PA/ARNP Hospitalist - Cardiothoracic Surgery

Full-time Physician Assistant (PA) or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) position within the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, focusing on inpatient and ambulatory care for cardiothoracic surgery patients. This role aims to manage patient length of stay, improve resource utilization, and reduce costs while delivering personalized care across the continuum—pre-procedure, intraoperative, and post-operative. Includes weekend, holiday, and night call coverage as clinically indicated.

Responsibilities

• Clinical
  • Provide comprehensive medical and surgical management for cardiothoracic surgery patients, collaborating with Anesthesia, Cardiology, and Critical Care services.
  • Facilitate timely admissions, discharges, and transfers.
  • Obtain complete health and medical histories; perform comprehensive physical exams.
  • Demonstrate expertise in vascular, cardiac, and thoracic diseases.
  • Assess and facilitate referrals/consultations based on patient needs.
  • Perform medical diagnosis, therapeutic procedures, and prescribe medications.
  • Order and evaluate diagnostic tests (lab, x-ray, EKG, echo, etc.).
  • Provide anticipatory guidance and counseling to patients and families.
  • Document assessments and care plans in the electronic medical record; generate health reports for outgoing correspondence.
  • Attend rounds/bed huddles in ICUs and step-down units.
  • Insert/remove chest tubes, discontinue epicardial wires, and document procedures.
  • Manage intra-aortic balloon pumps and discontinue as clinically indicated.
  • Perform Extracorporeal Life Support Device management and device interrogation.
• Consultation
  • Serve as a consultative resource for other divisions/departments on cardiac, vascular, and thoracic patient management.
  • Model behavioral skills to positively impact clinical practice and patient outcomes.
• Education
  • Educate nursing staff, medical/advanced practice provider students, and residents in clinical expertise.
  • Develop, utilize, and evaluate resources for patient/family education.
  • Contribute to professional knowledge-sharing.
  • Participate in thoracic, cardiac, and vascular surgery conferences/presentations.
  • Maintain continuing education requirements for licensure.
• Administration
  • Contribute to divisional and departmental goals.
  • Complete additional projects/tasks as designated by supervisor.
• Research/QA/QI
  • Participate in development/implementation of QA/QI/research programs.
  • Assist with clinical trials/research protocols, including consent processes.
  • Complete/update clinical data collection; maintain Society of Thoracic Surgery registry and other databases.
  • Contribute to thoracic, cardiac, and vascular surgery research projects.
• Professional Responsibilities
  • Engage in clinically relevant activities and attend UI Health Care APP council meetings/conferences.
  • Maintain national/state licensing, certification, and compliance requirements.

Requirements

• Physician Associate (PA)
  • Graduation from an accredited PA educational program.
  • Certification by the NCCPA.
  • Eligibility for licensure as a Physician Associate in Iowa.
• Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)
  • Master’s degree (preferably in Nursing; Baccalaureate in Nursing required if Master’s is in a related field).
  • Current board certification in specialty area and Iowa ARNP licensure.
  • 1–3 years of experience in clinical practice or demonstrated knowledge of the specialty.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience fostering a welcoming, respectful work/academic environment for diverse backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Highly Desirable
  • Experience as an Advanced Practice Provider in Cardiothoracic Surgery.
• Desired
  • Experience with patient/staff education.
  • Ability to develop/implement new programs.
  • Experience with evidence-based practice or research utilization.
  • Participation in professional PA/ARNP organizations.

Benefits

• UI Health Care Core Values (WE CARE):
  • Welcoming: Environment where all voices are heard, promoting dignity and thriving.
  • Excellence: Delivering personal and collective best in healthcare, education, and research.
  • Collaboration: Teamwork guided by compassion across Iowa, the region, and within UI.
  • Accountability: Ethical behavior, fairness, integrity, and responsibility for actions.
  • Respect: Safe, valued, and respected environment for all community members.
  • Empowerment: Commitment to fair access to research, healthcare, education, and growth opportunities.

Pay

Starting salary minimum: $90,404 (Pay Level 7A).

Schedule

Full-time, on-campus position.