Advanced Practice Nurse Cardiothoracic Surgery Nurse Practitioner

Summary

The Cardiothoracic Surgery team at VA St. Louis Health Care System seeks an experienced NP with full practice authority to provide outpatient, inpatient, operative, and ICU care. Duties include ordering and titrating cardiac medications, first assist, hemodynamic surveillance, chest tube management, VAD implantation support, and transplant evaluation. Coordinate perioperative, intra‑operative, and post‑operative care with cardiac surgeons and intensivists under VA APRN privileging guidelines.

• Licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification, providing evidence‑based care.
• Provides comprehensive care to patients undergoing heart and lung surgery, from pre‑operative consultation through post‑operative management and recovery.
• Handles clinical and surgical assistance such as diagnosing conditions, performing procedures, assisting in the operating room, and managing patients in the intensive care unit.
• Advances assessment and diagnosis; conducts thorough patient evaluations; interprets complex clinical data.
• Diagnoses and manages cardiovascular and thoracic disease; provides pre‑operative and post‑operative care; manages critical care for ICU patients.
• Acts as first or second assistant in the operating room—assisting with patient positioning, draping, suturing, and preparing and managing surgical equipment.
• Performs pre‑operative and post‑operative assessments and wound care.
• Provides inpatient and ED consultations.
• Orders and interprets advanced diagnostic tests such as cardiac monitoring and advanced imaging studies.
• Counsels with specialists, and provides patient and family education regarding complex conditions and treatment options.
• Performs certain procedures independently as held privileges allow.
• Provides education to patients and families, and adjusts plan of care as needed to optimize outcomes.
• Exemplifies ICARE core values:
  Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence.

• Competitive salary with regular increases and potential performance awards.
• Paid Time Off: 50 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays).
• Retirement:
  Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% employer contribution.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care insurance (many federal programs carry into retirement).
• Full state or territory license required.
• Schedule negotiable;
  Monday‑Friday, no telework or virtual work.
• Relocation incentives not authorized;
  Permanent Change of Station not authorized.