Nurse Infusion RN

Confluence Health•Wenatchee, WA

About The Position

The Infusion Therapy RN provides comprehensive, holistic care and care coordination for oncology and non-oncology patients receiving chemotherapy, biologic therapy, blood products, fluids, and other medications in the infusion department. The role includes direct patient care, consultation and collaboration with physicians and other healthcare colleagues, and education for patients and families about symptom management, therapies, procedures, and side effects. The nurse provides longitudinal comprehensive nursing care to oncology/hematology patients and to non-oncology patients requiring infusion therapy and complex cancer treatments, working with the healthcare team to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. The position reports to the Clinical Practice Manager. The nurse assesses patients before and during treatments, safely prepares and administers therapies, monitors responses and adverse effects, manages symptoms and reactions, documents care, and provides emergency interventions when needed. The role also includes maintaining IV and central vascular access device skills, following applicable medical-center policies and professional standards, supporting colleagues, and participating in quality improvement and LEAN processes. The position requires weekend call according to rotation and travel, as rotation requires, to Infusion Oncology clinics within two hours of the main campus. The work takes place in an open infusion suite with minimal private-room settings; the infusion pharmacy is located in the same department. The role has potential exposure to hazardous substances, blood-borne pathogens, and infectious diseases.

Requirements

Current Washington state nursing licensure under RCW 18.88 or licensure through the Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (SSB 5499).
Current BLS Health Provider card, renewed every two years.
Chemotherapy/Biotherapy certification within the first year of employment.
Additional certifications may be required depending on department needs.
Ability to work independently and apply critical thinking, including analyzing, applying standards, discriminating, seeking information, using logical reasoning, predicting, and transforming knowledge.
Ability to develop clinical judgment.
Effective communication skills, including recognizing cues, asking open-ended questions, exploring cues, using pauses, screening and clarifying responses, and listening reflectively, empathetically, and attentively.
Ability to provide information clearly, tailor details to what the person already knows, avoid unnecessary jargon or detail, check for understanding, and allow time for responses.
Effective time-management and organizational skills, including independently managing tasks and time constraints.
Basic computer skills and ability to use an electronic medical record.
Ability to multitask accurately and deal effectively with unpredictable situations.

Nice To Haves

IV or central-line experience.
Oncology experience.
Knowledge of infused and injectable medications used to treat diagnoses managed by specialty providers.
OCN certification.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ baseline physical, emotional, and social needs and perform nursing assessments before and during each infusion or treatment.
Provide clinical and technical oversight for patients receiving infused or injected chemotherapy, biologic therapy, blood products, and other agents.
Safely prepare infusion and pump setups, administer medications and therapies as ordered, and follow medical-center policies for medication administration.
Monitor patients during and after infusions, including responses to cycled therapies, lab values, symptoms, and potential adverse effects.
Provide anaphylactic and life-saving interventions for potential hypersensitivity reactions.
Coordinate comprehensive patient care with the healthcare team, manage symptoms and concerns, and communicate patient status to nurse navigators and providers.
Develop plans of care in response to symptoms and reactions resulting from disease or treatment.
Educate patients and families about treatments, side effects, and procedures, including bone marrow aspiration and Ommaya taps/intrathecal chemotherapy, in collaboration with the healthcare team.
Review and implement treatment and therapy plans and maintain knowledge of current protocols and research resources.
Document assessments, responses, complications, interventions, and resolutions according to medical-center and department guidelines.
Maintain and develop IV and central vascular access device skills, and educate medical-center departments on central-line access and maintenance.
Follow current ONS, ASCO, and INS standards and guidelines, as well as medical-center policies and procedures for IVs, central lines, infusions, injections, and related procedures.
Serve as a resource for staff and colleagues in the nurse’s area of expertise.
Participate actively in PI and LEAN processes and maintain professional development in medications, oncology care, treatment, and applicable standards.
Communicate and collaborate professionally with colleagues and providers, assure patient and staff safety, and follow safe handling, disposal, infection-control, and universal-precaution policies.
Maintain active Basic Life Support certification, take weekend call as rotation requires, and travel to Infusion Oncology clinics within two hours of the main campus as rotation requires.
Demonstrate the organization’s Standards of Behavior and adhere to its Code of Conduct.
Perform other duties as assigned.