RN Outpatient Infusion and Cancer Center - PRN

GBMC HealthCare•West, TX

10d•$40 - $66•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision and in consultation with the responsible medical oncologist and/or advanced practitioner, is responsible for coordinating, managing and communicating the plan of treatment to patients and their families. Specifically, the nurse assists in communications with patients, triages patients and patient issues, performs symptom management and teaches patients regarding their disease process and treatment. In addition, the nurse collaborates with the multi-disciplinary team and utilizes clinical outcomes data to support innovative and cost effective changes to clinical practice.

Requirements

Associate Degree from an accredited School of Nursing required
Current registration with the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Nurses as a Registered Nurse
Completion of "Healthcare Provider" CPR course
Infusion experience and outpatient experience preferred, but not mandatory
Interpersonal communication (oral and written) skills required in order to educate and comfort patients and their families, maintain effective contacts with a variety of hospital personnel, and maintain appropriate documentation records
Ability to assess, triage and document medical information pertinent to the oncology patient
Skill in oral and written communication to address patient/family and staff concerns
Demonstrated skill in problem solving using available resources in innovative ways
Interpersonal relationship skills in order to communicate effectively with the oncology care team
Computer and personal productivity skills to enable effective use of e-mail, the Internet, and word processing packages

Nice To Haves

BSN preferred
ONS Chemotherapy Biotherapy provider card preferred, but not mandatory

Responsibilities

Assesses patients prior to administration of any therapy or treatment by utilizing physical assessment skills and interview techniques, reviewing pertinent laboratory results, and reviewing results and grading side effects related to treatment by using the NCI-CTC scale.
Compiles database and documents in a thorough manner, included (but not limited to): assessment, NCI-CTC toxicity criteria, pain assessment, falls assessment, medication reconciliation, education, distress, etc.
Anticipates need for intervention by other disciplines.
Determines priorities for patient care needs or problems.
Initiates and updates plan of care for patient at each visit.
Provides patient and family members with information and support, coordinating all aspects of care.
Educates patient and family on treatment plan (to include new drugs and side effects), schedule for treatment, information about labs and follow-up visits, Rx medications, when to call the office and what number to call, etc.
Documents initial new patient education sessions in the education assessment flowsheet and chemo education flowsheets addressing all elements. Documents any reiteration of initial education, and ongoing in the progress note.
Performs clinical nursing skills independently.
Administers medications, IV therapy and treatments appropriately and accurately.
Initiates appropriate emergency procedures as necessary.
Communicates the patient's status and plan of care through documentation in the EMR.
Verbally communicates the patient's status to physicians, nurses and other health care professionals.
Provides caring, individual attention, compassion, and empathy to patients and their families.
Manages daily patient assignment by appropriately setting priorities.
Coordinates patient activities with other disciplines.
Communicates with other oncology team members and the front desk staff regarding wait times by using direct communication and through the use of the office chat room.
Communicates in a therapeutic manner with the patient, family, and visitors.
Works closely with clinical trials nurses to ensure appropriate things are done when a patient in on a study.
Identifies unit, staff, and patient care problems. Takes action or refers problems to appropriate resource when needed.
Helps maintain unit supplies by re-stocking at the end of each day. Notifies unit personnel responsible for ordering when items get low.
Participates in the LDM process for the Cancer Institute.
Maintains the “environment of care” by cleaning chairs and pumps between each patient and at the end of the shift.
Participates in performance improvement at the unit level, which includes identifying areas for improvement and contributing to the solutions needed to fix them.
Reports near misses, errors, etc., in Quantros.
Completes all documentation in a timely manner, by the end of the shift.
Completes patient bulling in a thorough, accurate manner by the end of the shift.
Practices good customer service skills and provides service recovery when needed.