Northwestern Memorial Healthcare logo
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare
Palos Heights, Illinois

Physician Assistant - Cardiac Surge

Physician AssistantIncludes weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$66-$86.2/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday4-day week · 4×10s

Weekend work is also flagged as required; confirm which days and how often.

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

Posted 47m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Company Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry.

As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system.

We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for a Physician Assistant to work in our Cardiac Surgery department. The PA will provide day to day ICU coverage, clinic support, and first assisting in the OR.

Schedule: M-F, 4x10s, one weekend per month, and two holidays per year.

Essential Functions

Demonstrates clinical expertise and expanded knowledge through patient care activities which may include diagnosis and management of a wide range of health problems.

  • Responsible for health outcome of an assigned patient population.
  • Confers with collaborating physician and other health professionals in area of clinical expertise.
  • Develops appropriate educational systems for patients, families and staff in areas of expertise.
  • Mentors graduate students in aspects of advanced practice and patient care.
  • Actively participates in quality improvement and/or research pertinent to area of expertise.

Responsibilities

Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients' health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations in clinical area.

  • Provides direct clinical care to patients.
  • Prescribes/orders medications, therapies; orders/interprets laboratory tests, x-rays and procedures according to clinical privileges.
  • Evaluates patients to determine their need for further health care.
  • Provides comprehensive teaching to patients and families.
  • Documents in the medical record all care and education provided and/or procedures performed for which the Licensed Advanced Practice Provider is responsible.
  • Refers to other disciplines as appropriate.
  • Consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise.
  • Integrates research based knowledge and clinical expertise in decision making.
  • Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation.
  • Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community.
  • Maintains certifications and continuing education as required for licensure and privileging.
  • Serves as a patient advocate and role model for "Patients First".
  • Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces as appropriate.
  • Provides comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and their families.
  • Develops and participates in programs to meet continuing education needs of staff.
  • Serves as a role model and preceptor to students.
  • Provides formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty.

Participates in quality improvement and/or research initiatives for specific patient population as appropriate.

Qualifications

  • Required:
  • Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant educational program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physician Assistant Programs
  • Physician Assistant in Medicine, Licensed (IL)
  • Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
  • Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association) certification
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification required as specified by department
  • Controlled substance license and DEA registration required as specified by the department
  • Two (2) years of experience as a PA
  • Prior OR experience is required

Preferred

Cardiac Surgery experience

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers.

If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.

Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information jobs.nm.org

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

  • Hours Per Week / FTE: 40 hrs/wk - 1.0 FTE
  • Job Shift: Day Job (1st)
  • Salary Range Minimum: $66.00
  • Salary Range Maximum: $86.20
  • Compensation: USD 66 - USD 86.2 - hourly

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

BLSDEA License

Key Skills

Patient AssessmentHealth History TakingPhysical ExaminationDirect Patient CareIntensive Care Unit CoverageOperating-Room First AssistingMedication and Therapy OrdersLaboratory and Imaging InterpretationPatient and Family EducationClinical DocumentationInterdisciplinary CollaborationClinical ResearchPrecepting and Mentoring

Cardiac Surgery — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 50 active Physician Assistant listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 66% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$158k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $158k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Physician Assistant market look like in Illinois?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score5.1 / 10 · above average in physician assistant rolesranked against 4,569 Physician Assistant roles listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$137k–$179kPhysician Assistant median $126k (middle half $110k–$155k)37 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$158k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physician Assistant listings in Illinois145 active4,650 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 2% remote · 66% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (4,569 Physician Assistant roles listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Physician Assistant Jobs

31 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

31 jobs · 22 employers
6
<$145k
8
$145k-165k
11
$165k-185k
5
$185k-205k
1
$250k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs · 22 employers
401k / retirement match
80% this job
CME allowance
70% this job
Sign-on bonus
50% this job
Relocation assistance
20%
Loan repayment
7% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Clinic Director - Physician Assistant (PA-C) or Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Ageless Mens Health · Reno, Nevada

$250k
#2

Physician Assistant / Nurse Practitioner 4 Day Work Week

Confidential Employer · Urbana, Illinois

$100k-$200k
#3

Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) - Urgent Care

$200K+
#4

Family Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Sign-On Bonus Available

$165k-$197k
+ 29 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 5.1
Better work-life than 50% of Physician Assistant roles listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,569 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
  • Includes weekends
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare logo

About Northwestern Memorial Healthcare

Hospitals and Health Care
Chicago, Illinois
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Tuition reimbursement
Loan forgiveness
401(k) matching
Lifecycle benefits
Health insurance

Living in Palos Heights

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$383k
Median resident rent
$2,558/mo
Residents’ average commute
30 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

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