Nurse Manager - Main Post Anesthesia Care Unit

Nurse Manager

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a premier academic cancer center dedicated to cancer patient care, research, education, and prevention. The Main Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) provides specialized post-procedural and post-surgical care for patients recovering from anesthesia, requiring strong clinical oversight, interdisciplinary collaboration, and operational excellence. The Nurse Manager is a key leadership role supporting this fast-paced, high-acuity environment.

The Nurse Manager collaborates with nursing and operational leadership to ensure safe, high-quality patient care, staff development, fiscal responsibility, and achievement of unit goals. The Nurse Manager supports evidence-based practice, quality improvement initiatives, and professional nursing excellence. The Nurse Manager also plays an important role in fostering staff engagement, operational effectiveness, and patient-centered care within the Main PACU.

The ideal candidate will possess clinical experience in PACU, ICU, Endoscopy, or Emergency Department settings and demonstrated nursing leadership experience. A Master's degree and professional certification are preferred; however, strong candidates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), certification, and leadership experience will be considered.

Annual Salary: Minimum $129,000 - Midpoint $161,500 - Maximum $194,000

The typical work schedule is an evening shift. Anticipated schedules under consideration include 3:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. five days per week, 1:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. four days per week, or 2:00 p.m.-12:30 a.m. four days per week. Rotating weekend call and onsite Saturday coverage required with four to five other nurse managers.

Why Us?

At UT MD Anderson, the Nurse Manager has the opportunity to impact patient outcomes, support nursing excellence, and lead a highly specialized post-anesthesia care team. This role provides meaningful leadership responsibility, professional growth opportunities, participation in organizational initiatives, and the ability to contribute to the mission of ending cancer while maintaining a collaborative work environment.

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
  
  

Responsibilities

Leadership & Operational Management

• Participate in implementation and monitoring of the unit budget to respond cost-effectively to changing patient, staff, and inter-professional team requirements
• Implement plans to achieve compliance with established budget expectations
• Assist in preparation and delivery of unit staffing plans considering skill mix, staffing levels, and patient care requirements
• Ensure daily staffing plans and patient care assignments support quality and fiscally responsible patient care
• Support change initiatives and ensure staff understand the importance, necessity, impact, and process of change
• Build relationships among staff members that enhance loyalty and commitment to the organization
• Gather different viewpoints and communicate information and ideas to the Associate Director
• Support an environment where staff practice with autonomy
  
  

Staff Development & Structural Empowerment

• Assist the Associate Director with recruitment, retention, supervision, evaluation, and productivity of clinical and clerical staff
• Coach and mentor top talent through effective performance development and management
• Provide career counseling and support opportunities for personal and professional growth
• Support Just Culture principles that promote non-punitive accountability for performance
• Manage staff performance through annual evaluations, recognition, counseling, and disciplinary processes in collaboration with leadership
• Coach staff to accomplish organizational and departmental goals and achieve desired outcomes
• Empower staff to identify problems and develop solutions that support unit and organizational objectives
  
  

Professional Nursing Practice

• Promote evidence-based nursing care consistent with current research, the Professional Practice Model, the Texas Nurse Practice Act, institutional standards, and national nursing practice standards
• Support measurable, outcome-focused approaches to patient care delivery
• Identify, implement, and evaluate opportunities for quality and performance improvement
• Foster effective communication and collaboration among leaders, departments, disciplines, staff, patients, and families
• Promote understanding and integration of ethical principles into clinical practice
• Ensure compliance with clinical practice standards, technological proficiency expectations, and healthcare environment knowledge requirements
• Pursue professional development through lifelong learning and participation in professional organizations
• Serve as a role model by fostering peer relationships and participating in coaching and mentoring activities
  
  

Innovation, Quality & Improvement

• Assist in applying new and existing evidence when establishing unit patient care standards
• Incorporate new knowledge, innovation, and improvement into clinical practice, patient care delivery systems, and work design
• Support a unit vision that incorporates healthcare economics, policy, regulatory, and socio-political knowledge
• Apply leadership principles that challenge the status quo, embrace change, and support effective change management
• Support implementation of the patient care delivery system and Professional Practice Model
• Maintain proficiency in technology related to patient care delivery and patient care processes
• Incorporate evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and patient safety initiatives supporting safe, timely, effective, efficient, and patient-centered care
  
  

Empirical Outcomes & Performance Excellence

• Initiate, monitor, manage, and improve unit performance and processes using outcome data
• Maintain awareness of trends in unit metrics and implement action plans that improve and sustain outcomes
• Lead initiatives and projects designed to improve unit performance based on outcome data
• Ensure follow-up and accountability for implemented improvement initiatives
• Mentor team members participating in performance improvement projects
• Implement and reinforce best practices across the unit
• Disseminate information regarding quality improvement initiatives, best practices, and organizational outcomes to nursing staff
  
  

Perform other duties as assigned

EDUCATION

• Required: Bachelor's Degree Nursing.
• Preferred: Master's Degree Nursing or related field.
  
  

Work Experience

• Required: 5 years Professional nursing experience, to include one year of supervisory experience in direct patient care activities.
• Preferred: PACU, ICU, Endoscopy, or Emergency Department settings
• Successful completion of the LEADing Self Accelerate and/or LEADing Self Discover programs may substitute for one year of required supervisory or management experience. Completion of both programs can be substituted for a maximum of two years of supervisory or management experience.
  
  

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Required: RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure Current State of Texas Professional Nursing License (RN). Upon Hire and
• Required: BLS - Basic Life Support Upon Hire or
• Required: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Upon Hire
• Preferred: OCN - Oncology Nurse Certification Certification in oncology or specialty practice area. Upon Hire
• Preferred: ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification as required by patient care area. Upon Hire
• Preferred: PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification as required by patient care area. Upon Hire
  
  

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

Additional Information

• Requisition ID: 183708
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• Employee Status: Regular
• Work Week: Day/Evening, Days, Evenings
• Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 129,000
• Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 161,500
• Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 194,000
• FLSA: exempt and eligible for overtime, paid at a straight rate
• Fund Type: Hard
• Work Location: Onsite
• Pivotal Position: No
• Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
• Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes