surgical environment and is ready to take ownership of a spine practice—this is the role you’ve been waiting for.

See what being an Advanced Practice Provider can do for UPMC and what UPMC can do for Advanced Practice Providers – it’s more than just a job!

• Contribute to UPMC’s mission of Life Changing Medicine
• Set the standards for the level and quality of care for the care delivery team
• Provide patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with all team members.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the community and to your health care profession

What Can UPMC Do for You?

• A career path that provides you with the right experience to be successful in the position you want to obtain now and, in the future
• Health and welfare benefits like medical, vision, dental, and life and disability, and an exceptional retirement program
• Work life balance to help manage other important aspects of your life such as: PTO, wellness programs, paid parental leave
• Competitive pay for the work that you do – base pay, merit, and premium pay
• Sign-on Bonus available if applicable

Staff Level:

The Staff Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is a Physician Assistant or Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner and a member of the care delivery team. The APP is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The APP has responsibility, authority, and accountability for the provision of care through supervision by and collaboration with a physician. The APP manages and provides patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with all team members. The role of the APP encompasses the beginnings of leadership, partnership, collaboration, and supervision. The APP establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care. The APP begins to demonstrate a commitment to the community and to their healthcare profession.

Responsibilities:

• Applies basic professional practice knowledge and skills appropriate for practice setting. Communicates effectively, both verbally and in documentation. Demonstrates critical thinking in all areas of professional practice. Learns to incorporate acceptable standards of professional practice as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality, and satisfaction. Formulates a plan of care that considers individual patient needs. Demonstrates initiative and seeks formal and informal opportunities to improve clinical practice. Seeks guidance and asks questions to continuously improve professional practice. Builds relationships with patients, families, and colleagues. Identifies ethical situations within patient care or within the workplace and seeks assistance. Professionally accepts assignments that gradually increase patient load and complexity.
• Actively engages in clinical development of all members of the healthcare team. Requests opportunities to learn advanced professional practice techniques from senior healthcare team members. Seeks, accepts, and utilizes performance feedback from peers, preceptors, and unit/department Leaders as a learning opportunity and to improve practice. Demonstrates enthusiasm for continuous learning and identifies and creates a plan for the continuation of learning and development. Identifies patient and family needs for education and provides basic education to support the episode of care. Seeks professional development and involvement through membership in a professional organization and/or reading professional literature on a regular basis.
• Demonstrates a basic knowledge of research, how it affects practice and who/what resources are available to assist with evidence-based practice by asking questions, demonstrating interest, participating in journal clubs. Clinical practice demonstrates knowledge of how quality and innovation impacts patient satisfaction, safety, and clinical quality outcomes. Identifies opportunities for improvement in the clinical area.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team. Begins to demonstrate awareness of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions. Cares for patients and self by supporting safety in the workplace.
• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care. Makes recommendations for the improvement of clinical care and the health of the workplace and welcomes and participates in change initiatives. Leads by investing and building healthy relationships among colleagues and other disciplines. Shows the ability to set priorities. Begins to serve as an engaged member of a team supporting colleagues in service to patients and families and may participate in task forces or other initiatives.

• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and/or interact appropriately with the patients served as specified below
• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span
• Possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs
• Provide the care needs as described in the department policy and procedures

Special Skills and Abilities Required

• Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients/families
• Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment
• Handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment
• Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities required as related to various aspects of patient care
• Good clinical judgment
• Critical thinking skills necessary to exercise and lead others in application of acceptable standards of practice
• Mobility and visual manual dexterity
• Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients

This position is dependent upon successful attainment and maintenance of hospital privileges, if applicable to the Business Unit practice.

Licensure, Education, Certifications, and Clearances

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP): 

• The successful completion of an approved nurse practitioner program is required
• BSN, MSN is preferred
• Professional nursing experience and/or nurse practitioner experience is preferred
• Current state RN license and CRNP certification are required
• National certification, eligible for licensure by Pennsylvania board of nursing, eligible for certification as a CRNP by Pennsylvania state board of nursing
• Current CPR certification is required
• Act 31
• Act 33 Clearance will be required 
• Act 73 Clearance will be required 
• Act 34 Clearance required
• ACNP Preferred

Physician Assistant (PA):  

• A graduate of a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the physician assistant (ARC-PA) is required 
• BS or MS candidate is preferred 
• Experience as a physician assistant and/or experience in a clinical setting is preferred 
• Current state PA license certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is required 
• Current CPR certification is required 
• Act 31
• Act 33 Clearance will be required  
• Act 73 Clearance will be required 
• Act 34 Clearance required 

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran