The Surgical Physician Assistant provides first or second assistant support during complex robotic, laparoscopic, and open surgical cases. They also manage patient care through pre-operative history, physical examinations, and collaborative treatment planning.
Requirements summary
Candidates must hold a Master's degree and possess national certification as a Physician Assistant with first assist competency. At least one year of relevant work experience is required for this role.
Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.
Organization
Surgical
Oncology &
Endocrine
Surgery
Job
Summary: The Surgical Physician Assistant (PA) First Assistant works in collaboration with a multidisciplinary health care team including surgeons, advanced practice providers, and nurses. The candidate’s primary role will be to provide care in the operating room, acting as a first or second assistant to the primary surgeon for complex hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and GI cases. The candidate will be expected to become proficient in the performance of complex robotic, laparoscopic and open surgical cases. Prior experience in these cases/specialties is encouraged but not required. Other responsibilities may include pre-operative history and physical, progress notes, and education for the patient/family. The PA must have didactic education, clinical competency and national certification in identified area of clinical practice, including first assist competency. The PA demonstrates medical knowledge, clinical judgment, technical competence, professionalism, interpersonal communication skills, timely and compliant documentation, and is responsible for professional development and competency validation. The PA has an advanced knowledge of surgical interventions and the responsibilities of a first assistant in the operating room. .
Department
Summary: The Vanderbilt Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, a part of the Vanderbilt Department of Surgery, has quickly become a national leader in comprehensive surgical care. Our emphasis is placed on the evaluation and treatment of patients with benign and malignant tissue disorders. We use a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and work closely to coordinate our efforts with the Divisions of Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Gynecologic Oncology, Hematology, Surgical Pathology, Radiology and other disciplines. The Division is an integral part of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Vanderbilt Breast Center and provides specialized care through our Endocrine Surgery Center and Pancreas Center. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a leader in our community and region. Our growing reputation, award winning faculty, clinical trainees and well-funded research result in an organization focused on high quality, compassionate, and innovative patient care. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Obtains and documents a health history; performs and documents complete, system-focused, or symptom-specific physical examination, assessment, and plan of care. In collaboration, provides healthcare services for primary, acute, and complex care of patients and manages patient's overall care, identifying expected outcomes for diagnoses specific to the surgical area. Performs first assistant role in the surgical environment (is there something from the FA job description) Orders, performs, interprets, and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques, relevant supporting diagnostic information and diagnostic procedures where indicated. Forms differential diagnoses and treats acute and chronic conditions. May prescribes therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic and surgical, needed to achieve expected outcomes. Utilizes evidence-based, approved practice protocols in planning and implementing care. Initiates appropriate referrals and consultations Provides specialty specific consultation services upon request and within specialty scope of practice. Facilitates the patient’s transition between operative area and appropriate unit or recovery areas.
Benefits
Health insurance
Paid time off
Tuition reimbursement
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
Adoption assistance
403(b) retirement plan
Dental plan
Vision plan
Subsidized backup childcare
Technical
Capabilities
Health
Systems and
Policy
Management (Advanced): Demonstrates sufficient fundamental proficiency in behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, and a responsible attitude toward their patients, their profession and society. Participates in professional organizations and activities that influence advanced practice.
Clinical
Knowledge and
Practice (Advanced): Demonstrates established and evolving biomedical, clinical and social sciences, and the application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others. Demonstrates knowledge of population focus but also other sciences that support his/her field of practice. Demonstrates knowledge of common and important health issues affecting society and other societies around the globe. Demonstrates commitment in maintaining current evidence based knowledge through continuous learning. Educates patients, families, students and other members of the healthcare team in clinical topics and application of clinical knowledge.
Patient and
Family
Centered
Care (Advanced): Demonstrates care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease and care at the end of life. Within scope of licensure and certification, manages previously diagnosed and undiagnosed patients. Uses health assessment skills to differentiate between normal, variations of normal, and abnormal findings. Employs screening and diagnostic strategies in the development of diagnoses. Prescribes medications within scope of practice. Manages health/illness status of patients and families over time and across the continuum. Provides patient-centered care and the patient or designee as a full partner in decision making. Creates a climate of patient-centered care to include confidentiality privacy, comfort, emotional support, mutual trust, and respect. Incorporates cultural and spiritual preferences, values and beliefs into health care. Preserves the patient's control over decision making by negotiating a mutually acceptable plan of care. Integrates ethical principles into decision making. Uses electronic health record to capture data on variables for the evaluation and management of patient care. Clearly documents findings, assessment and plan of care.
