Inpatient Advanced Practice Provider (APRN or PA) - Head & Neck Surgery

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a leading institution dedicated to cancer care, research, education, and prevention. Within the Head & Neck specialty, the Advanced Practice Provider plays a vital role in supporting patients throughout their treatment journey, including inpatient and outpatient care, perioperative management, and coordination of complex multidisciplinary services. The Advanced Practice Provider delivers high-quality clinical care while collaborating closely with physicians, nurses, researchers, and allied health professionals.

At MD Anderson Cancer Center, APPs are integral members of multidisciplinary teams dedicated to delivering exceptional cancer care. As part of the inpatient Head and Neck Surgery service, you will care for some of the nation's most complex surgical oncology patients while practicing alongside nationally recognized surgeons, colleagues, nurses, therapists, and support staff. This role offers the opportunity to develop expertise in surgical oncology, airway management, postoperative management and comprehensive inpatient care while contributing to MD Anderson's mission of Making Cancer History.

The Department of Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or Physician Assistant (PA) to join our inpatient Head and Neck Surgery team. This position is dedicated to providing comprehensive inpatient care for patients undergoing treatment for complex head and neck cancers and related perioperative conditions.

As a member of a nationally recognized multidisciplinary oncology team, the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) will collaborate with attending surgeons, fellows, residents, other APP colleagues, nurses, speech-language pathologists, dietitians, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care. The APP will play a vital role in the management of postoperative patients, surgical airways, enteral feeding access, wound care, symptom management, and discharge planning throughout the inpatient continuum of care.

This inpatient role offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated clinician who enjoys a fast-paced surgical environment, values teamwork, and is passionate about caring for a complex oncology patient population.

The ideal candidate has advanced clinical training with the appropriate licensure and certification for practice, prior inpatient experience, and experience in ENT, surgery, oncology, or outpatient settings. Candidates who possess knowledge of surgical airway patient care, can round autonomously when appropriate, and demonstrate strong clinical judgment, communication, and multidisciplinary collaboration skills will be particularly well suited for this role.

Salary: Minimum $117,500.00 - Midpoint $146,500.00 - Maximum $176,500.00
The typical work schedule is: 6:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Work Location: TMC
Advanced Practice Provider (APRN or PA) - Head & Neck Surgery Inpatient

Why Us?
This role offers the opportunity to directly impact the lives of patients with complex head and neck conditions while contributing to the mission of UT MD Anderson. The position provides exposure to advanced surgical and oncologic care, multidisciplinary collaboration, clinical research activities, and ongoing professional development within an internationally recognized academic healthcare environment that supports career growth and work-life balance.
• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Key Responsibilities
• Provide advanced patient care in a clinical setting, to include evaluation of new patients, existing patients, and inpatients; to provide immediate preoperative and postoperative assessment of patients.
• Perform routine patient care and advanced technical studies in a clinical setting to include but not limited to:
- Fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopy
-Fiberoptic tracheoscopy
-Placement or removal of dobhoff feeding tubes
-Appropriate wound care management
• Participates in multidisciplinary discharge rounds on the unit
• Conducts inpatient rounds and records patient status in the medical record as clinically indicated.
• Manages daily patient problems as they arise and document actions implemented in their resolution.
• Effectively communicates with service team members, consultants, nursing, and other health care providers to facilitate patient care coordination.
• Provides appropriate handoff at the end of each shift.
• Dictates discharge summaries.
• Conducts discharge planning.
• Perform routine admission, transfer and discharge procedures.
• Provide counseling and education to the patient and their family concerning their health care and sensitive ethical situations.
• Provide a direct link from the supervising physician to other physicians/departments to facilitate optimal patient care and timeliness of appropriate care.
• Provide a contact for patients, families, referring physicians, pharmacists, and other allied health personnel concerning the immediate and long term patient care plans.
• Process correspondence with patients, physicians, third party carriers and other entities as delegated by the supervising physician.
• Assist supervising physician with routine chart follow-ups and order appropriate referrals, laboratory, radiological or supportive care as needed.
• Assist with and maintain patient records in compliance with UTMDACC guidelines.
• Assist research nurses with identifying patients who may benefit from protocol registration and clinical research opportunities

Perform other duties as assigned

EDUCATION

• Required: Master's Degree Nursing
• Degree may be waived for applicants who obtained recognition as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse from the Texas State Board of Nursing prior to 1/1/2003.
• Graduate education and related Texas Board of Nursing authorization must be consistent with clinical practice area and patient population.

Or

• Master's Degree Accredited Physician Assistant (PA) program by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), except for Physician Assistants who graduated from a PA program prior to 2013.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Required: None
• Preferred: Inpatient experience or prior experience in an ENT, surgical or oncology setting

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Required: Written authorization from the Texas Board of Nursing or Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners to function as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant. Related authorization must be consistent with clinical practice area and patient population. Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
• Preferred: ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification as required by patient care area. Upon Hire
• Preferred: PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification as required by patient care area. Upon Hire
• Required: MAY BE REQUIRED: Authorization for limited prescriptive authority by the Texas Board of Nursing. Upon Hire
• Required: Clinical Privileges Must obtain and maintain relevant clinical privileges. Continued employment in this position at MD Anderson is contingent upon maintaining these privileges.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, paid time off , retirement , tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.

Additional Information

• Requisition ID: 183698
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• Employee Status: Regular
• Work Week: Days
• Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 117,500
• Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 146,500
• Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 176,500
• FLSA: exempt and not eligible for overtime pay
• Fund Type: Hard
• Work Location: Onsite
• Pivotal Position: Yes
• Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
• Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes

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