Location: Tacoma, WA

Contract Type: Travel Contract

Shift Type: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM (primarily day coverage) with variable hours as needed; On-call nights and weekends (24-hour pager coverage on call days). On-call expectations typically result in 10-12+ hour weekday days when covering, and 6-8+ hour weekend days. Call rotation: approximately every 6th night and every 6th weekend; 1:4 weekend call coverage. Shift type: Rotating (day + on-call nights/weekends).

Hours per Week: 40

Candidate Pay Rate: $196 per hour

About United Health Care Staffing

At United Health Care Staffing (UHC Staffing), we believe healthcare staffing should be more than just finding a job. We are here to connect amazing professionals with opportunities that make their careers exciting, rewarding, and meaningful. With us, you're not just signing up for a contract you are joining a team that's got your back, answers your calls, and maybe even cracks a joke or two to brighten your day. Think of us as the travel buddy who handles the logistics while you focus on what you do best helping people heal.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Assist with pre- and post-operative patient evaluations and treatment plans
• Serve as OR first assist for coronary artery bypass, valve surgeries, aortic reconstructions and other cardiac procedures
• Participate in robotic-assisted thoracic surgeries (DaVinci) and VATS cases as appropriate
• Perform endoscopic vein harvest and open radial artery harvest when indicated
• Manage ICU and step-down patients, including daily rounds and coordination of care
• Perform emergent bedside procedures as required (e.g., chest tube and arterial line insertions)
• Document thorough discharge summaries and maintain accurate patient records in EPIC
• Provide walk-in/urgent clinic visits and clinic wound checks when primary surgeons are unavailable
• Carry 24-hour pager on assigned call days and respond appropriately to urgent needs
• Contribute to a high-volume practice (approximately 6-8 cardiac cases/week and 9-12 thoracic cases/week)

Qualifications

• Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) — licensed in Washington or eligible for WA licensure
• Demonstrated experience in cardiothoracic surgery as an APP, including OR first assist responsibilities
• Comfortable with robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (dealbreaker: inability/unwillingness to participate in robotic thoracic cases — ~90% of thoracic cases are robotic)
• Experience managing ICU and step-down patients and performing emergent floor procedures
• Familiarity with EPIC electronic medical record
• Ability to complete credentialing paperwork promptly (facility requires application returned within 10 days of kickoff)
• Strong collaboration skills with RNs and surgical teams; excellent clinical judgment and communication
• Willingness to work variable hours, nights and weekends as part of call rotation

Education

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program (required)
• Current PA certification (PA-C) and state licensure (or eligibility)

Knowledge & Skills

• Pre- and post-operative evaluation and perioperative care
• OR first assist techniques for cardiac and thoracic procedures
• Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (DaVinci) and VATS experience
• Coronary artery bypass, valve surgery, and aortic reconstruction familiarity
• Endoscopic vein harvest and radial artery harvest skills
• ICU and step-down management, including invasive lines and chest tubes
• Comfort with urgent/walk-in clinic care and surgical wound checks
• Proficient use of EPIC for documentation and order entry
• Effective interdisciplinary communication and RN collaboration

Benefits

• Malpractice insurance included
• Supportive surgical team with RN support and five permanent surgeons on staff
• Credentialing support (90-day credentialing timeline; credentialing application due within 10 days of kickoff)
• Preferred lodging options arranged (preferred hotels list available)
• Travel coordination and assistance with logistics
• EPIC EMR in place for streamlined charting
• Meaningful work with a high-volume operative caseload — great opportunity to sharpen skills
• A collaborative environment that values your clinical judgment and growth

Travel Perks: Explore Tacoma, WA

Explore Tacoma’s beautiful waterfront along Ruston Way, stroll through Point Defiance Park and its scenic drives, visit the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and enjoy the Museum of Glass and LeMay - America’s Car Museum. Foodies and brewery fans will love Tacoma’s growing dining and craft beer scene downtown. For quick weekend escapes, Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and Seattle are all within easy reach — perfect for hiking, kayaking, or catching a show at the Tacoma Dome.

Hashtags

#PhysicianAssistantJobs #CardiothoracicPA #TacomaWAJobs #HealthcareJobs #TravelAPP #SurgicalJobs #UHCCareers #EPICJobs #RoboticSurgery #CardiacSurgeryJobs