Description

At UCHealth, our mission is simple - to improve lives. That starts with you. We improve lives through fresh ideas, innovative approaches and an unwavering commitment to world-class care.

Help make extraordinary possible.

Our well-established and highly regarded Cardiothoracic Surgery program in Colorado Springs, CO is adding a full-time Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to join our dynamic team.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for providing personalized, evidence-based patient care at the highest level. This is an opportunity to work in a collaborative, high-acuity environment while living in the desirable Colorado Springs community. Our culture promotes work-life balance, ensuring you have time to enjoy all that Colorado Sprins has to offer – stunning mountain views, endless hiking and biking trails, world-class skiing just a short drive away, and a vibrant arts and dining scene. With a mild climate, excellent schools, and a strong sense of community, Colorado Springs is consistently ranked among the best places to live in the U.S.

REQUIRED: 

• 3+ years of Cardiac or Cardiothoracic Surgery experience and ICU patient management.
• OR experience with endoscopic vein harvesting with Maquet-Getinge system and first assisting.
• Our ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, works well in a team environment, and is able to work autonomously and collaboratively in a high-acuity setting.

• Work and Call Schedule
  7-on/7-off schedule
• Rounding and evaluation of CVICU, floor, and clinic patients; divided amongst the PA/NP’s
• 2 full day clinics with patients seen on the other days as needed
• The in house NP manages in house call from 8:30pm-6:30am.
• CVICU is covered by dual-trained anesthesiologist/cardiac intensivist, 7 days/week, 24/7 (not in-house in the evenings)

Responsibilities

• First Assist in adult cardiac surgery cases.
• Endoscopic veining harvesting, utilizing Maquet-Getinge system.
• Radial artery and saphenous vein harvesting.
• Rounding and management of CVICU/floor patients and clinic duties.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary care planning and quality assurance initiatives.
• Provides direct care, counseling, history and physical examinations, and teaching to the adult cardiac surgical patient population in the ambulatory, inpatient, operative, and procedural setting
• Orders, interprets, and evaluates appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests
• Develops appropriate plans of care and follow-up based on the outcomes of diagnostic, laboratory, and physical examination findings
• Orders medications and writes prescriptions according to organizational and regulatory policies and procedures
• Consistently provides high quality and timely documentation
• Performs bedside procedures as are appropriate to the patient population
• PA/NP will first assist in the operating room and perform endovascular vein harvesting
• Discusses patient data with other physicians and professionals as appropriate in a multidisciplinary setting
• Demonstrates expert clinical judgment skills to function in an independent role
• Completes continuing medical education as per state regulations and national registry requirements to maintain and enhance skills and clinical competence
• Additional duties and responsibilities as required by the department/division

We know how fast the world of healthcare is changing, and we push ourselves to stay ahead of the curve. The UCHealth Medical Group is physician led and employs nearly 2,000 physicians and advanced practice providers who aim to anticipate and address patients’ every health need. We call on providers in every career stage and specialty to lead and provide direction for the future of healthcare at UCHealth. Apply today.

This position will be open for a minimum of 3 days and will remain open until a top candidate is identified.

We are unable to support visa candidates for this position.

Requirements for Physician Assistants

• Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies
• Unrestricted license to practice as a Physician Assistant in the State of Colorado.
• Physician Assistant Certification (PA-C) issued by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is required for hire and must be maintained throughout employment
• Unrestricted Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) permit to prescribe all medications commonly prescribed in the course of practice.
• Eligible to provide services, reimbursable services, and maintain provider status with Medicare and Medicaid.
• Eligible to provide services with no sanctions or exclusion from either the Health and Human Services/Office of Inspectors General (HHS/OIG) or the General Services Administration’s (GSA) List of Parties Excluded from Federal Programs.
• Unrestricted medical staff membership, with appropriate practice privileges.
• Prescriptive authority as appropriate, per medical staff service privileging process.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.

Requirements for Nurse Practitioners

• Full or provisional prescriptive authority eligibility is required. Provider must apply for prescriptive authority as a condition of employment.
• Master's degree in Nursing and graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program
• Nurse Practitioner Certification issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or Nurse Practitioner Certification issued by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) is required for hire and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Unrestricted Nurse Practitioner license issued by the State Board of Nursing in the state of practice or compact privileges under the multi-state Nurse Licensure Compact agreement
• Unrestricted medical staff membership, with appropriate practice privileges
• Full prescriptive authority
• Unrestricted Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) permit to prescribe all medications commonly prescribed in the course of practice.
• Eligible to provide services, reimbursable services, and maintain provider status with Medicare and Medicaid.
• Eligible to provide services with no sanctions or exclusion from either the Health and Human Services/Office of Inspectors General (HHS/OIG) or the General Services Administration’s (GSA) List of Parties Excluded from Federal Programs.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross

