RN, Infusion - Nantucket

Chemotherapy/IV Therapy Nurse

The Chemotherapy/IV Therapy Nurse functions as an experienced clinical Registered Nurse in coordinating patient care and collaborating with other care providers and health team members to provide high-quality care of patients needing outpatient infusion therapy. This nurse acts as a patient guide and advocate by assisting patients and families to seek information, ensuring informed consent regarding treatment decisions and promoting the maximal level of patient-desired independence. This nurse is accountable for delivering care to the patient within the framework of the nursing process. This is a clinical position assuming department wide responsibility.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Assessment: The IV Therapy Nurse systematically and continually collects data regarding the health status of the patient. This data is communicated in a timely manner with other members of the health care team as needed.

• Collects pertinent objective and subjective data in a timely manner, ongoing, systematic, and culturally competent manner.
• Collects data from multiple sources, including the patient, the family, the interdisciplinary cancer care team members, and the community using appropriate assessment techniques.
• Uses theoretical and evidence-based concepts in nursing to assess individual patient populations.
• Collects data in problem areas that may include but are not limited to health promotion, patient/family education, coping, comfort, nutrition, complementary and alternative medicine, protective mechanisms, mobility, gastrointestinal and urinary function, sexuality, cardiopulmonary function, oncology emergencies, end-stage renal disease, psychosocial issues and palliative and end-of-life care.

Diagnosis: The IV Therapy Nurse ensures that the assessment data is analyzed to determine nursing diagnosis. This nurse is also recognized as the expert in outpatient infusion therapy and used as a resource and mentor to regular nursing staff.

• Determines nursing diagnoses and potential problem statements from assessment data.
• Formulates nursing diagnoses that conform to an accepted classification system.
• Develops individualized nursing diagnoses that are physically, psychosocially, spiritually, and culturally appropriate to the patient.
• Ensures nursing diagnoses reflect the patient's actual or potential health problems.
• Validates nursing diagnoses with the patient, family, and interdisciplinary care team when possible.

Outcome Identification and Planning: The Nurse ensures that individualized expected outcomes are identified. The IV Therapy Nurse ensures that an individualized and holistic plan of care that prescribes interventions to attain expected outcomes.

• Initiates patient plan of care using assessment data upon admission based on age specific needs.
• Incorporates in the patient plan of care the:
• Nursing diagnosis specific to the patient's actual problems/needs.
• Nursing diagnosis which reflects complex etiology.
• Individual teaching plans using identified teaching needs.
• Nursing interventions consistent with nursing diagnosis and etiology.
• Attainable goals with target dates.
• Documents nursing intervention and patient's response by the end of the treatments according to established procedures.
• Implements discharge plans by:
• Making appropriate referrals to other health care services.
• Implementing individualized teaching plan based on actual discharge needs.
• Formulates the patient plan of care based on acceptable standards of practice.
• Communicates the patient plan of care (written/verbal) through established procedures.
• Plans individualized patient care using nursing theory in collaboration with patient and other health care providers.
• Implements patient's plan of care in collaboration with patient, family members and significant others.
• Communicates the initial plan of care and revision (written/verbal) through shift reports and other established procedures.
• Evaluates nursing interventions to changing patient situations as demonstrated by patient outcome, documentation in the patient record and revision of the plan of care.
• Prioritizes nursing interventions in complex and rapidly changing patient situations, as evidenced by the patient outcome and documentation in the record.
• Recognizes acute problems that occur in the unit and intervenes in a safe manner, in accordance with Nursing Department and Hospital procedure.
• Reports unusual occurrences to Clinical Nurse Leader/Director of Nursing, and/or MD as appropriate.
• Demonstrates proficiency in administering treatments, procedures and equipment appropriate to the unit/department as demonstrated by the skills checklist.
• The Nurse ensures that the plan of care is implemented to achieve the identified expected outcomes for the patient.
• Administers safely and documents medication regimen according to established protocols with no more than one documented error per year.
• Uses standard precautions as outlined in the Departmental Infection Control Manual.
• Utilizes learning principles as demonstrated by the documentation of teaching outcomes.

Evaluation: The IV Therapy Nurse systematically and regularly evaluates the patient's response to interventions to determine progress toward achievement of expected outcomes.

• Ensures that the patient/family and the members of the interdisciplinary care team participate collaboratively in the evaluation process when possible.
• Maintains a systematic and ongoing evaluation process.
• Collects evaluation data from all pertinent sources
• Compares actual findings to expected findings.
• Reviews and revises the nursing diagnoses, expected outcomes and plan of care based on the findings of the evaluation process.
• Uses evidence-based research in the evaluation of expected outcomes.
• Communicates the patient's response with the interdisciplinary cancer care team and other agencies involved in the healthcare continuum.
• Documents the findings of the evaluation in the patient's record.

Nursing Competency: Demonstrates competency in the following areas by physical demonstration, verbal or written exam: Equipment, Age Specific Assessment and Intervention, Procedures such as IV therapy, Medication Administration, as listed on annual competency assessment form.

Professionalism:

• Attends all mandatory hospital/unit-based in-services.
• Actively participates in 75% of unit staff meetings, patient care conferences, and/or one project relevant to the unit per year.
• Maintain an environment that is committed to high standards of patient care and supportive of nursing personnel providing that care.
• Assumes responsibility and accountability in providing open communication, consensus decision-making, group goal setting and shared responsibility.
• Authority, responsibility and accountability for nursing practice rest with the professional nurse.
• Function in a collaborative and collegial relationship with other health professionals and providers.
• Demonstrates consideration toward patients, family and other hospital personnel by communicating in a professional manner, acknowledging and understanding their concerns and speaking to them in a manner which shows concern, dignity and respect.
• Adheres to hospital/department policy and dresses in a manner that represents the nursing profession as a professional; maintaining personal cleanliness of dress and hygiene, wearing ID badge.

Staff Development:

• Participates in performance improvement and in activities designed for professional growth.
• Reviews and signs all in-service updates.
• Identifies own deficits in knowledge and pursues venues to enhance learning.
• Uses credible, evidence-based educational resources.
• Identifies and meets individual goals annually which are congruent with the Nursing Departments long and short-term goals.
• Involved in decision making process by participating in committees one unit/department-based project.

Other:

• Maintains order of the department by maintaining adequate stock of supplies and ensuring adequate forms for the clinical record, patient education etc.
• Maintains equipment, participates in the recommendation and purchase of new equipment.
• Assists in the performance improvement plan by gathering data and recommending implementation of a plan of action.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for the Position

Knowledge of:

• Current nursing standards of practice required.

Skills:

• Previous demonstration of leadership skills and experience required.

Ability to:

• Ability to tactfully communicate with both internal and external customers.
• Ability to use a telephone, fax, copier, and all other equipment associated with nursing practice.

Mass General Brigham