Jobs › Northwestern Medicine

This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Physician Assistant, Thoracic Surgery

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 5, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a surgeon about a patient's care.

What they are checking: Whether they can speak up with evidence while respecting the collaborating physician.

How do you prepare a patient and family for discharge after lung surgery?

What they are checking: Whether they teach well so patients know warning signs at home.

How have you contributed to quality improvement or research?

What they are checking: Whether they would take part in QI and research, as the posting expects.

What would you do

This role splits time between the OR, the inpatient unit and the Chest Procedure Service. How do you switch gears between them?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay organized across three very different settings.

A post-op patient develops a new air leak and rising oxygen needs. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can assess and escalate post-thoracic surgery complications quickly.

The schedule is 12-hour weekday shifts and some weekends. How do you stay sharp over long days?

What they are checking: Whether they can keep their judgment strong through demanding shifts.

About the work

How do you manage chest tubes after a lobectomy, and when do you decide one can come out?

What they are checking: Whether they know air leak, output and imaging criteria for chest tube management.

What is your experience first assisting in thoracic or minimally invasive cases?

What they are checking: Whether their OR skills match the role, including robotic or VATS cases.

What procedures are you comfortable doing, like chest tube placement or thoracentesis?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle the bedside procedures a chest procedure service performs.

How do you recognize and manage atrial fibrillation after thoracic surgery?

What they are checking: Whether they know a common post-op complication and its treatment.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for a Physician Assistant to work in Thoracic Surgery. This Advanced Practice Provider will be covering OR, floor and procedure service. Schedule: Mon-Fri (12h shifts days), Some weekends Sat-Sun (8h shifts, days); no nights This inpatient role includes rotating time in the OR, inpatient post-surgical unit, and as part of the Chest Procedure Service. Time is evenly split between each aspect of the service. 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. AA/EOE Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Required: • Master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program • First Assist Certification for APRNs. • Current license as a Physician Assistant in the State of Illinois. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number • Privileged and credentialed through the Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff Office (MSO) • Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation – BLS, issued by the American Heart Association Preferred: • 2 years of clinical experience in the OR or inpatient post-surgical units 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 NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits 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.