Exceptional Benefits

This position offers a competitive compensation package:

• The pay range for this full-time position is $265,000 - $300,000 annually. Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience. 
• Successful candidates may be eligible for a $20,000 starting bonus, subject to a two-year payback period.
• Relocation bonus of up to $10,000, if eligible.
• Opportunity to earn additional income for working additional call shifts.
• Annual Quality Value Incentive Plan (QVIP) of up to $10,000.
• Additional income opportunities are available for taking extra call shifts.
• Paid malpractice.
• Continuing medical education (CME) of up to $3,500 and up to 5 days annually. 403(b) with employer matching contribution; 457(b) voluntary option if eligible.
• Exceptional health and welfare benefits including medical, vision, dental, life insurance, and disability coverage including coverage for eligible dependents.
• UCHealth is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. UCHealth provides employees with free assistance navigating the PSLF program.
• UCHealth provides employer-paid short-term disability (STD) coverage as a supplement to Colorado FAMLI, offering up to 66.67% of your base pay. 
• UCHealth provides employer-paid long-term disability (LTD) coverage, which equals 50% of your base pay, up to $17,500 per month. Additionally, you have the option to buy-up LTD coverage to 60% or 66.67%.
• Wellness benefits.
• Full suite of voluntary benefits such as flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care, health savings accounts (available with HD/HSA medical plan only), identity theft protection, pet insurance, and employee discount programs.
• Time away from work: paid time off (PTO), paid family and medical leave (inclusive of Colorado FAMLI), leaves of absence; start your employment at UCHealth with PTO in your bank.
• Education benefits for employees, including the opportunity to be eligible for 100% tuition, books, and fees paid for by UCHealth for specific educational degrees. Other programs may qualify for up to $5,250 pre-paid by UCHealth or in the form of tuition reimbursement each calendar year.

About UCHealth

UCHealth is an innovative, nonprofit health system that delivers the highest quality medical care with an excellent patient experience. UCHealth includes 33,000 employees, 14 acute-care hospitals and hundreds of physicians across Colorado, southern Wyoming and western Nebraska. With University of Colorado Hospital on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus as its academic anchor and the only adult academic medical center in the region, UCHealth is dedicated to providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. Offering more than 150 clinic locations, UCHealth provides extensive community benefits and pushes the boundaries of medicine through advanced treatments and clinical trials, improving health through innovation.  

Going beyond quality requires the perfect balance of talent, integrity, drive and intellectual curiosity. We are looking for individuals who recognize, like us, that the world of medicine is ever-changing and are motivated to do what is right, not what is easy. We support creativity and curiosity so that each of us can find extraordinary qualities within ourselves. At UCHealth, we'll do everything in our power to make sure you grow and have a meaningful career. There are no limits to your potential here. 

The UCHealth Medical Group Office of Advanced Practice (OAP) actively supports the integration of APPs throughout the medical group to promote optimal and excellent patient care. We are committed to supporting APP practice and professional development while cultivating community and connection among all members of the healthcare team. We do this through bi-directional communication, mentorship, and leadership development which can lead to opportunities for APP involvement in committees and leadership positions.

UCHealth recognizes and appreciates the rich array of talents and perspectives that equal employment and diversity can offer our institution. As an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, UCHealth is committed to making all employment decisions based on valid requirements. No applicant shall be discriminated against in any terms, conditions or privileges of employment or otherwise be discriminated against because of the individual’s race, creed, color, religion, gender, national origin or ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, genetic information or veteran status. UCHealth does not discriminate against any “qualified applicant with a disability” as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable accommodations, when they do not impose an undue hardship on the organization.

ICU / Clinic-Focused Cardiothoracic Surgery APP: This role emphasizes post-operative ICU management, inpatient care, outpatient clinic support, and call coverage. Responsibilities include daily rounding, care coordination, procedural management, and continuity of care across settings. This position is intentionally designed to be open to both experienced APPs and motivated new graduates, supported by structured onboarding and mentorship to broaden the candidate pool.

OR-Heavy Cardiothoracic Surgery APP (First Assist Focus): This position prioritizes operating room coverage with primary responsibility for first assisting in adult cardiac surgery, including endoscopic vein harvesting. The role includes limited ICU involvement and rotating call coverage. ICU experience is preferred but not required, with training available, and the position is intended to appeal to experienced surgical APPs seeking a predominantly OR-based practice model.