Vascular First Assist Advanced Practice Provider

Heart Hospital of South Dakota, LLC; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, seeks a Vascular First Assist APP to support the vascular surgery team in the OR and outpatient clinic. You will function as a skilled surgical first assistant and a clinician with strong diagnostic and management skills, contributing to high-quality care.

Required: graduate PA/NP program, current state license with NCCPA/ANCC, and DEA. BLS and ACLS are mandatory or to be obtained within onboarding.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited PA or NP program.
• Current, active PA license with NCCPA or NP license with national certification (AANP/ANCC).
• Current DEA registration for prescribing.
• BLS required; ACLS within onboarding period.

Responsibilities

• Serve as surgical first assistant in vascular procedures (open and endovascular).
• Independently or collaboratively evaluate vascular clinic patients.
• Order/interpret vascular diagnostics (duplex ultrasound, ABI, CTA, labs).
• Develop and implement evidence-based vascular treatment plans.
• Coordinate preoperative evaluations and postoperative follow-up.

Skills

Vascular surgery experience

First assist

Clinical assessment

Education

PA or NP degree

NCCPA/ANCC certification

Tools

EMR documentation

Job description

Location: Sioux Falls, SD Worker Type: Regular Work Shift: Primarily days with night, weekend and holiday on-call involvement (United States of America) At Avera Heart Hospital, you’re not just joining a workplace – you’re becoming part of a family. With more than 700 dedicated employee, we deliver care that truly makes a difference. Our commitment to excellence has earned us the distinction of being one of only a handful of hospitals nationwide – out of more than 4,000 – to achieve a double 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Position Highlights Position Summary: The Vascular First Assist Advanced Practice Provider (APP) functions as both a skilled surgical first assistant to the vascular surgery team and an independent/collaborative clinician in the outpatient vascular clinic. This dual-role position requires advanced clinical judgment, technical proficiency in the operating room, and strong diagnostic and management skills in the clinic setting. The Vascular First Assist APP plays a critical role in ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality surgical and ambulatory care while supporting optimal patient outcomes across the continuum of care.

Responsibilities:

Surgical First Assist Responsibilities (OR)

• Act as first assistant in vascular surgical procedures, including open and endovascular cases.
• Provide expert tissue handling, exposure, retraction, hemostasis, and suturing under surgeon direction.
• Assist with vessel exposure, anastomosis preparation, and graft placement
• Participate in wound closure, dressing application, and intraoperative decision-making as appropriate.
• Maintain sterile technique and anticipate surgical needs throughout the procedure.
• Assist with intraoperative troubleshooting and complication management in collaboration with the surgeon.

Outpatient Vascular Clinic Responsibilities

• Independently or collaboratively evaluate new and established vascular patients.
• Perform focused history and physical examinations related to vascular disease.
• Order, interpret, and act on appropriate diagnostic testing (e.g., duplex ultrasound, ABI, CTA, labs) in collaboration with supervising physicians.
• Develop and implement evidence-based treatment plans for conditions including:
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Carotid disease
  • Venous insufficiency and varicose veins
  • Wound care related to vascular disease
  • Postoperative follow-up care
• Provide preoperative evaluations and surgical clearance coordination
• Conduct postoperative clinic visits including:
  • Wound assessment and management
  • Suture/staple removal when appropriate
  • Complication recognition and triage
  • Medication management and patient education
• Counsel patients on:
  • Risk factor modification (smoking cessation, exercise, medication adherence).
  • Surgical vs. non-surgical treatment options.
  • Expectations for recovery and long-term vascular health.
• Collaborate closely with vascular surgeons, vascular sonographers, and nursing staff.
• Document thoroughly and accurately in the electronic medical record.

Education: Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program or Nurse Practitioner programs (MSN/DNP).

Current, unrestricted PA license (state) with NCCPA certification or NP license (state) with national board certification (AANP/ANCC as applicable).

Current DEA license for prescribing.

BLS required; ACLS required or obtained within a defined onboarding period.

Experience: Minimum 1-2 years clinical experience as an APP in an inpatient and/or procedural setting or strong surgical rotation background with readiness to function in perioperative workflows.

Prior APP experience in Vascular Surgery preferred.

Prior first assist experience with vein harvest/endovascular preferred.

At Avera, the way you are treated as an employee translates into the compassionate care you deliver to patients and team members. Because we consider health care a ministry, you can live out your faith, uphold the dignity and respect of all persons while not compromising high-quality services. Join us in making a positive impact on moving health forward.