Triage Staff Nurse - Neurosurgery - Trauma Spine (Katy Pain Management)

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 skilled Registered Nurse (RN) to support our neurosurgery pain management program in a dual-function triage and procedural role.

This position is central to optimizing patient access, ensuring safe procedural care, and coordinating treatment plans for patients with complex spine and neurosurgical pain conditions. The RN will serve as a clinical hub—bridging providers, patients, and external partners to ensure seamless, high-quality care delivery.

Schedule: Monday–Friday | Day Shift | No nights, weekends, or holidays 

Core Responsibilities

Triage & Clinical Coordination

·       Perform high-level clinical triage for neurosurgical pain patients (phone, EMR, and in-basket)

·       Assess symptoms, identify red flags, and escalate appropriately to providers

·       Manage:

o   Medication-related questions and side effect monitoring

o   Post-procedural concerns and follow-up needs

·       Coordinate care across:

o   Imaging centers, physical therapy, pain management, and external specialists

·       Facilitate:

o   Prior authorizations, referrals, and timely access to procedures

Procedural Support

·       Assist with in-office and procedural-based interventions, including:

o   Spine injections (if applicable to clinic scope)

o   Minor neurosurgical procedures

·       Prepare patients for procedures:

o   Pre-procedure education and consent verification

o   Equipment and room setup

·       Provide intra- and post-procedural monitoring, including:

o   Vital signs and patient response

o   Immediate complication recognition and escalation

·       Ensure adherence to infection control and safety protocols

Patient Intake & Experience

·       Conduct focused clinical intake and screening for new and established patients

·       Provide comprehensive patient education related to:

o   Pain management plans

o   Post-procedure expectations

o   Medication use and safety

·       Serve as a consistent point of contact for patients navigating complex care plans

Quality & Operations

·       Support clinic throughput and efficiency through proactive patient management

·       Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to access, safety, and outcomes

·       Maintain accurate, timely documentation in the electronic medical record

Qualifications

·       Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Texas

·       Minimum 2–3 years of clinical experience preferred

·       Strongly preferred:

o   Neurosurgery, spine, pain management, or procedural clinic experience

o   Experience with triage and ambulatory workflows 

·       BLS required (ACLS preferred depending on procedural scope)

·       Excellent clinical judgment, communication, and organizational skills

Why This Role

·       Specialty Practice: Work at the intersection of neurosurgery and pain management 

·       High Impact: Directly improve patient access, experience, and outcomes 

·       Balanced Schedule: No nights, weekends, or holidays 

·       Team-Based Care: Collaborate closely with neurosurgeons, APPs, and multidisciplinary teams

Location: 6400 Fannin St, Suite 2150, Houston, TX 77030 with occasional travel to 11920 Astoria Blvd, Suite 292, Houston, TX 77089

 

 

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:

Assist and consult with patients over the telephone, answering health questions and determining care needed, assess situations and refer to proper healthcare provider, clinic or emergency room.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Performs responsibilities in a manner that promotes quality patient care and customer service/satisfaction.
• Adheres to broad scope of practice as established by Nurse Practice Act.
• Assist and consult with patients over the phone.
• Prioritizes, synthesizes and documents assessments and nursing plan of care using critical thinking and judgment.
• Communicates effectively with patients and healthcare providers, as necessary.
• Exercises judgment while coordinating care and referring patients to agencies or health care professionals for other services/transitions in care where indicated.
• Performs telephone triage using best practice guidelines and documentation to ensure patients receive the right level of care in the right setting at the right time by the right caregiver using the right equipment and supplies.
• Acts as a patient and healthcare advocate by maintaining a safe environment and promoting quality healthcare and services.
• Respects and maintains privacy and confidentiality per HIPAA guidelines.
• Adheres to standards of practice for professional nursing.
• Acts as a clinical and leadership resource for team members.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Uses typical office equipment.
• Registered Nurse (RN) State Licensure or Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) by Texas Board of Nursing (BON) required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) by American Heart Association (AHA) preferred
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) by American Heart Association (AHA) preferred

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school with two years nursing experience required Associate's Degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school with four years nursing experience required Nursing Diploma (3 year program) and three years nursing experience required

Minimum Experience:

2 years of experience with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required 3 years of experience with a Nursing Diploma (3 year program) required 4 years 4 years of experience with an Associate's Degree in Nursing required

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.