Registered Nurse - Radiation Oncology

UCSF•San Francisco, CA

3h•$93 - $121•Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction and in collaboration with the multidisciplinary Radiation Oncology team, the Pediatric Nurse Coordinator provides expert nursing care for radiation oncology patients receiving complex treatments. The coordinator serves as a contact for patients and families, referring and department physicians, radiation therapists, and other care-team members, and coordinates care in specialty and procedural areas beyond oncology. The role provides leadership in collaborative care, with an emphasis on patient and family education and continuity throughout treatment and survivorship. It monitors and coordinates care to help patients reach their maximum health potential before, during, and after treatment. The position supports pediatric patients across the department and communicates with patients and families on behalf of the care team. The nurse coordinates provider-delegated treatment-plan changes, educates patients and families about changes, documents in the electronic health record, and serves as the point of contact to support timely, efficient care. Daily work includes triaging calls and lab results, coordinating studies and specialty referrals, notifying providers of upcoming orders, providing initial and ongoing education, and coordinating care across disciplines and the care continuum. The coordinator focuses on new-patient referrals and helping patients move safely and efficiently through multimodality treatment. The role also cross-trains to support non-operating-room anesthesia cases in Radiation Oncology and provide direct procedural care for pediatric and adult patients. Duties include pre-procedure screening and assessment; working with anesthesia providers and assisting with induction and recovery; transporting patients under anesthesia between radiology, treatment rooms, PACU, PICU, inpatient units, the Emergency Department, and Radiation Oncology; providing routine care and assessments; and recovering patients after anesthesia for discharge, admission, transfer, or return to an inpatient room. The position also provides nursing care for Gamma Knife patients from admission through discharge and follow-up. The nurse manages treatment side effects and symptoms and coordinates complex interdisciplinary services while working closely with physicians who direct and delegate care. Responsibilities include complying with Medical Center and departmental policies and procedures, environmental safety requirements, house and telephone standards, and regulatory requirements. The role involves travel among all UCSF Radiation Oncology sites. It is primarily based at Mission Bay and/or Parnassus, but the nurse must be available to work at any UCSF Radiation Oncology location and may occasionally work in procedural areas. The schedule is daytime, Monday through Friday, with start times generally between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and end times between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Hours may vary and may occasionally include overtime or partial shifts.

Requirements

Active Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the State of California.
At least three years of recent RN clinical experience in an acute care setting, TCU, or critical care within the last three to five years.
At least one year of recent oncology experience within the past three to five years.
Radiation Oncology experience.
PACU or circulator/scrub experience in a procedural area.
Proficiency in pediatric and adult recovery.
Proficiency in clinical telephone triage.
Excellent proficiency starting IVs.
Experience accessing and providing direct care for central access devices.
Proficiency placing and maintaining pediatric peripheral intravenous access.
Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to take full responsibility for a defined, delegated area and patient caseload.
Ability to work effectively with physicians and other support staff.
Ability to deal with issues related to death and dying.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and professional conduct.
Basic computer skills, including email, internet, and navigating Windows, with ability to learn systems such as EPIC, Aria, and other clinical tools.
Ability to meet deadlines, work independently, organize effectively, and prioritize workload.
Demonstrated clinical competence, including effective leadership, teaching, and communication skills, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Flexibility to orient and work at all UCSF Health locations; primary pediatric care focus and interdepartmental floating as required.
AHA BLS Certification.
PALS Certification.
ACLS Certification within six months of hire.

Nice To Haves

Combination of experience working with cancer patients in hospital, procedural, and ambulatory care settings.
Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in nursing practice or leadership.
CPHON certification.
Aria or Mosaiq experience.
Care coordination experience.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ physiological and psychosocial status and use diagnostic tests, lab results, reports, and medical records to identify current or potential problems.
Obtain vital signs and weights for consult, follow-up, and weekly treatment visits; report abnormal findings and alert providers to unusual patient conditions.
Anticipate responses to treatment and disease progression, assess patients according to their clinical condition, and report concerns or changes to the appropriate care-team members.
Develop holistic care plans based on medical condition, treatment goals, and psychosocial status; anticipate potential problems and incorporate family members as appropriate.
Coordinate care planning with Cancer Center, SFGH, VA, and other facilities, and mentor, train, assist, and serve as a resource for staff.
Provide specialized oncology and radiation therapy nursing care, education, and support to patients and families; evaluate and document responses to treatment and nursing interventions.
Provide nursing care within UCSF standards, including intravenous and oxygen therapy, contrast injection, pain management, sedation, monitoring tubes, drains, and catheters, wound and ostomy care, skin care, and nutrition teaching.
Assist anesthesia providers with pediatric and adult intra-procedural care, induction, recovery, and documentation, including Universal Protocol and pre- and post-procedure vital signs and assessments.
Provide Gamma Knife patient care from admission through discharge, including counseling, assessment, assisting with frame placement and scan preparation, discharge teaching, coordination, and post-discharge follow-up calls.
Assist physicians and patients during diagnostic and unit-based procedures, including pelvic exams, needle biopsies and aspirations, nasopharyngeal scoping, spinal taps, sedation, and brachytherapy appliance insertion and removal.
Implement emergency, Code Blue, and disaster procedures; comply with infection-control, safety, administrative, clinical, and radiation-safety policies.
Direct and delegate appropriate tasks to medical assistants and administrative staff and ensure follow-through; act as Charge Nurse when assigned in the Administrative Nurse’s absence.
Help patients navigate clinics, specialty practices, treatments, and other medical services, and coordinate care with physicians and other services.
Assess patient and family understanding of illness and radiation therapy; provide initial and continuing education, evaluate its effectiveness, and document education and feedback.
Serve as a multidisciplinary contact and primary point of contact for patients, families, and outside care providers; respond to calls and inquiries and coordinate resources to minimize fragmented care.
Facilitate labs, studies, referrals, authorizations, appointments, admissions, transportation, and community health and social service referrals; obtain outside study results and notify providers as appropriate.
Review records and medication profiles for compliance with provider-established treatment regimens and protocols; communicate lab results and medication changes under provider direction and within scope.
Document assessments, interventions, communications, referrals, requisitions, and care in the electronic medical record; use APEX MyChart and electronic communication according to Medical Center policies and response standards.
Maintain HIPAA privacy and confidentiality, uphold telephone and communication standards, use AIDET and Living Pride initiatives, and treat patients, visitors, and coworkers with courtesy and respect.
Maintain flexibility in work assignments and locations, comply with licensure and regulatory requirements, and keep informed about relevant policies and procedures.
Assist with research and quality-assurance and quality-improvement data collection, orient nursing, medical, and technical personnel, and create patient education materials.
Develop standardized nursing protocols and disease-based standards with physicians and department leadership, participate in committees and special projects, and use conflict-resolution skills.
Work at any UCSF Health Radiation Oncology site as departmental needs require, including travel between locations during a shift; work flexible hours and occasional overtime as needed.