Nurse Practitioner, Cardiovascular Surgery - UHN, Toronto

About the Role

The University Health Network (UHN) is seeking a dedicated Nurse Practitioner (NP) with a specialty focus in cardiovascular surgery, specifically within its innovative robotic surgery program. This advanced practice nursing role at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre involves close collaboration with cardiovascular surgeons, acting as a clinical co-lead across the entire patient journey. The successful candidate will provide advanced assessment, coordinate longitudinal care, optimize patient readiness, and manage postoperative follow-up, contributing significantly to the growth and safety of a high-performing robotic cardiac surgery program at UHN.

This position combines expert clinical practice with opportunities for quality improvement, education, research, and multidisciplinary collaboration, ensuring comprehensive patient care and program sustainability.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Co-lead the specialty cardiovascular surgery clinic in partnership with the cardiovascular surgeon, serving as a consistent clinical point of contact for patients, families, referring providers, inpatient teams, and the multidisciplinary cardiac surgery program.
• Lead initial clinical intake, advanced assessment, and preoperative screening for patients being considered for robotic cardiovascular surgery, including review of history, comorbidities, risk factors, diagnostic investigations, and surgical readiness.
• Collaborate with the surgeon and multidisciplinary team to support patient selection and decision-making regarding suitability for robotic versus conventional surgical approaches, ensuring that patients are appropriately investigated, optimized, educated, and prepared for surgery.
• Coordinate the patient’s preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative care pathway by confirming completion of required investigations, identifying barriers to readiness, supporting transitions of care, and maintaining continuity from first consultation through recovery and long-term follow-up.
• Provide structured postoperative follow-up in clinic, including wound assessment and management, medication review and adjustment within scope of practice, monitoring for complications, arranging additional tests or specialty follow-up, and delivering patient and family education during recovery.
• Monitor recovery milestones and post-discharge issues within an enhanced recovery framework, identifying concerns such as arrhythmias, pleural effusions, pericarditis, wound issues, pain control challenges, volume overload, or readmission risk, and escalating issues as appropriate.
• Contribute to the development of clinic workflows, referral pathways, standards of care, and patient education processes that strengthen a coordinated, team-based robotic cardiovascular surgery program.
• Build relationships with referring cardiologists, primary care providers, and community partners through timely communication, outreach, and participation in educational activities that support access, engagement, and program growth.
• Provide leadership in quality improvement, outcomes tracking, research, protocol development, and education related to robotic cardiovascular surgery and perioperative care, including identifying trends, supporting databases and reporting, and contributing to presentations or scholarly work.
• Act as a clinical resource, consultant, and role model for nursing and interprofessional colleagues, and perform other duties consistent with the job classification, as required.

Requirements

• Completion of Masters Degree Program in Nursing
• Nurse Practitioner (NP) Adult or Primary Care certificate complete
• Current Certificate of Competence with College of Nurses of Ontario
• Three to five years nursing experience in Cardiovascular Surgery
• Experience in nursing research methodology
• Eligible for cross-appointment to an academic institution
• Membership in the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and other organizations relevant to the role
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Effective interpersonal and customer services skills
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Excellent decision making, problem recognition and problem solving skills
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Program planning and evaluation methodology skills
• Commitment to collaborative practice
• Ability to work effectively independently and under stressful conditions
• Ability to work in a self directed manner
• Ability to utilize information technology
• Cardiac surgery patient care experience required; experience in minimally invasive or robotic cardiovascular surgery pathways, perioperative optimization, and postoperative follow-up preferred

Compensation and Perks

Joining University Health Network (UHN) means becoming part of an inspiring healthcare environment that offers a comprehensive range of benefits, programs, and perks designed to support your career and well-being. UHN values its employees and provides a competitive offer package.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)