APP - Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner | Urgent-Acute-Walk-In Care | Thief River Falls

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

About the role

The Urgent-Acute-Walk-In Care Nurse Practitioner provides immediate, high-quality advanced nursing care for patients presenting with non-life-threatening acute illnesses and minor injuries. The NP assesses, diagnoses, treats, and educates patients in a fast-paced, walk-in clinic environment, in collaboration with physicians and healthcare staff to ensure efficient patient flow and care delivery.

Responsibilities

• Conduct focused patient histories and physical examinations.
• Diagnose and treat a wide range of acute illnesses and injuries including respiratory infections, minor fractures, lacerations, burns, and allergic reactions.
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests such as X-rays, lab work, and EKGs.
• Perform minor procedures including wound suturing, splinting, incision and drainage, and foreign body removal.
• Provide patient education on illness prevention, medication use, and follow-up care.
• Prescribe medications and therapies in accordance with scope of practice and protocols.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and administrative staff to optimize patient care and clinic operations.
• Document all patient encounters accurately and timely in the electronic health record.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and maintain compliance with clinic policies and regulatory standards.
• Respond promptly to emergencies and escalate care as needed.
• See walk-in clinic/urgent care patients as they arrive and are assigned for common conditions such as URIs, women’s and men’s health acute concerns, ortho concerns, lacerations.
• Triage potential stroke and cardiac patients to the ED, trauma transfers, and understanding of trauma transfer criteria to the ED (in the same building).

Schedule

• Full time, 32 hours per week.
• Schedule: Monday–Friday; half days Saturdays on a rotating schedule.
• Scheduled days vary: 3 days and 4 days per week with shifts following the clinic schedule.
• Providers and staff work until all registered patients are seen.
• Walk-in clinic hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–4:50 PM Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM Saturdays.
• Patients are allowed to walk in and register right up until closing time.
• Providers work an average of 9 hours per shift, ranging from 8.5 to 10.5 hours per shift.

Team Structure

• Physicians: All primary care physicians assist in supporting the walk-in clinic. Typically, 5–7 physicians and an additional 4–5 APPs rotate through on Saturdays and support coverage for both planned and unplanned PTO or high patient census days.
• APPs: Three dedicated APPs who only work walk-in/urgent care.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctorate degree from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program.
• If APRN was licensed prior to August 1, 1995, a master's degree in nursing is preferred.
• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner in each state of practice.
• Current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) permit to prescribe controlled substances in each state of practice.
• State Controlled Substance License (if required by State).
• National board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC or FNP-C).
• Obtains and subsequently maintains required specific competencies and certifications as outlined on privilege form.
• Experience in urgent care, emergency, or primary care settings preferred.
• Emergency Room experience as an RN or APP helpful.
• Required 0.75 FTE (somewhat negotiable).

Pay

Work on a salary guarantee as an APP. Walk-in/urgent care providers typically outproduce their salary and receive additional production compensation before the end of their first year.

Benefits

Sanford offers an attractive benefits package for qualifying full-time and part-time employees. Depending on eligibility, benefits may include:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Work/life balance benefits
• Generous time off package to maintain a healthy home-work balance

For more information about Total Rewards, visit sanfordcareers.com/benefits.