Registered Nurse - Transplant Clinic Transition Team

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Transition Registered Nurse provides transition and discharge teaching and planning for patients across the continuum of care. The role assesses and evaluates patient needs and coordinates care with a multidisciplinary team to support continuity throughout the healthcare system. The nurse also interfaces with home infusion and homecare agencies and skilled nursing facilities. The Transition RN provides transition planning at UW Medical Center and Fred Hutch Clinic, coordinates patient and family transitions to different areas of care, and collaborates with inpatient and outpatient providers, insurance case managers, infusion companies, home care agencies, skilled facilities, and referring offices. The nurse documents assessments, interventions, and plans in the medical record after patient encounters; teaches patients and families individually and in classes; supports patient- and family-centered care; and helps facilitate smooth transitions. The position is 0.95 FTE, or 38 hours per week.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
Hold a current Washington State Registered Nurse Multistate License (MSL), or a current MSL from another state with the ability to update it to Washington as the Primary State of Residence within 60 days of hire. This requirement may be waived in specific circumstances, subject to approval.
Current BLS AHA Health Provider Card or equivalent course, such as American Red Cross, with renewal every two years.
Obtain an ONS Chemotherapy Provider Card within three months of hire.
Demonstrate critical thinking skills, including analyzing, applying standards, discriminating, seeking information, logical reasoning, predicting, and transforming knowledge.
Ability to develop clinical judgment.
Time-management skills and ability to organize and manage time and tasks independently.
Ability to communicate effectively by observing and listening for cues, asking open-ended questions, exploring cues, using pauses, screening responses, and clarifying responses.
Ability to listen effectively using reflection, acknowledgment, summarizing, empathy, and paraphrasing.
Ability to provide information effectively by checking existing knowledge, giving small amounts of information at a time, using clear language and avoiding jargon, checking understanding, and pausing for responses.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Two years of nursing experience; three years of experience in bone marrow transplant, immunotherapy, or oncology is strongly preferred.
Excellent teaching skills.
Basic computer skills, including Outlook and EPIC.
Experience in the health insurance industry, home health care, discharge planning, patient/family education, or ambulatory care.
Applicants without previous oncology experience will be provided additional training and support.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and evaluate their adaptation to health changes.
Develop, implement, evaluate, and modify plans of care based on patients’ diseases, symptoms, and treatment responses.
Educate patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, treatment, side effects, and symptom management.
Coordinate with the interdisciplinary team to ensure continuity of care throughout transitions.
Refer patients, families, and caregivers to appropriate clinical resources and professionals, including social work, home health care, and clinical nutrition.
Integrate research and evidence-based knowledge into clinical practice.
Provide transition planning services at UW Medical Center and Fred Hutch Clinic.
Participate in assessments and evaluations of patient and family care throughout transitions and coordinate nursing care for transitions to various areas of care.
Coordinate patient care plans with home infusion agencies, home care agencies, and skilled facilities.
Document assessments, interventions, and plans in the medical record after each patient encounter.
Teach patients and families individually and in classroom settings.
Liaise with insurance company case managers throughout treatment, including providing outpatient utilization review updates as needed.
Communicate respectfully and effectively with staff and act as a clinic ambassador to inpatient units, infusion companies, and referring offices when appropriate.
Listen objectively to patient, family, and caregiver concerns and support a patient- and family-centered philosophy.
Review complicated discharges with the Transition Supervisor, inform the supervisor of high-risk patient situations or operational issues, and discuss discharges with other Transition RNs at the start of the day.
Follow transition reporting guidelines and serve as a transition resource to team members caring for patients.
Assist with patient care needs beyond the nurse’s own assignment when needed within the Transition Team.
Use appropriate problem-solving when working with other departments and follow and implement Transition Program policies and standards.
Participate in continuing education, keep current in the area of expertise through journals, books, and conferences, and participate in professional organizations.

Benefits

Medical and vision benefits
Dental insurance
Flexible spending accounts
Life insurance
Disability benefits
Retirement benefits
Family life support
Employee assistance program
Onsite health clinic
Tuition reimbursement
Paid vacation: 12–22 days per year
Paid sick leave: 12–25 days per year
Paid holidays: 13 days per year
Paid parental leave: up to 4 weeks
Potential relocation assistance
Shift differentials and other pay premiums, including for advanced degrees, precepting, and certification