Rhinology Advanced Practice Clinician

The Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) to join our academic Rhinology practice. This position will primarily support the ambulatory care of patients with sinonasal and inflammatory nasal disease, working collaboratively with fellowship-trained rhinologists and the broader multidisciplinary otolaryngology team.

The Rhinology APC will play an integral role in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and longitudinal management of patients with acute and chronic sinonasal disease, chronic rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, nasal obstruction, epistaxis, nasal polyposis, and other disorders of the nose and paranasal sinuses.

The position offers an opportunity to develop advanced expertise in rhinology while functioning within a collaborative academic environment that emphasizes clinical excellence, evidence-based practice, patient education, quality improvement, teaching, and professional development.

The APC will participate throughout the continuum of rhinologic care, including initial evaluation, medical management, diagnostic procedures, perioperative care, postoperative surveillance, and long-term disease management.

Primary Responsibilities

Ambulatory Rhinology Practice

The APC will independently evaluate and manage patients presenting with a broad spectrum of sinonasal disorders.

Responsibilities will include:

• Obtaining comprehensive histories and performing focused head and neck examinations

• Developing differential diagnoses and treatment plans

• Ordering and interpreting appropriate diagnostic studies in collaboration with supervising/collaborating physicians

• Initiating and managing evidence-based medical therapy

• Providing longitudinal management of chronic sinonasal disease

• Monitoring treatment response and modifying treatment plans as clinically indicated

• Providing patient and family education regarding disease processes, treatment options, medication use, and expectations

• Coordinating care with allergy/immunology, pulmonology, infectious disease, neurology, ophthalmology, primary care, and other specialties when appropriate

• Identifying patients requiring escalation of care or surgical intervention and coordinating referral to the appropriate rhinology surgeon

Office-Based Procedures

Based on demonstrated competency and institutional privileging, the APC may perform selected office-based rhinology procedures, including:

• Diagnostic nasal endoscopy

• Flexible nasal endoscopy

• Anterior rhinoscopy

• Nasal debridement

• Postoperative endoscopic evaluation

• Removal of postoperative crusting and debris

• Nasal cautery for epistaxis

• Nasal packing and packing removal

• Management of postoperative nasal care

• Selected office-based procedures associated with rhinologic disease

The APC will be expected to maintain competency through appropriate training, documentation, proctoring/FPPE, and ongoing professional development consistent with institutional standards.

Postoperative Rhinology Care

A component of the role will involve postoperative management of patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery and other rhinologic procedures.

Responsibilities may include:

• Routine postoperative assessment

• Endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity and sinus cavities

• Postoperative debridement

• Removal of crusting, blood products, and postoperative debris

• Assessment for infection, bleeding, scarring, or other postoperative complications

• Management and optimization of saline irrigation and topical therapies

• Adjustment of topical corticosteroid treatment when indicated

• Patient education regarding postoperative care and expectations

• Identification of patients with abnormal healing or complications requiring rhinologist evaluation

• Coordination of postoperative imaging and additional treatment when appropriate

• Longitudinal surveillance of patients following sinus surgery

The APC will work closely with the rhinology surgeons to establish standardized postoperative pathways and protocols to promote consistent, high-quality postoperative care.

Collaboration With Rhinology Faculty

The APC will function as an integral member of the rhinology clinical team and will work closely with fellowship-trained rhinologists.

The role will include:

• Shared management of complex rhinology patients

• Preoperative evaluation and surgical planning support

• Postoperative management

• Same-day or expedited evaluation of urgent sinonasal complaints

• Communication regarding abnormal findings and clinical changes

• Participation in multidisciplinary care planning

• Development and implementation of clinical protocols

• Participation in quality improvement initiatives

• Assistance with clinical workflow optimization

The APC will exercise appropriate clinical autonomy within the scope of education, experience, institutional policies, and granted privileges, while recognizing situations requiring escalation to the supervising/collaborating rhinologist.

Academic Responsibilities

As a member of an academic otolaryngology department, the APC will have opportunities to participate in activities beyond direct patient care, including:

• Education of medical students, residents, fellows, and other learners

• Participation in departmental educational conferences

• Development of patient education materials

• Participation in clinical research and/or outcomes projects

• Quality improvement initiatives

• Development of standardized clinical pathways

• Evidence-based practice initiatives

• Presentation of clinical topics at departmental or institutional conferences

• Mentorship and education of other APCs

• Participation in professional organizations and continuing education activities

Clinical Practice Expectations

The APC will be expected to:

• Provide compassionate, patient-centered care

• Practice within the scope of licensure, certification, education, experience, and institutional privileges

• Maintain current national certification and state licensure

• Maintain competency in required clinical procedures

• Participate in department and institutional quality and safety initiatives

• Document patient encounters accurately and efficiently

• Communicate effectively with physicians, APC colleagues, nurses, medical assistants, and ancillary staff

• Promote efficient patient flow while maintaininghigh standards of care

• Demonstrate sound clinical judgment and appropriate escalation of complex or urgent cases

• Participate in performance improvement and peer review processes as required

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an experienced Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant with a strong interest in rhinology and a commitment to developing advanced expertise in the evaluation and management of rhinology.

Highly desirable qualifications include:

• Previous experience in otolaryngology, rhinology, allergy, or a related specialty

• Experience managing chronic rhinosinusitis

• Experience performing nasal endoscopy

• Experience with postoperative sinus surgery patients

• Experience performing or assisting with office-based ENT procedures

• Strong clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills

• Excellent communication and patient education skills

• Ability to work independently while functioning effectively within a physician-led subspecialty team

• Interest in academic medicine, education, research, or quality improvement

Experience is preferred but not required if the candidate demonstratesappropriate clinical experience and a strong willingness to obtain additional training and competency.

Professional Attributes

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Commitment to clinical excellence

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Collaborative approach to patient care

• Intellectual curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning

• Ability to manage a complex ambulatory patient population

• Strong organizational and time-management skills

• Commitment to evidence-based medicine

• Interest in developing subspecialty expertise

• Professionalism and accountability

• Commitment to the academic mission of the Department of Otolaryngology

Licensure Requirements 

The successful candidate must meet all applicable state, federal, and institutional requirements for practice as an Advanced Practice Clinician within the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program

• Current national board certification appropriate to the candidate's discipline:

• Nurse Practitioner: Current certification through an appropriate nationally recognized certifying body (e.g., ANCC or AANP), consistent with the candidate's population focus and scope of practice

• Physician Assistant: Current certification through the NCCPA

• Current DEA registration, or eligibility to obtain DEA registration, as required for the position and scope of practice

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association or another institutionally approved provider

• Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification through the American Heart Association or another institutionally approved provider

• Eligibility for and successful completion of all applicable hospital and departmental credentialing and privileging requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain clinical privileges appropriate to the responsibilities of the position, including office-based rhinology procedures as applicable

• Maintenance of all required professional licenses, certifications, registrations, and continuing education requirements throughout employment

Position Highlights

This position provides an opportunity to:

• Develop a focused career in academic rhinology

• Establish longitudinal relationships with patients with chronic sinonasal disease

• Work directly with fellowship-trained rhinologists

• Develop advanced procedural skills 

• Participate in the full continuum of rhinologic care

• Participate in multidisciplinary care

• Contribute to resident, fellow, and medical student education

• Participate in quality improvement and clinical research

• Help develop and standardize APC-driven rhinology clinical pathways

• Grow professionally within an academic otolaryngology department