Triage Nurse

Description

Be a vital first point of contact for patients navigating their cancer care journey. We are seeking a compassionate, highly skilled Triage Nurse to support our oncology clinic by assessing patient symptoms, prioritizing care needs, and delivering timely clinical guidance. This role is essential to ensuring patient safety, continuity of care, and efficient clinical operations in a fast-paced private practice environment. The ideal candidate excels in critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, and is committed to providing empathetic, high-quality care to oncology patients.

Highlands Oncology began in 1996 with three physicians and a desire to change the face of oncology care in our community. Dr. Malcolm Hayward, Dr. Dan Bradford, and Dr. Thad Beck knew that patients do better at home, in the community where they live and work, and where their support system is already in place. In furthering that goal, Highlands has grown with the region from a single location 26 years ago, to 6 locations in Northwest and Northcentral Arkansas today employing more than 850 diverse team members.

As Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, so must the services and providers available in the region. Highlands Oncology is committed to remaining on the cutting edge to ensure our community has access to the very best cancer care. What we have is something quite unique right here in our own backyard with a caring multidisciplinary team focused on treating patients like family.

Job Summary:

Responsible for the triage of patient phone calls, emails, and symptom reports. Acting as a liaison between the Physician/team and the patient. Responsible for monitoring and following high risk patients by providing comprehensive data management of patients for various programs (IE: CCM, TCM, PCM, RTM etc.).

Job Duties / Responsibilities:

• Provides extra support for patients at high risk for hospitalization or ER visits and hospitalization discharges.
• Possess strong clinical skills in patient assessment and obtaining pertinent medical history, as well as the ability to communicate this clearly to the physician and other members of the healthcare team.
• Has extensive knowledge of chemotherapy administration, side effects and symptom management.
• Educates patients about their disease and prescribed treatments.
• Assess patients for psychosocial distress and make referrals to social workers as needed.
• Assigned patients with lower acuity or complexity, collaborates to Triage and Refill Nurse Supervisor as needed.
• Has the ability to make independent nursing judgments, which includes triaging patient issues, symptom management, emergency management, and taking appropriate action, collaborating with the physician as needed.
• Ensures timely appointments, result reporting, and follow-up.
• Utilizes nursing triage pathways.
• Works collaboratively with physicians/nurses/ancillary departments and notifies them of incomplete data.
• Communicate with Triage and Refill Nurse Supervisor on a routine basis regarding patient inquiries, workflows, and processes.
• Maintain organizes files and office space.
• Demonstrates ongoing professional growth through and participation in relevant education endeavors.
• Additional duties as requested by supervisor or administration.
• Adheres to clinic standards, policies, and procedures, as well as being cost effective.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.

Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to educate patients and/or families as to the nature of disease and provide instruction on proper care and treatment.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Effectively sets priorities and goals and has strong organizational skills.
• High level of professionalism and responsiveness when interacting with internal and external professionals
• Strong communicator - effective oral, written, and phone communication skills.
• Able to work independently, as well as a team member.
• Proficient in EMR, Excel, and future triage pathways and transitional care

Certifications/Licenses/Education/or Experience in a related field:

• Graduate of accredited school of nursing
• Possess a valid and current Arkansas RN license
• Extensive knowledge of Oncology
• Minimum of 3 years Chemotherapy Administration experience
• Minimum of 3 years Oncology and Chemotherapy Teaching
• Knowledge of supportive care principles and techniques for oncology patients
• Nurse Navigator or Case Management experience: helpful, not required.

Physical Requirements:

• Light lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Sitting at a computer for long periods of time, occurs greater than 2/3's of working hours.
• Standing/Walking less than 1/3 of working hours.
• Reaching, pushing, pulling, gripping, neck rotation and Extension, and exposure to noise greater than 2/3's of working hours.
• Visual Acuity: Near with clarity at 20 inches or less and far with clarity at 20ft or more greater than 90% of working hours.
• Requires Keyboard and mouse usage for greater than 90% of working hours.
• May require occasional travel between clinic locations.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Due to the nature of our business and the use of radiation and hazardous chemicals, it is imperative that all employees foster a culture and environment of safety.
• Safety Sensitive: In accordance with the Arkansas code this position is designated as a safety sensitive position wherein the employee performing the job duties under the influence may constitute a threat to health or safety.