Radiation Oncology RN contingent

Trinity Health•Pontiac, MI

About The Position

The Radiation Oncology RN provides quality patient care in an outpatient setting through competent nursing practice and application of the nursing process. The RN coordinates care for specific patients with complex medical and nursing needs as directed by physicians in the radiation oncology department, serves as a clinical resource to colleagues in the cancer program, and consults with other members of the health team. The role includes assessing and monitoring patients, responding to changes in status, coordinating interdisciplinary care, educating patients and families, administering medications, handling patient and family inquiries, and supporting clinical operations such as staff scheduling and orientation. The RN also contributes to clinical practice leadership, education, committees, and clinical trials as directed. The position is based in an ambulatory patient care environment, with regular exposure to potentially contagious specimens, body fluids, infectious disease, and potentially hazardous chemicals. Occasional exposure to difficult or unruly patients and work in a fast-paced multidisciplinary team environment are also noted. Management supervision is provided by the Outpatient Nurse Manager of Radiation Oncology; clinical supervision is provided by the physicians for whom the RN is working on a particular day.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in nursing or an Associate’s degree in Nursing; applicants with an associate’s degree must sign an agreement to complete a BSN.
One to two years of nursing experience working with older patients who do not reside in a nursing home.
Current Michigan Registered Nurse licensure or temporary license.
Knowledge of nursing theory and practice sufficient to provide complex nursing care to ambulatory older adults with several chronic diseases.
Interpersonal skills to initiate and maintain collegial relationships with coworkers and therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
Good telephone skills and a pleasant voice.
Organizational skills to work in a fast-paced environment and respond to changing priorities.
Ability to problem solve, concentrate, and pay close attention to detail.
Ability to learn and perform procedures.
Ability to formulate the RN/MA schedule on a rotating basis with RN colleagues.
Enjoys working with the public.
Ability to manage multiple demands at once.
Ability to walk and stand continuously and to lift and position patients.

Responsibilities

Performs, communicates, and documents ongoing patient assessments, correlating responses with physiologic and other relevant factors.
Recognizes and responds to changes in patient status and communicates these to physicians, nurse practitioners, and/or social workers.
Investigates and initiates changes to prevent unsafe conditions from occurring, recurring, or continuing.
Resolves patient problems through interdisciplinary collaboration and implementation of the plan of care.
Collaborates with health team members to prepare patients and families for the plan of care.
Identifies patients needing psychosocial intervention and involves social workers in evaluation and care planning.
Reviews home care referral orders for accuracy and documents oversight of the care plan.
Monitors selected patients’ status, vital signs, and medication tolerance as directed by physicians.
Teaches patients to self-administer prescribed medications and provides condition-related self-care and behavior-change education.
Administers medications as directed by a nurse practitioner or physician.
Acts as a nursing practice resource to less experienced colleagues.
Formulates the RN/MA schedule on a rotating basis with RN colleagues.
Models leadership and communication behaviors that support the health care team.
Incorporates new learning into nursing practice through conferences, seminars, in-services, and professional literature.
Participates on committees and task forces and reports results to staff meetings.
Takes leadership responsibility for assigned clinical practice areas, such as labs or infection control.
Answers patient and family telephone inquiries, assesses urgency, and resolves problems.
Calls patients with test results and conveys messages from nurse practitioners and/or physicians.
Calls prescriptions in to area pharmacies.
Participates in orientation of new nursing staff, including RNs and MAs.
Maintains cooperative relationships, addresses conflict constructively, helps identify problems, and participates in solutions.
Maintains confidentiality of information about patients, physicians, employees, and visitors to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, sharing information only with appropriate personnel in private settings.
Acts in accordance with the Mission, Vision, and Values of St. Joseph Mercy Health System.
Performs job duties safely and reports preventable hazards and unsafe practices to management immediately.
Provides quality care that considers patients’ age-specific, developmental, and cultural needs and demonstrates unit/area competencies.
Assists with planning and presenting educational experiences for colleagues based on identified department and organizational needs.
Identifies clinical issues for potential research investigations.
Coordinates departmental participation in clinical trials as directed by the physician.