Interpersonal and
Communication
Skills (Advanced): Demonstrates interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of health care teams. Communicates practice knowledge effectively both orally and in writing.
Practice-Based
Scholarly
Inquiry and
Integration (Advanced): Demonstrates the use of scientific evidence and methods to investigate, evaluate and improve patient care practices. Anticipates variations in practice and is proactive in implementing interventions to improve quality. Uses best available evidence to continuously improve quality of clinical practice. Generates knowledge from clinical practice to improve practice and patient outcomes. Reviews data and evidences to improve advanced practice. Integrates knowledge from the humanities and sciences within the context of nursing science.
Professionalism (Advanced): Demonstrates behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, and a responsible attitude toward their patients, their profession and society. Participates in medical center committees, professional organizations and activities that influence advanced practice.
Our
Nursing
Philosophy: We believe highly skilled and specialized nursing care is essential to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s mission of quality in patient care, education and research. We believe nursing is an applied art and science focused on helping people, families and communities reach excellent health and well-being. As a Vanderbilt University Medical Center employee, you make a difference to our patients and their families by bringing compassion and care to those in need of hope and healing.
Please see our current employee benefits offered: Affordable High Quality Health Plan Options Dental and /or vision plan 403 (b) retirement plan Paid Time off (flex PTO) Tuition Reimbursement and adoption assistance (maximums applied) Short-Long term disability Subsidized backup childcare And many more... Ask us about our current inpatient nursing supplemental Pay Program!
Achieve the
Remarkable: Learn more about VUMC Nursing here.
Core
Accountabilities:
Organizational
Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance.
Problem
Solving/
Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment.
Breadth of
Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area.
Team
Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.
Core
Capabilities :
Supporting
Colleagues:-
Develops
Self and
Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.-
Builds and
Maintains
Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.-
Communicates
Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences.
Delivering
Excellent
Services:-
Serves
Others with
Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.-
Solves
Complex
Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.-
Offers
Meaningful
Advice and
Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness.
Ensuring
High
Quality: -
Performs
Excellent
Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.-
Ensures
Continuous
Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. -
Fulfills
Safety and
Regulatory
Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring.
Managing
Resources
Effectively: -
Demonstrates
Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.-
Stewards
Organizational
Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.-
Makes
Data
Driven
Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities.
Fostering
Innovation:-
Generates
New
Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.-
Applies
Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.-
Adapts to
Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.
Position
Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications: LIC-Physician's
Assistant
Certified -
TennesseeTennessee
Work
Experience:
Relevant
Work
Experience
Experience
Level: 1 year
Education: Master's This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth. Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled. PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO.
Our vision: The world leader in advancing personalized health.
Our mission: personalizing the patient experience through our caring spirit and distinctive capabilities. Making Health Care Personal. We’re looking for like-minded individuals driven to make a difference. We invite you to explore careers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. At VUMC, we place a priority on designing with and for our patients and families. We value collaboration, embrace continuous learning and discovery, and seek to be a place where everyone has the chance to thrive. We’re the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee, with a growing team and expanding footprint in towns and communities across the region. We employ more than 28,000 people who work in inpatient and outpatient clinical care, research, and graduate medical education as well as critical supporting roles in administration, information technology and informatics, finance, legal and community affairs, communications and marketing, fund-raising, groundskeeping and facilities, and many more.
Our growing health system has more than 1,700 licensed hospital beds at: Vanderbilt University Hospital Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital It’s also home to hundreds of outpatient clinic and surgical locations throughout the region. We serve our community with many unique and specialized services including the Level 1 Trauma Center, a highly experienced Transplant Center that does the most heart transplants in the world, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lung Institute, Burn Center and many more. World-leading academic departments and centers make scientific discoveries, advance clinical care and train the next generation of health care professionals. Our robust research enterprise consistently ranks among the highest in the country as measured by peer-reviewed grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. We’re honored to be consistently considered among the nation’s best hospitals, including being nationally ranked in multiple medical specialties for treating the most complex conditions in adults and children by US News and World Report. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt ranked as the No. 1 children’s hospital in the southeast in 2024. We support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at VUMC for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose. Join us in Making Health Care Personal.
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