Physician Assistant - Nights and Weekends

About the role

Practices in the Surgical Service to the full extent of education, training, and certification.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Demonstrated competency in first-line management of critically ill Cardiovascular / Surgical ICU patients-immediate postop cardiac surgery, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, arrhythmias, hemodynamic instability; proficiency with invasive hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive/inotropic drips, and mechanical circulatory support devices (IABP, Impella).

What you will do

• Demonstrated competency in first-line management of critically ill cardiovascular and surgical ICU patients, including independent experience with immediate postoperative cardiac surgical patient management, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, arrhythmias, and hemodynamic instability.
• Proficiency with invasive hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive/inotropic drips, and mechanical circulatory support devices such as IABP and Impella.
• Demonstrated competency in the management of critically ill cardiovascular patients, including post cardiac surgery, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmias, and hemodynamic instability.
• Duties: Provide medical and surgical care for both inpatients and outpatients in the sections of cardiothoracic surgery and surgical intensive care, serving as the primary coordinator for the physicians and PA/ARNP providers.
• Patients often have concomitant medical problems and are multi-symptomatic.
• The PA shall coordinate patient care programs based upon the admitting chief complaint and shall perform the following duties: Designing and conducting comprehensive examinations, diagnosis and implementation of treatment plans, admission orders, discharge summaries as well as ordering special labs, and radiographic studies.
• Provide medical education /counseling of patients and their families.
• Verify, establish and assure that identified pre-operative surgical requirements are met, assure appropriate arrangements have been established for admission, and coordinate inpatient activities on the floor.
• Primary responsibility for admissions and medical care of patients.
• Assist the surgeon in the operating room, including prepping and draping, and first or second assist in surgery.
• Perform bedside procedures including, placement of arterial lines, swan-ganz catheters and central lines, bronchoscopy, changing of tracheostomy tubes, wound care and debridement, thoracentesis, removal of chest tubes, temporary pacing wires, intra-aortic balloon pump, central lines, arterial lines, and drains.
• Demonstrate the ability to diagnose and treat cardiothoracic surgery patients seen in consultation with other health care providers.
• Integrates the activities of the cardiothoracic surgery service with other patient care programs at the facility.
• Manage a task force for Quality Assurance within the cardiothoracic section.
• Conduct problem solving to formulate a patient care plan to avoid these issues preoperatively while coordinating with social work.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with social work, rehabilitation, medical, and dietary services throughout the facility to result in improved efficient patient care.
• Clinical Practice - Surgical Intensive Care Considers factors related to safety, effectiveness and cost in planning and delivering care.
• Obtains history, physical examination, and assessment of ongoing patient needs through effective use of the nursing process to make practice decisions in an ethical manner.
• Orders and interprets routine laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, and radiographic tests.
• Performs diagnostic and stabilization procedures as necessary based on ACLS.
• Collaborates with respiratory therapy and nursing for airway management and ventilator weaning.
• Writes orders for laboratory work, medications, and treatments in compliance with hospital policies.
• Communicates with Surgical Service physicians' patient problems and status updates.
• Participates in and prepares discharge planning needs for SICU patients through communication with team members, patients, families, and consultants.
• Documents relevant laboratory data, study results, patient care, pertinent procedures, and patient updates within notes.
• Demonstrates competence with placement and removal of enteral feeding tubes, central venous catheters, arterial lines, swan ganz catheters, sutures, drains/tubes.
• Assists with and performs invasive procedures including, central lines, arterial lines, bronchoscopy, PEG tube placement, and percutaneous tracheostomy.
• Collaborates with physicians, nurses, and other members of the health care team using effective communication and interpersonal skills to develop, promote, and maintain interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Participates in performance measures through documentation and data collection/reporting.
• Assists in investigation and documentation of patient issues and concerns.
• Identifies individual differences as related to the physiological, cultural, and psychological aspects of maturational development.
• Demonstrates ability to multi-task and prioritize patient care needs.
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Night shift with rotating on-call and weekends.
• You may be expected to travel Up to 15% for this position.
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply.
• Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment evaluation Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: ***

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: ***

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Documents you must provide

• To complete your application, please use the following link *** to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Other (2) Other (3) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA.
• When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.

As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.

This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Applicants will be referred every 2 weeks until the closing of the this announcement. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. NOTE: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.