Physician Assistant - Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery

Position Title

Physician Assistant - Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery

Job Description Summary

PRN Cardiac, Vascular, and Thoracic (CVT) Advanced Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant)

Position Summary:

The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) will provide specialized care for cardiovascular and thoracic surgery patients in an inpatient-only setting, primarily supporting patients in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) and CV Stepdown Unit. This role focuses on managing complex post-operative patients and collaborating closely with CVT surgeons and the multidisciplinary team to ensure optimal outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Deliver comprehensive care to CVT surgery patients in CVICU and CV Stepdown units.

Perform patient assessments, develop and implement treatment plans, and manage post-operative recovery.

Order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and perform bedside procedures within scope of practice.

Participate in patient education and discharge planning.

Ensure adherence to clinical protocols, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.

Document all care accurately in the electronic health record (EHR).

Education & Qualifications:

-Master's degree in Nursing (to be obtained within 24 months if not already completed) or completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program.

Experience:

-Minimum of one year in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery or advanced practice nursing required.

-Prior CVICU experience strongly preferred.

Licensure/Certification:

-Current RN license from the Virginia Department of Health Professions or Compact State Licensure required (for NPs).

-Nurse Practitioner license from the Virginia Department of Health Professions preferred (for NPs).

-National certification as NP or PA required (or eligibility upon hire).

-Current BLS and ACLS certifications required.

Schedule & Status:

PRN (as needed)

Shift Details: 12-hour shifts (primarily daytime coverage, mid-week, and weekend).

No on-call responsibilities; all coverage is in-person.

Preferred Skills:

Strong clinical judgment and ability to manage critically ill patients independently within scope of practice.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Familiarity with CVT surgical protocols and post-operative care.

Compensation & Benefits

At VHC Health, every role contributes to exceptional care, better outcomes, and stronger communities.

Compensation Range:

Nurse Practitioner: $59.26/hr. $112.57/hr.

Physician Assistant: $53.08/hr. - $100.85/hr.

Job Description

Purpose & Scope:

A Physician Assistant (PA) employed by VHC Health Physicians ("Physician Group") is required to complete a PA Agreement with their Collaborating Physician(s). This PA Agreement will describe the PA's role and function of the PA, including but not limited to, number of patients, types of illnesses, nature of treatments, special procedures, the nature of physician's involvement, and the evaluation process. In addition, it will indicate the prescriptive authority of the PA and approval of invasive procedures authorized by the executed PA Agreement. Overall, the PA will support objectives, budget, performance metrics and medical activities at an Individual level including implementation of quality control standards, risk management and compliance programs.

Education:

Graduation from an accredited Physician Assistant program required.

Experience:

One year of experience as a Physician Assistant preferred.

Certification/Licensure:

Licensed as a Physician Assistant by the Virginia Department of Health Professions required.

Awards & Recognition

• Washington Commanders selected VHC Health as its women's health partner because of the health system's continued commitment to advancing women's health, reducing the stigma of mental health, and creating greater access to care in the Washington, DC metro region.
• Received a top ranking in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals for the fourth year in a row. Ranking over 2,800 hospitals in 28 countries, this study asked 85,000 medical experts across the world to participate in an online survey covering topics such as recommendation of hospital, satisfaction of patient care, quality of care for specific treatments, among other factors.
• Recognized by the Women's Choice Award for Best Hospital in eight categories: bariatric surgery, obstetrics, heart care, minimally invasive surgery, orthopedics, cancer care, comprehensive breast care, women's services, mammogram and patient experience. This award is graded based on the best publicly available information, patient surveys and accreditation information, and the Women's Choice Award delivers a simplified, objective ranking to each category.
• Named a 2023 Best Cancer Hospital by Newsweek. One of 175 hospitals and just three in the Washington, DC metro region to be included in the rankings.
• Named best hospital for billing ethics by Money magazine and The Leapfrog Group. This is the first-ever Leapfrog Best Hospitals ranking to help patients make educated decisions about which institutions are best for the money.

Our Community

• Living in Northern Virginia, one of the best places to live near D.C., you can have it all: a lucrative job at a forward-thinking company plus access to the country's greatest historical sites, a bustling caf culture, active nightlife and concert going, a thriving wine region, seven professional sports teams, and a mild four-season climate with year-round kayaking, biking, and hiking. We offer some of the best public and private schools in the nation and access to 60 colleges and universities. In fact, we are the most educated region in the country. Here, there are no compromises. NOVA is one of the best places to live and work in the country.
• Arlington is home to the Pentagon, and the Arlington National Cemetery.
• Home to more than 100 U.S. and global corporate headquarters, including the 6th highest number of Fortune 500 companies.
• Northern Virginia is one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in the United States
• Fairfax County has many of the highest ranking schools in the nation according to U.S. News and World Reports.
• Arlington County also offers outstanding schools - about 94 percent of all graduating high school seniors in Arlington go on to attend college.
• Two major airports with direct flights to 109 domestic and 60 international destinations.
• Northern Virginia has many recreational and community amenities including: over 89 miles of biking/jogging trails, 167 public parks, approximately 14 community centers, 7 live stage theaters, 8 libraries, and 652 restaurants.
• Minutes to the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Museums, Tyson's Corner, and Wolftrap National Park for the Performing Arts
• Whether you choose to live in Arlington County, Fairfax County, City of Alexandria or in any of the other great areas in the DC area, you will have little problem in finding a location that is right for you.

We look forward to hearing from qualified candidates interested in joining us in a highly collegial environment where the patient is at the center of what we do

Additional Job Description

At VHC Health, every role contributes to exceptional care, better outcomes, and stronger communities. In addition to your base compensation, VHC Health offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage (subject to eligibility requirements), as well as additional wellness and retirement benefits designed to support our employees and their families. VHC Health is committed to wage transparency and equitable pay practices. The compensation offered for this positionwhether expressed as an annual salary or hourly rateis determined based on a variety of legitimate, non-discriminatory factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, a candidate's qualifications, relevant training and experience, skill level, shift differentials (where applicable), internal equity, and current market conditions. The posted hiring range reflects the range VHC Health, in good faith, believes is appropriate for this role at the time of posting. This range may be adjusted in the future based on