RN - Oncology

RN - Oncology

Shift: M-TH 8am-5pm (no lunch break) or M-Th 8am-5:30pm with 30 min lunch break). Start date will be no less than 6 weeks after traveler's fingerprint cards are received at SEARHC in Juneau for processing. The Registered Nurse for Infusion Services provides comprehensive nursing care to Infusion patients as well as nursing care directed toward patients in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.

Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job:

• Facilitates and oversees infusion patient referrals of tests and treatments to other offices or specialties for continuation of care while maintaining, reviewing, and documenting pertinent information in the patient’s chart.
• Coordinates and oversees appointment scheduling for infusion patients.
• Posts patient test and examination results, communicating with referring provider and infusion patients to complete circle of care.
• Observes and reports infusion patient’s condition and reaction to drugs, treatments, immunizations, and procedures to referring providers, recording all pertinent information in the patient’s chart.
• Assists with supervision of clinic staff, providing direction, guidance, and referral as necessary for optimal daily infusion patient care flow and utilization of resources.
• Participates in staff development activities to maintain current professional knowledge and licensure.
• Assesses and prepares the needs of each infusion patient.
• Ensure prior authorization is initiated as needed per the patient referral for infusion services.
• Administer specialty IV fluids via peripherally or centrally placed catheters, using infusion order sets as prescribed by patient’s referring specialist and/or primary care provider.
• Maintain CVC, PICC, or other IV access devices per INS/ONS and facility guidelines.
• Identify, assess, and diagnose problems through patient assessment and interactions; evaluates actual or potential patient health problems.
• Prepares for infusion patients prior to administration (i.e., reviews orders, effectively communicate with referring physician, oncologist, and pharmacy).
• Develops and participates in educating patients and their families about post-discharge care programs.
• Initiates patient care meetings with the health care team to review the plan of care of the patient’s condition warrants.
• Maintains a safe and therapeutic patient care environment.
• Provides guidance and direction to members of the health care team to ensure quality patient care.
• Keeps current on advances in oncology/infusion nursing care by participating in education programs.
• Oversees direct patient care in accordance with established nursing protocol and physician orders.
• Utilizes knowledge of medications, procedures, infection control and safety precaution, and initiates appropriate interventions in crisis situations.
• Provides safe, effective, appropriate, and comprehensive infusion services to infusion patients as well as provides education and follow-up care after patients have been released from infusion therapy.

Other Functions:

• Support and maintain SEARHC’s commitment with all patients, visitors, outside entities, and each other.
• Fully uphold all principles of confidentiality and patient care.
• Adhere to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.
• Participate in departmental staff meetings, quality management activities and educational programs.
• Comply with SEARHC Hospital policies and procedures.

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required:

• Current full, unrestricted Registered Nursing license in Alaska or other U.S. state required.
• BLS and ACLS
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Clinical Competency required within 3 months of hire and every three years.

Experience Required:

• 1 year of clinical nursing experience preferred.
• Prior experience in Specialty is preferred.

Knowledge and ability to use nursing information to develop an individualized nursing care plan.

Knowledge of regulatory agencies documentation requirement and ability to accurately and completely document clinical data.

Knowledge of a variety of nursing specifications related to specialties including, but not limited to, pediatrics, internal medicine, critical care, emergency medicine, mental health, geriatrics and palliative medicine. This includes age specific aspects of nursing care.

Knowledge of disease processes to recognize their effects, side effects and complications. This includes knowledge of the appropriate therapeutic nursing intervention along with the ability to perform complex nursing care based on the specific needs of the patient.

Knowledge of the pharmacology of various medications (both legal and illegal substances), their therapeutic effects, side effects and adverse reactions, oxygen therapy and airway management.

Skill in operating, maintaining, and caring for specialized medical devices and equipment used, including but not limited to cardiac, cardiovascular access devices, central lines, phlebotomy.

Skills in effective communication, both verbally and in writing.

Effective leadership skills, in a healthcare environment.

Ability to independently operate IV infusion pumps, cardiac monitors, non-invasive blood pressure machines, AED computers and computer-based systems, utilize electronic health record, and electronic medication inventory system.

Ability to manage high patient volumes and manage multiple patients at one time.

Ability to use critical thinking skills, function independently and make decisions based on standards.

Ability to recognize adverse signs and symptoms which are not always apparent and to react promptly in emergency situations, including the implementation of life saving procedures.

Ability to provide good customer service with a patient-centered approach.

Ability to perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• The employee must lift and/or move 50 lbs.

Location: 222 Tongass Ave, Sitka, AK 99835