Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Thoracic Surgery - Colorado Springs, Colorado

UCHealth•Colorado Springs, CO

About The Position

UCHealth Medical Group is seeking a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to join its Thoracic Surgery practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The position is part of a collaborative surgical practice alongside three experienced thoracic surgeons and an established APP, with strong physician mentorship and opportunities to develop specialized expertise. The role provides first-assist coverage, inpatient care, and ambulatory clinic support, including postoperative visits and patient follow-up. The practice offers exposure to robotic, minimally invasive, thoracoscopic, laparoscopic, endoscopic, and open surgical procedures. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, with no routine night or weekend call responsibilities. Robotic surgery experience is preferred but not required. The pay range is $119,600–$156,790 annually, dependent on relevant experience. The role includes an annual Quality Value Incentive Plan (QVIP) of up to $10,000 and relocation bonus of up to $10,000 if eligible. UCHealth offers professional development support through mentorship, communication and leadership development, and opportunities for committee and leadership involvement.

Requirements

Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant with a master's degree in Nursing or Physician Assistant Studies, as applicable, and graduation from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program.
Nurse Practitioners must hold an RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) credential; Physician Assistants must have appropriate first-assist qualifications.
Current PA-C certification through NCCPA, or Nurse Practitioner certification through ANCC or AANPCB; certification must be maintained throughout employment.
Unrestricted Colorado Physician Assistant license or 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.
Full or provisional prescriptive authority eligibility for Nurse Practitioners; applying for prescriptive authority is a condition of employment. Physician Assistants must have prescriptive authority as appropriate under the medical staff privileging process.
Unrestricted Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) permit.
Eligible to provide reimbursable services and maintain provider status with Medicare and Medicaid.
Eligible to provide services without sanctions or exclusion from the HHS/OIG or GSA List of Parties Excluded from Federal Programs.
Unrestricted medical staff membership with appropriate practice privileges.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
First-assist experience with thoracoscopic, laparoscopic, and open surgical procedures.
Self-starter who takes ownership of patient care and works effectively within a collaborative surgical team.
Strong interest in surgical and procedural care.
Commitment to exceptional patient care and professional development.

Nice To Haves

Prior thoracic surgery experience.
Robotic surgery experience; preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide first-assist coverage for thoracic surgical procedures.
Round on and provide care for inpatients.
Support ambulatory clinic operations.
Manage postoperative visits and patient follow-up.
Work collaboratively with thoracic surgeons, an APP, and dedicated nursing and clinic staff.

Benefits

Annual Quality Value Incentive Plan (QVIP) of up to $10,000.
Relocation bonus of up to $10,000, if eligible.
Paid malpractice coverage.
CME allowance of up to $3,500 and up to 5 days annually.
403(b) retirement plan with employer matching; 457(b) voluntary option, if eligible.
Medical, vision, dental, life insurance, and disability coverage for eligible employees and dependents.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility and free program assistance.
Employer-paid short-term disability coverage supplementing Colorado FAMLI.
Employer-provided long-term disability coverage, with options to increase coverage.
Wellness benefits.
Voluntary benefits, including flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts for eligible plans, identity theft protection, pet insurance, and employee discounts.
Paid time off, paid family and medical leave, including Colorado FAMLI, and leaves of absence.
Education benefits, including eligible programs with up to 100% of tuition, books, and fees covered, and up to $5,250 annually through other qualifying programs.
APP professional development support, including mentorship, communication and leadership development, and opportunities for committee and leadership involvement.