Registered Nurse - Radiation Oncology

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction and in collaboration with the multidisciplinary Radiation Oncology team, the Pediatric Nurse Coordinator provides expert nursing care to radiation oncology patients with complex treatment needs. The coordinator is a primary contact for patients and families, referring physicians, department physicians, radiation therapy technologists, and other team members. The role coordinates care within Radiation Oncology and across specialty and procedural areas, emphasizing patient and family education, continuity of care, and support throughout treatment and survivorship. The position primarily supports pediatric patients but also provides care to adults requiring non-operating-room anesthesia services. The coordinator manages patient referrals and care across multimodality treatments, triages calls and laboratory results, coordinates studies and specialty referrals, alerts providers to needed orders, provides education, and documents care in the electronic health record. The role helps patients navigate complex care and ensures their treatment and related services are timely and coordinated. It also includes cross-training to provide direct care during non-OR anesthesia cases, including pre-procedure screening, assisting with induction, patient transport, routine care and assessments, post-anesthesia recovery, and discharge, admission, or transfer. The nurse assesses patients’ physiological and psychosocial status, develops and implements care plans, provides specialized oncology and radiation therapy nursing care, and evaluates responses to treatment. Care may include IV and oxygen therapy, contrast injection, pain management, sedation, monitoring tubes and drains, wound and ostomy care, skin care, nutrition teaching, and support during diagnostic and treatment procedures. The coordinator also provides gamma knife nursing care from admission through discharge and conducts post-discharge follow-up calls. The position works with physicians and other care team members to coordinate referrals, studies, transportation, authorization documentation, and community services. It requires compliance with UCSF policies, radiation safety practices, regulatory requirements, privacy standards, and departmental procedures. The nurse may direct or delegate tasks to medical assistants and administrative staff, act as charge nurse when assigned, support staff training and orientation, contribute to quality and research activities, and help develop patient education materials and nursing protocols. The role is primarily based at Mission Bay and/or Parnassus, with travel between UCSF Radiation Oncology locations and occasional work in procedural areas. Hours are daytime Monday through Friday, with variable start times generally between 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM and end times between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Other schedules, partial shifts, and occasional overtime may be required based on departmental needs.

Requirements

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.
Experience in Radiation Oncology, PACU, or a procedural area as a circulator or scrub nurse.
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 IV access.
Proven organizational skills and ability to take 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 Windows navigation, and ability to learn systems such as EPIC, Aria, and other clinical tools.
Ability to work independently, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines.
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.
Active Registered Nurse licensure in California.
AHA BLS certification.
PALS certification.
ACLS certification within six months of hire.

Nice To Haves

Radiation Oncology experience.
PACU or procedural-area experience as a circulator or scrub nurse.
A 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, review diagnostic tests and medical records, obtain vital signs and weights, identify concerns, and report abnormal findings to providers.
Develop holistic care plans based on patients’ medical conditions, treatment goals, and psychosocial status, incorporating family and coordinating plans with relevant care facilities and team members.
Provide specialized oncology and radiation therapy nursing care, education, and support to patients and families.
Provide direct care according to UCSF nursing standards, including IV and oxygen therapy, contrast injection, pain management, sedation, monitoring tubes and drains, wound and ostomy care, skin care, and nutrition teaching.
Assist with non-OR anesthesia cases, including pre-procedure screening and assessments, assisting with induction and recovery, and transporting pediatric and adult patients between care areas.
Provide gamma knife patient care from admission through discharge, including counseling, assisting with frame placement and scan preparation, discharge teaching, and post-discharge follow-up calls.
Assist physicians and patients during diagnostic procedures and unit-based treatments, including pelvic exams, biopsies, aspirations, nasopharyngeal scoping, spinal taps, sedation, and brachytherapy procedures.
Triage patient calls and laboratory results; coordinate studies, referrals, orders, and care across disciplines and the care continuum.
Serve as a primary contact for patients, families, outside care providers, and multidisciplinary team members; communicate results and medication changes under provider direction and within scope.
Provide initial and ongoing patient and family education, assess understanding and readiness to learn, document education, and evaluate its effectiveness.
Coordinate labs, outside study results, referrals, insurance authorization documentation, transportation, admissions, and community health and social service referrals.
Document assessments, interventions, procedures, communication, and care coordination in the electronic medical record and other required documentation.
Direct and delegate appropriate tasks to medical assistants and administrative staff and ensure follow-through; act as charge nurse when assigned.
Comply with UCSF policies and procedures, infection control, radiation safety, emergency response, regulatory requirements, telephone standards, and HIPAA privacy requirements.
Maintain flexibility to work at UCSF Radiation Oncology sites and procedural areas as departmental needs require, including variable hours and occasional overtime.
Support staff orientation and training, assist with research and quality improvement activities, create patient education materials, and contribute to standardized nursing protocols and disease-based care standards.
Promote quality care and responsible use of resources, and treat patients, visitors, and coworkers with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect.