Cardiothoracic Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
Listed compensation
$168k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Now Hiring
- NIGHT ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDER
Cardiothoracic Surgery APP — Nights (NP or PA)
Rapid City, South Dakota
- Gateway to the Black Hills
Work two weeks, own the rest of your month. Join a well-resourced cardiothoracic surgery program as the overnight advanced practice provider on the CT team — fourteen shifts a month, a competitive $168,000 salary with full benefits, and a home base in one of the most livable outdoor cities in the country.
Role
Advanced Practice Provider (NP or PA), Cardiothoracic Surgery
Shift: Nights, 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM
Schedule: 14 shifts per month (two weeks on, two weeks off)
Compensation
$1,000 per shift — $168,000 annually
Benefits
- Full benefits package
- Setting
- Highly resourced hospital — ward and ICU
- Nightly census
- 3–6 ICU patients and 10–15 inpatients
- Support
- 100% phone access (and in person as needed) to cardiac surgery and intensivist physicians
The Opportunity
This is a focused, high-impact overnight role for an APP who thrives in acute cardiac and critical care. Each night you'll manage the cardiothoracic surgery service across both the ward and the ICU — caring for post-operative CT patients, responding to changes in status, and keeping the service running smoothly until the day team returns.
You will never be on an island. You have 100% phone access to the cardiac surgeon and intensivist physicians throughout every shift, with in-person support available whenever a situation calls for it. It's the autonomy experienced providers want, backed by the collaboration and resources that make the work safe and rewarding.
With a manageable nightly census — typically 3 to 6 ICU patients and 10 to 15 inpatients — and the backing of a highly resourced hospital, you'll have the tools, staffing, and specialist support to practice at the top of your license.
What You'll Do
– Serve as the overnight APP on the cardiothoracic surgery team, managing inpatient CT patients across the ward and ICU.
– Assess, monitor, and manage post-operative cardiac and thoracic surgical patients, including those in critical care.
– Respond to changes in patient status, order and interpret diagnostics, and adjust treatment plans in real time.
– Collaborate closely with cardiac surgeons and intensivists by phone throughout the shift, escalating in person when needed.
– Coordinate with bedside nursing, respiratory therapy, and ancillary teams to deliver seamless overnight care.
– Ensure clear, thorough hand-offs to the day team each morning.
What You Bring
– Licensure: Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA), eligible for licensure in South Dakota.
– Experience: ICU or cardiac experience required; cardiothoracic surgery or critical care background strongly preferred.
– Skills: Strong clinical judgment, comfort managing acutely ill patients overnight, and the confidence to work autonomously with physician backup a phone call away.
– Certifications: BLS and ACLS; specialty acute-care certification a plus.
Compensation & Schedule
$1,000 per shift — $168,000 per year for 14 shifts each month, plus a full benefits package.
The two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off rhythm is built for real life. Fourteen nights a month means half the month is yours — to recover, travel, or simply live in a place where the outdoors is always minutes away.
Why Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the gateway to the Black Hills — a place where a world-class outdoor lifestyle meets small-city ease. Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, and hundreds of miles of hiking, climbing, biking, and fishing sit right in your backyard, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year.
– South Dakota has no state income tax — more of what you earn stays with you.
– A cost of living below the national average and an approachable housing market.
– Short commutes, easy parking, and a genuine sense of community.
– A vibrant downtown, growing food and arts scene, and a regional airport that keeps you connected.
– Four true seasons and endless recreation — an ideal home for those who work hard and play outside.
About Us
This position is offered in partnership with SAMGI, supporting a collaborative cardiothoracic surgery program committed to excellent patient care and a healthy, sustainable practice for its providers.
Ready to Apply?
Submit your CV and we'll be in touch. Questions about the role, schedule, or Rapid City? We're happy to talk it through.
SAMGI is an equal opportunity employer.
Key Responsibilities
Manage the cardiothoracic surgery service overnight by assessing and monitoring post-operative patients in the ward and ICU. Coordinate with cardiac surgeons, intensivists, and ancillary teams to ensure seamless care and effective hand-offs to the day team.
Requirements
Must be a licensed Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant eligible for licensure in South Dakota. Requires experience in ICU or cardiac settings, with a strong preference for a background in cardiothoracic surgery or critical care.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Certifications
Key Skills
Surgery — Nurse Practitioner Career Context
Of the 40 active Nurse Practitioner listings this role was benchmarked against, 20% are remote, 48% have no call, 65% require no weekends.
Nurse Practitioner pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
The cost-of-living index for South Dakota is 88.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$168k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $190k in an average-cost state. 58.2% of South Dakota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Location & Logistics
South Dakota has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$168k midpoint, that is roughly $7k–$12k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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