Nurse Clinician - Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (Adolescent and Young Adult/ Breast Oncology)

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

53d•Onsite

About The Position

University of Iowa Health Care Department of Nursing is seeking a 100% Adolescent and Young Adult/ Breast Oncology Nurse Clinician to work for the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center with the AYA Team/ Breast Oncology Team. The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is dedicated to bringing world-class research and cancer care to Iowa, the Midwest, and beyond, holding the #47 ranking in the country for Oncology care by U.S. News & World Report. As Iowa’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center since 2000, and with accreditations from FACT and CoC, its mission is to decrease pain and suffering caused by cancer through improved prevention and treatment based on research, clinical service, and education. This role functions as a clinical expert, care coordinator, educator, advocate, and clinical resource for designated oncology patient populations, split 50% with Breast Oncology and 50% with the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program. The Nurse Clinician collaborates with Staff Nurses, providers, and multidisciplinary team members, supporting continuity of care across settings and phases of care without replacing the primary oncology treatment team.

Requirements

A Baccalaureate degree in Nursing is required
Current license to practice nursing in Iowa is required by date of hire
Reasonable (within the last 1-3 years) nursing experience is required
Demonstrates expertise in specific clinical area of practice

Responsibilities

Serves as a clinical expert and resource for assigned oncology patient populations, incorporating disease-specific and age-specific needs into care planning and coordination.
Independently coordinates and facilitates care across nursing, medical, and multidisciplinary teams and supports continuity of care across settings and phases of the cancer trajectory.
Communicates with patients, families, providers, referring clinicians, and members of the health care team to facilitate timely care, follow-up, education, and escalation of clinical concerns.
Provides and supports telephone/telemedicine triage within established protocols and scope of nursing practice.
Provides individualized patient and family education and serves as a specialty clinical resource for nursing staff and other health care professionals.
Collaborates with Staff Nurses and other team members using clearly defined roles, communication pathways, and escalation processes; responsibilities may vary by disease group based on patient population, provider workflow, volume, and clinical need.
Participates in development, implementation, and evaluation of specialty-specific standards, workflows, quality improvement activities, staff education, and patient care initiatives.
Provides clinical leadership within assigned areas of specialization while collaborating with nursing leadership and multidisciplinary partners.
Functions as the Nurse Clinician for the Breast Oncology disease group, providing specialty clinical expertise, care coordination, education, and continuity of care for the assigned breast oncology patient population.
Partners with Breast Oncology Staff Nurses, providers, and multidisciplinary team members to support a consistent disease-group model of care while recognizing that Staff Nurse and Nurse Clinician responsibilities are distinct and complementary.
Supports clinical review, triage, patient education, care coordination, follow-up, and escalation of complex or specialty-specific needs within the Breast Oncology workflow.
Coordinates care and referrals across disciplines and settings as needed to reduce gaps in care and support timely progression through the patient's oncology plan.
Serves as a clinical resource for Breast Oncology nursing practice and participates in development and refinement of disease-specific workflows, standards, education, and quality improvement initiatives.
Maintains flexibility within the Breast Oncology role as workflows and responsibilities evolve through nursing realignment, staffing changes, provider needs, and disease-group implementation.
Serves as a clinical expert, advocate, and resource for patients with a cancer diagnosis ages 18-39 and their families.
Introduces eligible patients to the AYA Program, assesses AYA-specific needs, and provides education regarding available program resources and navigation support.
Provides ongoing AYA-focused assessment, education, follow-up, and care coordination throughout the cancer trajectory in partnership with the patient's primary oncology team.
Coordinates AYA-specific supportive care needs, including fertility preservation/oncofertility, sexual health, psychosocial support, financial and practical concerns, survivorship and transition needs, and other individualized resources.
Promotes awareness of clinical trial opportunities and facilitates connection with the appropriate clinical team when relevant to the patient's care.
Coordinates referrals and communication with internal and external providers, community resources, and multidisciplinary partners to facilitate continuity of care for AYA patients.
Maintains ongoing communication with AYA multidisciplinary team members, including the Patient and Family Life Specialist, Social Worker, and other partners, to coordinate individualized needs and services.
Assists with AYA Program enrollment and ensures relevant assessment, navigation, follow-up, and care coordination information is documented in the electronic health record.
Maintains appropriate Epic documentation and supports collection, tracking, and evaluation of AYA Program metrics and outcomes.
Provides AYA-specific education and consultation for patients, families, nursing staff, UI Health Care departments, and other health care professionals.
Participates in development, implementation, and evaluation of AYA Program goals, care processes, educational initiatives, and quality improvement activities.
Participates in AYA Program meetings and appropriate committees, support initiatives, and external AYA oncology collaborations, including the AYA Core Team, AYA Steering Committee, and Teen Cancer America activities as applicable.
Contributes to AYA patient and program communications, including educational and newsletter content, as workload and program priorities allow.