Job Abstract

The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.

SUMMARY

The primary purpose of the outpatient Advanced Practice Provider position is to provide quality direct and/or indirect patient care clinically, administratively, and/or academically and provide clinical evaluation, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of patients enrolled on research protocols. Affects direct medical services to patients within the education, training, and experience level of an advanced practice nurse, as delegated by the supervising physician(s) and in accordance with policies established by the nurse practice act of the State of Texas and UTMDACC Standards of Nursing Care policies and procedures. Responsible for the performance of increasingly independent and complex tasks of a routine and standardized nature, which would otherwise be performed by a physician. Provides advanced patient care in relation to the patient’s prescribed diagnosis, treatment, age group, development, and other identified medical needs.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Patient Assessment:

Provide quality patient care in relation to the patient’s prescribed diagnosis, treatment, age group, development and other identified needs. This involves talking to patients and patient’s families. Must be able to verbally communicate findings to physician and family members.

Assess health status by performing the medical history, physical examination and psychosocial assessment. Must be able to communicate in a clear and understandable manner. Must be able to visually read and write findings and to verbally communicate with patients and patients’ family.

On occasion, may be required to cover the inpatient service, make daily rounds on each patient, and report findings and test results to attending physician. Must be able to visually check records and write findings.

Monitor laboratory, clinical radiographic and procedural data. Must visually evaluate data and prepare written information.

Review the finding of the history and physical, pertinent laboratory data, radiographic data, plan for further diagnosis and therapeutic management as outlined in collaboration with the attending physician. This involves setting for extended period of time and visually evaluating data from computer. Requires good perception and reading comprehension.

Intervention/Evaluation:

Prevent, minimize and manage symptoms/toxicities/health abnormalities related to disease or treatment in collaboration with physician and other allied personnel.

Evaluate health care provided and modify care as needed (under the supervision of a physician if medical acts are required).

Provide psychological support to patients and families.

Provide health care throughout the disease process: diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative and terminal care.

Facilitate use of agency resources.

Facilitate communication between patient/family and interdisciplinary team and coordinates services related to patient care. This may involve sitting at computer for long periods of time and entering data via keyboard.

Schedule consultations, diagnostic tests or procedures, future appointments for patients in coordination with the attending physician. Must be able to walk from one area of the hospital to another to pick up and distribute information.

Diagnostic/therapeutic procedures:

Demonstrate competency of specific procedure under the direct supervision of a physician or competent midlevel provider leading to performance of the procedure.

Performance of medical procedures may include: Obtaining blood from arterial and venous punctures including central lines; venous catheters and heparin locks; administration of drugs as needed including intravenous, intra-arterial, intrathecal, intrapleural, and intraperitoneal; HAI catheter removal, paracentesis, or other medical procedures under the supervision of an M.D. Must be able to bend body at waist and manipulate fingers in careful movements to draw blood specimens. Must be able to grasp objects with fingers and palm and make repetitive movements with arms and hands and make receptive movements with legs and feet and maintain controlled steady arm-hand position.

Clinic Activities:

Perform, dictate and document complete history and physical examinations.

Evaluate and appropriately manage scheduled and unscheduled follow-up clinic patients.

Participate in fast-track clinic activities and CTRC coverage (for protocol-related physical exams).

Assist in coordination of multi-disciplinary patient care both within and outside of MDACC.

Assist in referrals to other services for evaluation or management.

Provide continuity of care for patients by clinic visits, telephone, or other communications.

Adequately present patient problems and plans of care to supervising physician(s).

Prescribe necessary medications, order diagnostic tests, and delegate tasks necessary for patient management as directed by supervising physician(s).

Assist in the inpatient admission process.

Complete medical verification forms including but not limited to disability forms, insurance forms, and medical status forms as directed by faculty physician(s).

Participate in the education of students and staff.

Clinical research activities:

Contribute to research efforts of department/section by: (1) identifying clinical problems amenable to research methods and (2) initiating or collaborating in research projects.

Apply pertinent research to clinical practice.

Assume responsibility for the effective operation of research protocols in collaboration with the principal investigator, study sponsor and research nurse. Assess patients for protocol eligibility, coordinate, evaluate, and follow the patient’s participation in clinical trials. Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team as necessary. Provide documentation in the patient’s medical record or recruitment log per protocol and institutional requirements. Identify and develop methods of patient recruitment.

Assist the primary investigator in collection and evaluation of data. Evaluate response to treatment, treatment toxicities and adverse drug reactions and report appropriately to the principal investigator, the Institutional Review Board, and the study sponsor. Provide protocol summary reports as requested.

Participate in protocol-specific clinical tasks as needed. Identify and provide patient and family educational needs regarding treatment management, evaluation and follow-up in clinical trials through talking with patients person-to-person or by telephone and/or through written educational material. Order protocol-related test(s), procedures and consults and obtain pathology slides and blocks as needed.

Provide professional and ancillary staff education concerning research protocols by written and/or computerized directions to hospital and/or clinic staffs as each new protocol is introduced. Provide accurate information as required to the multidisciplinary team, consumers and professional public organization. Keep current concerning oncology and data management issues through reading and/or attending meetings/in-services.

Understand and adhere to the policies and procedures related to conduct of clinical trials as delineated in the department training manual and presented at weekly training meetings.