Cardiothoracic Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

Full time | SAMGI | United States

Posted On 08/18/2026

Work Experience 1-3 years

Work Experience Required? No

Health Care

168000

City Rapid City

State/Province South Dakota

57701

Cardiothoracic Surgery APP — Nights (NP or PA)

Rapid City, South Dakota Gateway to the Black Hills

Work two weeks, own the rest of your month. Join a well-resourced cardiothoracic surgery program as the overnight advanced practice provider on the CT team — fourteen shifts a month, a competitive $168,000 salary with full benefits, and a home base in one of the most livable outdoor cities in the country.

Role

Advanced Practice Provider (NP or PA), Cardiothoracic Surgery

Shift

Nights, 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM

Schedule

14 shifts per month (two weeks on, two weeks off)

Compensation

$1,000 per shift—$168,000 annually

Full benefits package

Setting

Highly resourced hospital — ward and ICU

Nightly census

3–6 ICU patients and 10–15 inpatients

Support

100% phone access (and in person as needed) to cardiac surgery and intensivist physicians

The opportunity

This is a focused, high-impact overnight role for an APP who thrives in acute cardiac and critical care. Each night you'll manage the cardiothoracic surgery service across both the ward and the ICU — caring for post-operative CT patients, responding to changes in status, and keeping the service running smoothly until the day team returns.

You will never be on an island. You have 100% phone access to the cardiac surgeon and intensivist physicians throughout every shift, with in-person support available whenever a situation calls for it. It's the autonomy experienced providers want, backed by the collaboration and resources that make the work safe and rewarding.

With a manageable nightly census — typically 3 to 6 ICU patients and 10 to 15 inpatients — and the backing of a highly resourced hospital, you'll have the tools, staffing, and specialist support to practice at the top of your license.

What you'll do

• Serve as the overnight APP on the cardiothoracic surgery team, managing inpatient CT patients across the ward and ICU.
• Assess, monitor, and manage post-operative cardiac and thoracic surgical patients, including those in critical care.
• Respond to changes in patient status, order and interpret diagnostics, and adjust treatment plans in real time.
• Collaborate closely with cardiac surgeons and intensivists by phone throughout the shift, escalating in person when needed.
• Coordinate with bedside nursing, respiratory therapy, and ancillary teams to deliver seamless overnight care.
• Ensure clear, thorough hand-offs to the day team each morning.

What you bring

• Licensure: Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA), eligible for licensure in South Dakota.
• Experience: ICU or cardiac experience required; cardiothoracic surgery or critical care background strongly preferred.
• Skills: Strong clinical judgment, comfort managing acutely ill patients overnight, and the confidence to work autonomously with physician backup a phone call away.
• Certifications: BLS and ACLS; specialty acute-care certification a plus.

$1,000 per shift — $168,000 per year for 14 shifts each month, plus a full benefits package.

The two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off rhythm is built for real life. Fourteen nights a month means half the month is yours — to recover, travel, or simply live in a place where the outdoors is always minutes away.

Why Rapid City, South Dakota

Rapid City is the gateway to the Black Hills — a place where a world‑class outdoor lifestyle meets small‑city ease. Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, and hundreds of miles of hiking, climbing, biking, and fishing sit right in your backyard, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year.

• South Dakota has no state income tax — more of what you earn stays with you.
• A cost of living below the national average and an approachable housing market.
• Short commutes, easy parking, and a genuine sense of community.
• A vibrant downtown, growing food and arts scene, and a regional airport that keeps you connected.
• Four true seasons and endless recreation — an ideal home for those who work hard and play outside.

About us

This position is offered in partnership with SAMGI, supporting a collaborative cardiothoracic surgery program committed to excellent patient care and a healthy, sustainable practice for its providers.