Description
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), in partnership with PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, is seeking a full-time Adult Cardiac Surgery Nurse Practitioner or Physician Associate/Assistant to join an established cardiac surgery practice in Vancouver, Washington—part of the greater Portland metropolitan area.
This is a hands-on clinical role offering meaningful operative involvement and continuity of care across the complete cardiac surgical episode. The APP will join a collaborative team of two attending cardiac surgeons and four experienced APPs within a high-quality program recognized for excellent outcomes, teamwork and a strong collegial culture.
The position is employed by OHSU as an APP Clinical Associate and provides clinical services at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. It is full-time (1.0 FTE) and represented by Oregon Nurses Association–Advanced Practice United (ONA–APU).
Position Overview
The Adult Cardiac Surgery APP provides comprehensive perioperative care, including operative first assistance, ICU and inpatient management, preoperative evaluation, postoperative follow-up and participation in call coverage.
Working closely with cardiac surgeons, nursing staff and interdisciplinary care teams, the APP helps ensure safe, coordinated and efficient care from the patient’s initial surgical evaluation through hospitalization and recovery.
Key Responsibilities
Operating Room
- First assist in adult cardiac surgical procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery and aortic procedures
- Perform endoscopic vein harvesting and radial artery harvesting consistent with training, experience, credentialing and privileges
- Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia professionals, perfusionists, nurses and operating-room staff throughout the surgical episode
Inpatient and Critical Care
- Participate in the ICU and intermediate-care management of postoperative cardiac surgery patients
- Conduct daily rounds, evaluate new and established patients and develop treatment plans in collaboration with the surgical team
- Perform inpatient consultations and coordinate care with consulting services
- Support discharge planning, patient education and transitions of care
Outpatient Care
- Conduct preoperative evaluations and postoperative follow-up visits
- Provide wound evaluation and management
- Participate in clinic coverage and support continuity throughout the patient’s surgical recovery
Call Coverage
- Participate in a shared home-call rotation
- Provide overnight, weekend and holiday call coverage as assigned
Schedule
- Full-time, 1.0 FTE
- Scheduled 10-hour clinical shifts, generally from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Clinical coverage includes weekdays, weekends and holidays
- Shared home call by pager, including overnight and holiday coverage
Practice Environment
The program performs more than 420 adult cardiac surgical cases annually and supports a growing structural-heart program, including TAVR and multidisciplinary Heart Team activities.
- Employer: Oregon Health & Science University
- Clinical site: PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
- Practice model: Shared adult cardiac surgery practice
- Team: Two attending cardiac surgeons, four experienced cardiac surgery APPs and a strong interdisciplinary care team
Compensation and Benefits
The base salary range for this full-time, 1.0 FTE position is $172,800–$228,937. Placement within the range is based on qualifications, relevant experience and applicable ONA–APU provisions.
Required call coverage is compensated separately in addition to base salary, in accordance with departmental call-pay practices and applicable ONA–APU provisions.
As an OHSU-employed APP, you will have access to a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, financial security and professional growth, including:
- Medical, dental and vision coverage with substantial employer-paid premiums
- Generous paid time off and extended-illness leave
- Employer-funded retirement benefits, with additional voluntary retirement-savings options
- Professional-development and continuing-education support consistent with departmental policy
- Full reimbursement for professional licenses and certifications required for the position
- OHSU-provided professional liability coverage
- Tuition benefits, employee wellness resources and employee discounts
- Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Why Join OHSU at PeaceHealth Southwest?
This position combines the clinical resources and academic alignment of OHSU with the community-focused environment of PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. APPs have meaningful involvement in the operating room, broad clinical responsibilities and the opportunity to care for patients throughout the entire cardiac surgical experience.
The role also offers:
- A collaborative and experienced APP and surgeon team
- Significant operative first-assist opportunities
- Exposure to complex coronary, valve, aortic and structural-heart care
- A well-established program with strong clinical volume
- The professional resources and benefits of employment with Oregon’s only academic health center
Why Vancouver?
Vancouver offers the advantages of Pacific Northwest living with convenient access to Portland and Portland International Airport. The region provides outstanding opportunities for hiking, cycling, skiing, water sports and exploring the Columbia River Gorge, Pacific Coast, Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. Vancouver also offers a thriving food and beverage scene, arts and cultural activities, highly regarded neighborhoods and easy access to both urban amenities and outdoor recreation.
Qualifications
Required
- Master’s degree from an accredited Physician Associate/Assistant program or an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program
- Current or eligible Oregon and Washington professional licensure appropriate to discipline
- Physician Associates/Assistants: Current NCCPA certification
- Nurse Practitioners: Current APRN licensure and RNFA certification
- Ability to obtain and maintain required credentialing and clinical privileges at OHSU and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
- Current BLS and ACLS certification
- Current DEA registration or eligibility to obtain registration
- Strong clinical judgment, communication and collaboration skills
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary cardiothoracic surgery team
Preferred
- Two or more years of adult cardiac surgery experience
- Operative first-assist experience
- Experience with endoscopic vein harvesting
- Experience with radial artery harvesting
- Previous inpatient surgical or critical-care experience
All Are Welcome
Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal-opportunity and affirmative-action organization that does not discriminate against applicants based on any protected-class status, including disability and protected veteran status.
Individuals from diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact OHSU’s Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.
