Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Surgical Critical Care Physician Assistant (PA) is a licensed practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care for critically ill Veterans in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). The PA functions within Surgery Service and practices to the full extent of their education, training, and clinical privileges, with prescriptive authority for an assigned patient panel or program.

• Advanced Assessment & Diagnosis
  • Performs comprehensive initial histories and physical examinations for SICU patients. Screens patients to determine needs for further health care and applies clinical judgment to manage complex, high-acuity surgical patients including those presenting with sepsis, multi-organ dysfunction, post-surgical complications, and trauma. Demonstrates critical thinking in assessing and managing complex clinical situations unique to the surgical ICU environment.
• Therapeutic Interventions
  • Initiates and manages complex critical care treatments including mechanical ventilation (invasive and non-invasive), weaning protocols, hemodynamic monitoring via arterial lines, central venous catheters, and Swan-Ganz catheters, and vasopressor titration. Supports peri-operative evaluation and care of patients requiring SICU-level services, including post-operative management of general surgery, vascular, thoracic, cardiac, ENT, orthopedic, and neurosurgical patients. Adjusts plans of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Medication Management
  • Prescribes and adjusts medications based on critical care needs, including vasoactive agents, anti-arrhythmic agents, blood component therapy, and high-risk infusions, utilizing independent prescriptive authority including controlled substances.
• Diagnostic Test Ordering & Interpretation
  • Orders and interprets advanced diagnostic studies including laboratory tests, X-rays, electrocardiograms (EKGs), and other studies within scope of practice. Applies findings to guide clinical decision-making for critically ill surgical patients.
• Complex & Emergency Procedures
  • Independently performs credentialed procedures within the PA's scope of practice, including central line placement, arterial line placement, intubation, chest tube management, and lumbar puncture. Initiates emergency interventions for patients in life-threatening situations, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, life-threatening arrhythmia management, synchronized cardioversion, treatment of acute respiratory failure, life-threatening injury, and compartment syndromes (abdominal, thoracic, and extremity).
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
  • Serves as a primary point of contact for patient care within the SICU. Collaborates with the surgical intensivist, admitting teams, nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, and case management to coordinate individualized care plans. Participates in structured clinician-to-clinician hand-offs to ensure safe, high-quality care transitions.
• Performance & Quality Improvement
  • Participates in required Performance Improvement programs and engages in evidence-based practice and clinical practice guidelines to continuously improve care delivery. Participates in patient satisfaction surveys conducted under the auspices of the Surgical Care Line. Contributes to research support activities as directed, including clinical trials and evaluation of alternative health care delivery systems.
• Professional Development
  • Assumes responsibility for ongoing professional development by attending relevant training, regularly reviewing current literature, and meeting continuing education requirements to maintain competence and licensure. Participates actively in staff and section meetings to support educational development across the team.
• Patient & Family Education
  • Provides education and counseling to patients and families on preventive care, medical conditions, and prescribed treatments. Offers Veteran-informed care with sensitivity to TBI, PTSD, MST, substance use disorders, polytrauma, and combat-related injuries.
• Professionalism & Safety
  • Adheres to Life Safety Management, infection control, and emergency preparedness procedures. Follows universal precautions and isolation protocols. Maintains annual certification for applicable Reusable Medical Equipment (RME). Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) in full compliance with VHA privacy policy requirements. Promotes a culture of safety by proactively identifying and reporting actual or potential patient safety events, near misses, and system flaws.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  - your performance and conduct;
  - the needs and interests of the agency;
  - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
  Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

• Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
• Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.