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Sanford Health
Watertown, South Dakota

APP - Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant | Acute Care

Nurse PractitionerIncludes weekendsNo nightsFull-Time Full Practice Authority

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Work Shift: 10 Hours - Day Shifts (United States of America) Scheduled Weekly Hours: 0 Compensation: Union Position: No Department Details Large clinic acute care department. Acute care hours are 1600-1800 weekdays and 0900-1300 weekends. Family Medicine hours are 0700-1600 weekdays to cover overflow patients.

Summary The Urgent-Acute-Walk-In Care Nurse Practitioner provides immediate, high-quality advanced nursing care for patients presenting with non-life-threatening acute illnesses and minor injuries.

The NP assesses, diagnoses, treats, and educates patients in a fast-paced, walk-in clinic environment, in collaboration with physicians and healthcare staff to ensure efficient patient flow and care delivery. Job Description Conduct focused patient histories and physical examinations.

Diagnose and treat a wide range of acute illnesses and injuries including respiratory infections, minor fractures, lacerations, burns, and allergic reactions. Order and interpret diagnostic tests such as X-rays, lab work, and EKGs.

Perform minor procedures including wound suturing, splinting, incision and drainage, and foreign body removal. Provide patient education on illness prevention, medication use, and follow-up care. Prescribe medications and therapies in accordance with scope of practice and protocols.

Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and administrative staff to optimize patient care and clinic operations. Document all patient encounters accurately and timely in the electronic health record. Participate in quality improvement initiatives and maintain compliance with clinic policies and regulatory standards. Respond promptly to emergencies and escalate care as needed.

Qualifications Master’s or Doctorate degree from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program. If APRN was licensed prior to August 1, 1995, master's degree in nursing is preferred. Experience in urgent care, emergency, or primary care settings preferred.

Current licensure as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner in each state of practice. Current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) permit to prescribe controlled substances in each state of practice.

State Controlled Substance License (if required by State) National board certification as a Family (FNP-BC) or (FNP-C) Obtains and subsequently maintains required specific competencies and certifications as outlined on privilege form.

Privileging documents and related credentialing requirements will supersede this job description in defining minimum qualifications, criteria, and scope of practice, if variation between documents exists. Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.

The Sanford organization owns and manages multiple distinct brands, including Sanford Health, Marshfield Clinic, and Good Samaritan, as well as Lewis Drug, Sanford Health Equip, Solutions by Sanford, Great Shots, and Blue Rock Bar & Grill.

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 53,000 employees and serves over 2 million patients and nearly 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 56 hospitals, 288 clinic locations, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies.

The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to 78 specialties. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

Good Samaritan, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of senior care and services, is committed to transforming the aging experience through innovation, compassion and personalized care.

As part of Sanford Health, an integrated nonprofit health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Good Samaritan serves 10,000 seniors and offers access to a full continuum of care, including 94 rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers, 56 assisted living and memory care facilities, 44 independent living locations and 37 home health and hospice agencies.

The senior care provider delivers services across the upper Midwest, with 70% of residents living in rural communities. Learn more about Good Samaritan’s mission and commitment to delivering high quality senior care in rural America at good-sam.com.

Key Responsibilities

Provide immediate, high-quality care for patients with non-life-threatening acute illnesses and minor injuries in a fast-paced clinic. Responsibilities include diagnosing conditions, performing minor procedures, and collaborating with healthcare staff to optimize patient flow.

Requirements

Requires a Master's or Doctorate degree from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program and national board certification (FNP-BC or FNP-C). Must hold current RN and NP licensure, as well as a DEA permit to prescribe controlled substances.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

Patient AssessmentDiagnosisPrescribing MedicationsElectronic Health RecordsDiagnostic Interpretation

Acute Care — Nurse Practitioner Career Context

Of the 50 active Nurse Practitioner listings this role was benchmarked against, 44% are remote, 56% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for South Dakota is 88.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 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.

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Salary Distribution34 jobs · 32 employers

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4
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks32 jobs

401k / retirement match
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CME allowance
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Sign-on bonus
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Loan repayment
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Relocation assistance
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Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 5.1
Better work-life than 40% of Nurse Practitioner roles listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 13,424 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
  • Includes weekends

Living in Watertown

Typical market rent
$1,115/mo
Residents’ average commute
13 min
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.