Nurse Infusion RN

Infusion Therapy Rn

The Infusion Therapy RN is responsible for the comprehensive holistic care of oncology and non-oncology patients being infused with chemotherapy, biologic therapy agents, blood products, fluids, and other medications. The nurse provides care coordination and direct patient care; consults with physicians and colleagues; and educates patient/family on symptom management and new therapies, for oncology and non-oncology patients, treated in the infusion department. This position provides longitudinal comprehensive nursing care to oncology/hematology patients and to non-oncology patients requiring infusion therapy and complex cancer treatments. This position works in collaboration with all members of the healthcare team to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient.

Position Reports To: Clinical Practice Manager

Essential Functions

1. Demonstrates a high level of understanding of oncology illnesses and treatment modalities.
2. Demonstrates the ability to assess baseline physical, emotional and social needs.
3. Provides clinical and technical oversight to patients requiring infused or injected chemotherapy, biologic therapy, blood products, and other agents:
   • Performs a nursing assessment prior to and during each infusion or treatment per policy and procedure of the medical center.
   • Has knowledge of agents infused including the potential drug toxicities, side effects, proper methods of administration, and interventions necessary for the safety of the patient.
   • Safely prepares infusion and pump set-up for each drug that is infused.
   • Follows parental administration policy and procedure of the medical center for the medications given.
   • Monitors patient during and after the infusion, observing for any adverse effects.
   • Provides anaphylactic/life-saving interventions to potential hypersensitivity reactions following correctly administered medications.
4. Provides comprehensive care to patients as part of the overall care team.
   • Manages patient symptoms, concerns and/or reactions and effectively communicates the entire picture to nurse navigator and/or provider for that patient.
   • Demonstrates ability to develop a plan of care to respond to patient symptoms and reactions resulting from the disease or the treatment.
   • Demonstrates capability to multitask with accuracy and deal effectively with unpredictable situations.
   • Demonstrates ability to effectively intervene and direct colleagues during a patient crisis.
   • Provides patient and family education about treatments and side effects, procedures such as bone marrow aspiration and ommaya taps/intrathecal chemotherapy in collaboration with the other members of the healthcare team.
   • Informs Clinical Practice Manager of high-risk patient situations.
5. Reviews and implements the treatment and therapy plans.
   • Maintains a working knowledge of current protocols related to the patient population. Knows research resources and how to access.
   • Monitors the patient response to cycled therapies including lab values and symptom assessment.
   • Administers medications and therapies as ordered.
   • Documents necessary information supporting the care, including assessment, response, complications, interventions and resolutions per guidelines and policy of the medical center and department.
6. Maintains and Develops IV/CVAD skills.
   • Maintains knowledge of current ONS and INS standards.
   • Follows the ONS/ASCO and INS guidelines for infusions, injections, and procedures.
   • Provides education on access and maintenance of central lines to all departments of the medical center.
   • Follows policy and procedures for IV and Central lines of the medical center.
7. Takes an active role in professional development to stay current with medications, oncology care and treatment and current standards of ONS, ASCO, and INS.
8. Serves as resource in their area of expertise for staff and colleagues.
9. Actively engages in PI and LEAN processes.
10. Demonstrates effective and professional communication and collaboration with colleagues and providers.
11. Assures the safety of patients and other staff.
    • Follows all policy and procedures of the Medical Center related to verification of orders and products when administering chemotherapy, biotherapy, and other infusion agents.
    • Demonstrates an awareness of the potentially hazardous nature of many of the agents administered and follows safe handling and disposal policy and procedures of the medical center.
    • Prepares and protects patients and families during infusions through the strict adherence of the infection control policy, universal precautions, and standards applied to procedures of the Medical Center and the Oncology Department.
12. Required to maintain active Basic Life Support (CPR) certification.
13. Required to take call as rotation requires on weekends.
14. Required to travel as rotation requires to Infusion Oncology clinics within two hours of main campus.
15. Other duties as assigned.

Demonstrate Standards of Behavior and adhere to the Code of Conduct in all aspects of job performance at all times.

Qualifications

• Current licensure in the state of Washington (RCW 18.88) or licensure through Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (SSB 5499).
• Current BLS Health Provider card and renewal every two years.
• Chemotherapy/Biotherapy certification within the first year of employment.
• Additional certifications may be required dependent on department needs.
• Ability to work independently and to use critical thinking; the ability to practice the cognitive skills of analyzing, applying standards, discriminating, information seeking, logical reasoning, predicting, and transforming knowledge.
• Ability to develop clinical judgment.
• Ability to communicate effectively by looking and listening for cues, asking open-ended questions, exploring cues, using pauses, screening responses, and clarifying response.
• Ability to effectively listen by using reflecting, acknowledging, summarizing, empathizing, and paraphrasing skills.
• Ability to effectively provide information by checking what information the person knows already, giving small amounts of detail at a time, using clear terms, avoiding jargon, avoiding detail unless requested, checking for understanding, pausing, and waiting for a response.
• Ability to effectively utilize time management skills; the ability to organize and manage time constraints, to independently manage tasks including basic computer skills and EMR.
• Demonstrates capability to multitask with accuracy and deal effectively with unpredictable situations.

Desired:

• IV/Central Line experience and Oncology experience.
• Knowledge of infused and injectable medications for the treatment of various diagnoses ordered by Specialty providers.
• OCN certification.

Physical/Sensory Demands

O = Occasional, represents 1 to 25% or up to 30 minutes in a 2 hour workday. F = Frequent, represents 26 to 50% or up to 1 hour of a 2 hour workday. C = Continuous, represents 51% to 100% or up to 2 hours of a 2 hour workday.

Physical/Sensory Demands For This Position:

• Walking F
• Sitting/Standing F
• Reaching: Shoulder height O
• Reaching: Above shoulder height F
• Reaching: Below shoulder height O
• Climbing O
• Pulling/Pushing: 25 pounds or less F
• Pulling/Pushing: 25 pounds to 50 pounds O
• Pulling/Pushing: Over 50 pounds O
• Lifting: 25 pounds or less F
• Lifting: 25 pounds to 50 pounds F
• Lifting: Over 50 pounds F
• Carrying: 25 pounds or less F
• Carrying: 25 pounds to 50 pounds O
• Carrying: Over 50 pounds O
• Crawling/Kneeling F
• Bending/Stooping/Crouching F
• Twisting/Turning F
• Repetitive Movement F

Working Conditions:

• Open Infusion Suite, with minimal private room settings. Infusion Pharmacy located within the same department.

Job Classification:

• FLSA : Non-exempt