Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees.

The Palliative Care APP works with the interdisciplinary team to provide expert consultation in specialty palliative care to improve the quality of life for those suffering with a serious illness.  Palliative care provides comprehensive pain and symptom management as well as expert communication to help match patient’s treatment choices to their quality-of-life goals.  Palliative care works to coordinate care across multiple teams of physicians and healthcare settings, supporting patients and families throughout their journey.  Attention to emotional and spiritual care contribute to the patient’s whole wellbeing and promote the best quality of life possible. 

Job Summary

We are looking for an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician assistant to join our team at Clements University Hospital (CUH), Inpatient Palliative Care.  APP will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of Palliative Care Physicians, APPs, Chaplains, Social Workers, Nurses, and other allied health care professionals to address the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of a patient facing serious illness that may or may not be terminal. Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Hours and Schedule Options:  40 hours per week; Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm or Four (4) 10-hour shifts.

Experience and Education 

• Master’s degree or higher in nursing, documentation of completion of accredited Advanced Practice Education Program. Graduate education and related Texas Board of Nursing authorization must be consistent with clinical practice area and patient population. 
• Licensure as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by Texas State Board of Nursing. Authorization for prescriptive authority by the Texas Board of Nursing.  OR 
• Graduate of a Master’s degree or higher Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician (ARC-PA) accredited Physician Assistant program. 
• Certification by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Certification required. 
• Licensed by the Texas Physician Assistant Board.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified by the American Heart Association or Red Cross based on UT Southwestern policy for Advanced Practice Providers.
• Minimum 1 year of clinical APP experience.
• Palliative Care Certification or eligibility is preferred.  If hired, will be required to obtain certification within 2 years of hire (if available).

Job Duties 

• Must be able to work closely with an interdisciplinary team of Palliative Care Physicians, APPs, Chaplains, Social Workers, Nurses, and other allied health care professionals to address the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of a patient facing serious illness.  This illness may or may not be terminal.
• Perform expert assessment and treatment of pain and other complex symptoms.
• Provide support for physical, spiritual, and psychosocial needs of patients and families facing complex challenges of chronic, serious, and/or life-limiting illness.
• Provide education and counseling on complex medical decision-making and facilitate goals of care discussions amongst patients, their families, and their physicians.  Assist in documentation of medical decisions in the form of advance directives and other care planning documents.
• Communicate and collaborate with referring physicians established goals of care and co-manage complex disease states with focus on prevention and relief of pain and suffering.  
• Provide coordination of care across healthcare settings when arranging discharge plans, including home, home health care, community nursing facilities, hospices, and other institutions to aid in smooth transitions between locations. 
• Participate in educational opportunities to hospital staff and colleagues on the philosophy and services of palliative care, the differences between palliative care and hospice, as well as topics in symptom management, communication, and end of life care.
• Contribute to building and maintaining collaborative, respectful and inclusive interdisciplinary/inter-specialty relationships within the palliative care team, hospital staff and referring providers..
• Synthesizes data and utilizes evidence to develop, implement, and evaluate the patient plan of care, including ordering and interpreting laboratory, radiology, and other diagnostic studies/results.
• Demonstrates proficiency in technical/procedural skills, as appropriate based on specialty and training.
• Provides relevant management, referrals, counseling, and education to patients, families and caregivers related to current care and preventive health measures.
• Facilitates/participates in quality related initiatives through planned group processes, workshops, seminars, and staff meetings, to improve clinical and system practice performance.
• Collaborates in research projects and protocols; and routinely applies evidence based best practices to patient care.
• Duties performed may include one or more of the following core functions: (a) Directly interacting with or caring for patients; (b) Directly interacting with or caring for human-subjects research participants; (c) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting patient records (including patient financial records); or (d) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting human-subjects research records.
• Train and supervise learners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities of Position

• Accuracy and ability to exercise considerable judgment.
• Ability to maintain current customer service, clinical, and technical skills. 
• Ability to identify opportunities and provide suggestions for improvements in departmental policy, procedures, and protocols. 
• Proficient use of EMR in the delivery of care 

Working Conditions

• Work is performed primarily in a clinical environment. The incumbent may be exposed to body fluids and infectious diseases. 
• Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimums require prior approval of Vice President for Human Resources Administration or his/her designee. 

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status. To learn more, please visit: https://jobs.utsouthwestern.edu/why-work