Advanced Practice Professional- Orthopedics, Hand- Wheeling; Physician Associate

Job Overview

West Virginia University Health System (WVUHS) is seeking an Advance Practice Professional (APP) specialized in orthopedic patients, hand and upper extremity care. The APP will provide comprehensive patient health evaluations, collaborate with clinical teams, coordinate discharge plans, and educate residents and students. The role is available in inpatient, ambulatory, and peri‑operative settings.

• Manage comprehensive, individualized care for orthopedic patients in inpatient and ambulatory settings.
• Participate in peri‑operative management, first assisting in the operative suite and providing urgent and chronic management in the ambulatory setting.
• Conduct daily rounds, pre‑procedure evaluations, and consults as needed.
• Perform diagnostic tests, communicate results, and order additional tests or consults following established clinical guidelines.
• Facilitate patient discharge planning and coordinate follow‑up services in the clinic.
• Develop comprehensive, individualized plans of care including teaching, peri‑operative planning, discharge planning, and referrals to other health‑care team members.
• Demonstrate critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence‑based decision making in clinical care.
• Educate nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families, and the community using appropriate teaching strategies.

• Graduate of a CCNE accredited nursing program with a Master’s Degree in Nursing.
• National Certification by an APRN Certification Center.
• Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in West Virginia.
• BLS Certification required; additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training at the discretion of the department.
• RNFA certification.

• New graduate applicants are eligible and talented.
• Orthopedic, surgical, or acute care experience preferred.

• Bachelor’s Degree as a Physician Assistant or Master’s Degree in the same field.
• Graduate of an ARC‑PA approved Physician Assistant training program.
• Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants.
• Licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine or WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
• BLS Certification required; additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training at the discretion of the department.

• Master’s level degree as Physician Assistant preferred.
• Orthopedic, surgical, or acute care experience preferred.

• Manages comprehensive and individualized care for orthopedic patients in inpatient and ambulatory settings.
• First assistant in the operative suite and peri‑operative management of patients.
• Completes daily rounds, pre‑procedure evaluations, and consults.
• Provides urgent and chronic management of orthopedic patients in the ambulatory setting.
• Completes integrated assessments and orders additional tests or consults as appropriate.
• Performs diagnostic tests and communicates results following established guidelines.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and facilitates patient discharge and follow‑up services.
• Develops individualized plans of care including teaching, peri‑operative planning, discharge planning, and referrals to other health‑care team members.

• Heavy/Hard Work:
  Lift, move, stoop, reach, and position patients, materials, and equipment weighing 40+ pounds.

• Working closely with others.
• Protracted or irregular hours.
• Working around biohazards.
• Working around infectious diseases.
• Working with or near the deceased.
• Working with hands in water.
• Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

• Proficiency with computers.
• Strong communication skills.

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, and protected characteristics under applicable law.