Advanced Practice Provider - Neurosurgery - Spine- Inpatient/Outpatient (TMC)

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

UTHealth Houston Neurosciences is seeking a highly skilledAdvanced Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant)to join ourNeurosurgery Service Line, supporting bothinpatient and outpatient care.

This role is designed for an APP who thrives in ahigh-acuity, fast-paced environmentand wants to practice at the top of their license across the full continuum of spine trauma care- from initial hospital management through post-operative recovery and longitudinal follow-up.

Schedule & Structure

• Full-time position
• Blended IP/OP model:
  • Inpatient trauma spine service coverage
  • Outpatient spine clinic (post-op and new patient evaluations)
• Schedule may include rotating inpatient coverage depending on service needs

Core Responsibilities

Inpatient Trauma Spine Care

• Collaborate with neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgeons in the management of:
  • Traumatic spine injuries (fractures, instability, spinal cord injury)
  • Post-operative spine patients
• Perform:
  • Daily rounds, patient assessments, and care planning
  • Admission histories and physicals
  • Discharge planning and coordination
• Manage:
  • Acute complications, pain control, and neurological status changes
• Coordinate care with:
  • ICU teams, hospitalists, rehab services, and case management

Outpatient Spine Practice

• Conduct clinic visits for:
  • Post-operative follow-up
  • New spine trauma referrals
• Evaluate imaging and clinical progression
• Manage:
  • Pain regimens, wound care, and recovery milestones
• Provide patient and family education on:
  • Recovery expectations
  • Activity restrictions and return-to-function planning

Procedural & Clinical Support

• First assist in the OR (if credentialed and applicable)
• Perform bedside procedures within scope (e.g., staple/suture removal, wound care)
• Support clinical pathway development and standardization

Care Coordination & Quality

• Ensure seamless transitions acrossinpatient → outpatient continuum
• Participate in:
  • Trauma program initiatives
  • Quality improvement and outcomes tracking
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the EMR

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited:
  • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP/ACNP)programOR
  • Physician Assistantprogram
• Board certified (ANCC, AANP, or NCCPA)
• Licensed or eligible for licensure in the state of Texas
• Acute care training/experience required
• Preferred:
  • Experience in neurosurgery, spine, trauma, ICU, or hospital medicine

Why This Role

• Full Continuum Practice:Manage patients from acute trauma through recovery
• High-Acuity Exposure:Work within a dynamic trauma spine program
• Collaborative Model:Partner closely with surgeons, APPs, and multidisciplinary teams
• Professional Growth:Opportunities for involvement in research, education, and program development

About UTHealth Houston Neurosciences

UTHealth Houston Neurosciences is a leading academic program delivering advanced, multidisciplinary care across neurology and neurosurgery, with a strong commitment toinnovation, education, and clinical excellence.

Location: 6400 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77030 (+ travel to affiliated outpatient clinics)

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

POSITION SUMMARY:

Provides patient care assistance in a clinic or hospital setting in one or more specialized areas under the direction of a primary care physician.

POSITION KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Conducts complex, standardized patient care procedures that require experience and specialized training that would otherwise be performed by a physician but which do not constitute the practice of medicine.
2. Coordinates, directs and implements patient's plan of care.
3. Orders, conducts and interprets pertinent laboratory and diagnostic studies and procedures.
4. Performs physical examinations and provides episodic care or problem-oriented care under the supervision of a physician.
5. Orders appropriate laboratory tests and interprets the laboratory data such as blood and urine samples.
6. Monitors the treatment program of the patient to inform the attending physician of pertinent medical information.
7. Makes medical recommendations and/or referrals.
8. Formulates, implements, and evaluates an outcome-based treatment plan.
9. Maintains appropriate records detailing the patient's treatment plans and outcomes.
10. Facilitates patient education relating to medical processes, medication, nutrition, and health promotion.
11. Collaborates with patients, families, other clinicians, and referral services to assist in the patient's recovery.
12. Other duties as assigned.

CERTIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

Nurse Practitioner: Current Texas Licensure as a Registered Nurse Current Texas Licensure as an APRN-NP, and specialty certification as required by department Basic Life Support (BLS) Certified
Physician Assistant: Current Texas Licensure as a Physician Assistant Current Physician Assistant certification issued by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants Basic Life Support (BLS) Certified Proficient in the use of medical and surgical instruments and equipment required by work.

MINIMUM EDUCATION:

Nurse Practitioner: Masters in Nursing as NP or master degree in Nursing with completion of a post-master Nurse Practitioner Certification Program.
Physician Assistant: Master's degree as Physician Assistant. A Bachelor's degree as a Physician Assistant with at least two years of professional experience in the role is acceptable based on terminal degree requirements at the time of graduation.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:
None