Registered Nurse Radiation Oncology

Job Description Summary

The Oncology Registered Nurse is focused on patient assessment, patient education, the coordination of care, administration of therapy, symptom management and supportive care for the Oncology and Hematology patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Registered Nurse cares for individuals receiving therapy for oncologic and hematologic problems. The nurse’s responsibilities include assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care for a complex patient population. The nurse’s role includes administration of chemotherapy and other medications and infusions, telephone nursing care, direct patient care and charge capture/billing for all services rendered. The nurse provides patient and family education and psychosocial and emotional support. He/she is a member of a multidisciplinary care team that requires effective communication and collaboration with co-workers and staff as well as collaborating institutions and agencies. The role requires clinical expertise, critical thinking, collaborative practice, excellent communication skills and an understanding of the principles and practices of clinical research.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

A. Delivers expert, evidence-based nursing care to patients and familie s.
1. Implements nursing process: Assessment, Nursing Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
2. Assesses patient and family needs.
3. Promotes health care outcomes in concert with currently accepted clinical practice guidelines.
4. Analyzes assessment data to develop and support clinically accurate diagnoses.
5. Collaborates proactively with all interdisciplinary team members with a patient centered focus to facilitate and maximize patient healthcare outcomes.
6. Plans care by establishing goals with measurable outcomes.
7. Implements the plan of care.
8. Evaluates the patient’s response to interventions.
9. Documents care according to Institute and regulatory agencies’ requirements.
10. Administers medications and other treatments, which may include chemotherapy, and performs procedures safely and efficiently in accordance with Institute policy. May administer blood transfusions.
11. Evaluates educational and psychological needs of patient and family and incorporates identified needs into the plan of care.
12. Educates patient and family regarding treatment modalities of disease, which may include chemotherapy and radiation therapy and symptom management.
13. Reviews patient’s clinical status and laboratory values pre-treatment and consults with provider when appropriate.
14. Evaluates and determines need for patient referrals to other members of the interdisciplinary needs as appropriate.
15. Identifies appropriate community resources to promote continuity of care and makes appropriate referrals.
16. Manages patient care across the continuum, making appropriate referrals to home care and hospice, as necessary.
17. Prepare and administers chemotherapy/biotherapy and supportive therapy in accordance with ASCO/ONS Guidelines.
18. Recognizes and responds to emergency situations appropriately. Maintains BLS certification.
19. Provides telephone triage according to policies and documents telephone interactions.
20. Performs the following technical skills:
a. Intravenous therapy including peripheral and central venous vascular access devices, including obtaining IV access
b. Safe handling practices for hazardous, cytotoxic and biological agents
c. Chemotherapy administration skills, including vesicant and non-vesicant medications
21. Complies with accepted standards of professional nursing practice, as well as with all licensure/registration requirements applicable to the nursing role. Supports the DFCI Nursing Department Professional Practice Model and Quality Plan.
22. Accurately records charges for all services rendered on the day service.
23. Collaborates with Clinic Assistant to assure accurate inventory of all supplies. 
24. Serves as a resource to medical personnel in other health facilities, providing telephone consultation to engender optimal Oncology practices and knowledge among health care professionals caring for cancer patients.

B. Establishes rapport with patients and families from a variety of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
1. Interacts with patients and families in a caring and compassionate manner respecting the need for privacy and confidentiality.
2. Develops approaches to problem solving which meet the individual needs of the patients and families.
3. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-specific care and support to the populations served.
4. Promotes a culture of inclusion. Fosters an environment that is sensitive to the needs of diverse populations, including but not limited to culture, ethnicity, gender, and age.

C. Manages the environment of patient care.
1. Monitors the environment of care with attention to patient safety and assures compliance with regulatory agency standards.
2. Complies with applicable policies, procedures, work rules and standards of conduct.
3. Adheres to the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015) in all aspects of professional practice.
4. Bases care on the Standards of Oncology Nursing Practice and Oncology Nursing Society Chemotherapy Guidelines.

D. Works collaboratively and functions as an effective member of the health care team.
1. Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively with peers and co-workers. Effectively addresses and manages conflicts. Demonstrates excellent communication skills.
2. Demonstrates effectiveness as a contributing member to the multidisciplinary health care team.
3. Delegates as appropriate and supervises assistive personnel in their provision of patient care.
4. May function in the charge nurse role when necessary, collaborating with staff and coordinating flow of patients into the infusion areas.
5. Participates in committees, councils, and initiatives.
6. Demonstrates flexibility in setting and changing priorities. Accepts additional responsibilities as needed.
7. Participates in QA/QI projects for the unit as requested.

E. Seeks opportunities to foster professional growth.
1. Identifies areas for professional growth. Formulates professional goals, objectives and methods for accomplishing these.
2. Attends inservices, workshops and seminars. Shares information gained with colleagues.
3. Facilitates professional growth of self and others by acting as a preceptor and mentor for new staff.
4. Meets all annual evaluation requirements and competencies within the established time period.
5. Pursues active membership in local and national professional organizations.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Education

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing as validated through the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Baccalaureate degree in nursing strongly preferred. If associate degree in nursing, must complete BSN degree within 4 years

Minimum Work Experience

Minimum of 1-year recent experience as an RN 
Ambulatory and/or oncology experience preferred 
Required Licenses / Registrations

RN - Registered Nurse

Certifications

Professional nursing certification preferred (OCN, BMTCN, CPHON, AOCNP, CRNI, RN-BC) 

Required Classes/Skills

BLS - Basic Life Support

ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support accepted as minimum requirement

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to work as an effective member of an interdisciplinary team.

• Demonstrated skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and ability to make independent decisions.

• Ability to function in a busy work setting with patients with complex needs.

• IV skills strongly preferred.

• Work tasks require walking, standing, climbing, sitting, bending, reaching and occasional lifting. Some tasks are performed while sitting.

• Good hearing and vision are required for the time spent in interactions with others, telecommunications and the required reading of medical and pharmaceutical documents and patient care related documents.

• Communications with physicians or staff during office hours requires organization of information, discretion and balancing of multiple communications.

• Relationships with patients/families and colleagues requires excellent listening skills, the ability to identify issues and seek a resolution that reflects the quality care and satisfaction goals of the practice.

• The work requires concentration and frequent mental and visual attention as well as the ability to work efficiently. Frequent interruptions and movement away from desk require the ability to stay focused and return to uncompleted tasks.

• Telephone communications listening and speaking skills are required for the time spent in this mode of communication.

• The ability to balance multiple tasks and normal stress associated with the duties and responsibilities of this position are essential requirements in the performance of this job.

• The ability to speak, read and write in English, and the ability to perform mathematical pharmaceutical calculations is required for this position.

• Demonstrates understanding of special needs and behaviors of age groups of the population served: young adult to geriatric.