Spine Center Triage RN

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. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!

JOB SUMMARY
This position functions under the general supervision of the Nursing Manager or Multi-Practice Manager within the Spine Center. The Spine Triage Nurse serves as the primary clinical resource for nursing triage of all patient messages received. This role requires advanced clinical judgment utilizing careful listening, critical thinking, and assessment skills to evaluate patient needs. The nurse provides timely disposition and education for patients experiencing acute or chronic spine conditions, post-operative concerns, medication questions, or neurological changes. The Spine Triage Nurse collaborates closely with spine surgeons, advanced practice providers, and rehabilitation specialists to ensure safe, evidence-based recommendations, prevent unnecessary emergency department visits, and support continuity of care.

BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required

• Licenses and Certifications
  (RN) REGISTERED NURSE by Board of Nurse Examiners for State of Texas and
  (BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT and
  

Preferred

• Experience
  2 years of ambulatory clinical nursing experience or emergency room experience is preferred.
  

JOB DUTIES

• Utilizes advanced listening and communication skills to interpret subtle indications of patient complaints, including spine-related concerns (e.g., new or worsening back pain, radiculopathy, neurogenic claudication, post-operative issues) as well as general medical symptoms.
• Applies clinic-specific protocols and professional nursing judgment to determine the urgency of patient needs, identifying red flag symptoms (e.g., progressive weakness, bowel or bladder changes, chest pain, shortness of breath) and directing patients to the appropriate level of care.
• Provides patient education related to spine conditions, surgical recovery, chronic disease management, medication use, and warning signs that require urgent or emergent evaluation to promote continuity of care and avoid unnecessary ER visits.
• Collects and documents comprehensive data on presenting problems, past medical and surgical history, medications, and symptom progression; recognizes patterns aligned with both spine protocols and general nursing triage standards to ensure safe, evidence-based dispositions.
• Coordinates prescription refills in alignment with Spine Center protocols (pain management, neuropathic agents, muscle relaxants) as well as routine maintenance medications per nursing scope and policy.
• Collaborates with spine surgeons, advanced practice providers, rehabilitation specialists, and interdisciplinary team members to support patient care coordination and timely follow-up.
• Responds appropriately to urgent messages and escalates cases to providers when higher-level intervention is required.
• Performs general nursing triage functions such as patient education on health maintenance, reinforcement of care plans, and management of common outpatient concerns.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information. To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

EEO Statement
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.

UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare - no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!