Staff Nurse

Staff Nurse

The Staff Nurse's responsibilities include assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care for a complex patient population. The infusion 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 at the Institute, BWH, and other collaborating institutions and agencies. The infusion nurse identifies his/her own professional goals and learning needs. The role requires clinical expertise, critical thinking, collaborative practice, excellent communication skills and an understanding of the principles and practices of clinical research. The Mission, Vision and Core values of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are incorporated into all areas of practice.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Delivers expert, evidence-based nursing care to patients and families.

• Implements nursing process:
• a. Assesses patient and family needs.
• b. Analyzes assessment data to develop and support clinically accurate diagnoses.
• c. Plans care by establishing goals with measurable outcomes.
• d. Implements the plan of care.
• e. Evaluates the patient's response to interventions.
• Documents care according to Institute and regulatory agencies' requirements.
• Administers medications, which may include chemotherapy, and performs procedures safely and efficiently in accordance with Institute policy. May administer blood transfusions.
• Evaluates educational and psychological needs of patient and family, and incorporates identified needs into the plan of care.
• Educates patient and family regarding various aspects and treatment modalities of disease, which may include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• Recognizes and responds to emergency situations appropriately. Maintains BLS certification.
• Identifies appropriate community resources to promote continuity of care and makes appropriate referrals.
• Complies with accepted standards of professional nursing practice, as well as with all licensure/registration requirements applicable to the nursing role.

B. Establishes rapport with patients and families from a variety of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

• Interacts with patients and families in a caring and compassionate manner respecting the need for privacy and confidentiality.
• Develops approaches to problem solving which meet the individual needs of the patients and families.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-specific care and support to the populations served.
• 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.

• Monitors the environment of care with attention to patient safety, and assures compliance with regulatory agency standards.
• Complies with Institute, Nursing and Patient Care Services, and unit policies, procedures, work rules and standards of conduct.
• Adheres to the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2001) in all aspects of professional practice.

D. Contributes to the formulation and achievement of goals on the unit, within the Division of Nursing and Patient Care Services, and the Institute.

• Assists in defining goals and developing systems and work processes for the unit, the Division of Nursing and the Institute.
• Participates in unit, program-based, and divisional committees, councils, and initiatives.
• Demonstrates flexibility in setting and changing priorities. Accepts additional responsibilities as needed.
• Participates in QA/QI projects for the unit and the Division of Nursing and Patient Care Services.
• Supports research activities within the unit, Division of Nursing and Patient Care Services, and the Institute.

E. Works collaboratively and functions as an effective member of the health care team.

• Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively with peers and co-workers. Effectively addresses and manages conflicts.
• Demonstrates effectiveness as a contributing member to the multidisciplinary health care team.
• Delegates as appropriate, and supervises assistive personnel in their provision of patient care.
• Functions in the charge nurse role when necessary, collaborating with staff and coordinating flow of patients into the infusion areas.

F. Seeks opportunities to foster professional growth.

• Identifies areas for professional growth. Formulates professional goals, objectives and methods for accomplishing these.
• Attends inservices, workshops and seminars. Shares information gained with colleagues.
• Facilitates professional growth of self and others by acting as a preceptor and mentor for new staff.
• Collaborates in preparing professional reports, articles and presentations for colleagues and the public.
• Meets all annual evaluation requirements and competencies within the established time period.
• Pursues active membership in local and national professional organizations.

G. Procedural Nurse Responsibilities

• Delivers expert, evidence-based nursing care to patients and families.
• Perform pre procedural assessment with patients by obtaining medical history via pre procedural phone call to provide patient specific instructions:
• a. Assess safety and tolerability of procedural sedation.
• b. Perform medication reconciliation.
• c. Review procedural sedation history.
• d. Provide pre procedural instructions, providing the patient with opportunity to ask clinical questions without requiring separate call back.
• Create patient specific premedication regiment in collaboration with procedure APP.
• Obtain IV access and preprocedural lab work.
• Administered preprocedural procedural medications, titrating according to specific patient needs. Also administer chemotherapy and performs procedures safely and efficiently in accordance with Institute policy. May administer blood transfusions.
• Work as co-sign to Intrathecal Chemotherapy administered by APP.
• Assists in emergency nursing procedures necessary for prompt control of changes in patient`s physical condition.
• Maintains awareness of procedural suite activities and works with the Procedure Suite team to maximize workflow.
• Keeps abreast of changing techniques in procedural nursing and maintains a high level of expertise in critical care.
• Responsible for intraprocedural monitoring of patients not limited to maintain active airway, assesses effective circulation and respiration via capnography and telemetry monitoring.
• Safely recover patients post sedation, perform discharge teaching, and evaluate safety of patient discharge.
• Coordinate correct research specimen collection with research coordinators.
• Maintain Joint commission readiness.
• Provide as needed support for biopsy specimen collection when not acting in a procedural sedation role.

Knowledge, Skills 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.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

Education: Associate degree, Nursing. Baccalaureate degree in Nursing strongly preferred. If Associate degree in Nursing, must complete BSN degree within 4 years. Experience: 1 year of recent experience as a Registered Nurse. Ambulatory and/or oncology experience preferred.

License/Certification/Registration Required:

Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or State of New Hampshire as appropriate required. AHA BLS required (AHA ACLS accepted as minimum requirement). Professional nursing certification preferred (OCN, BMTCN, CPHON, AOCNP, CRNI, RN-BC).

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Patient Contact:

Yes. Demonstrates understanding of special needs and behaviors of age groups of the population served: young adults to geriatrics.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless