Cancer Center Registered Nurse

Clinical Nurse

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day. Provides clinical services and leadership in the coordination and management of patients. The staff nurse assesses, plans, implements, evaluates, and supervises individual patient care according to unit policies and procedures. This individual will serve as the link between the patient, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and medical infusion. EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

Responsibilities

• Assess and document patient health status and identify health care needs.
• Evaluate laboratory values correctly and notify physician of abnormalities; assess continuance of medication.
• Provide instruction in the disease process to the patient and family. Emphasizes self-care measures to minimize side effects.
• Verify chemotherapy orders per protocol to validate drug dosage. Demonstrate knowledge of central venous access devices and their maintenance, mechanical controlling devices, blood and blood component therapy, including blood transfusion, autologous donor selection and collection, and therapeutic phlebotomy.
• Administer intravenous infusions and injections as ordered by the physician through established policies and procedures. Assess patients' intravenous therapy needs and insert appropriate vascular access device accordingly.
• Schedule pre- and post-treatment testing to aid in recognition of disease state, treatment plan and toxicities. Communicate with patients concerning laboratory data, rescheduling, and coordinating follow-up care.
• Reassess patient and work with physicians to provide satisfactory management of treatment-related side effects.
• In conjunction with social work and pastoral care, provide counseling/crisis intervention for adapting to and coping with changing health needs.
• Coordinate discharge planning for patient home care needs including home health assistance, physical and occupational therapies, equipment and hospice services.
• Seek professional growth of self and others and attend in-service education programs. Function as a preceptor to new staff. Function as a charge nurse, as assigned.
• In conjunction with the Patient Care Manager and Clinical Research Coordinator, collect and maintain protocol information/data and documentation to ensure that research study protocols are appropriately applied and that study patients are monitored and reported as required.
• Encourage and participate in multidisciplinary consultation, tumor conference and/or health care teams.
• Appropriately document health care provided according to policies and procedures ensuring that accurate patient charges can be generated for services provided.
• Assess and identify relevant clinical or professional issues appropriate for [nursing] research or performance improvement initiatives and assist health care team to keep program up to date.
• Meet performance expectations for Customer Service, Teamwork, Resource Utilization, and Staff and Self Development as outlined in performance review.
• Perform other duties as assigned or directed to ensure smooth operation of the department/unit.
• Direction of others
• Delegate to and direct the tasks assigned to Patient Care Assistant, HUCs, Medical Assistants and Students, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Qualifications

Education

BSN preferred or currently matriculating. Must have successfully completed ONS Chemotherapy/Biotherapy course and OCN within a year of hire.

Experience

Minimum of 2 years of med surg, oncology or infusion preferred. If the hospital is unable to fill such position from within the bargaining unit, the hospital may fill the position from any source.

Licensure

Current State Of Connecticut Registered Nurse License Required.

Special Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; Must be emotionally prepared to care for chronic and or terminally ill patients and their families. BLS certification required.

YNHHS Requisition ID 193258