Registered Nurse - Radiation Oncology

Job Description Under the supervision of the Administrative Nurse (AN) or Charge Nurse, the Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing skilled and comprehensive nursing care to radiation oncology patients with a wide variety of oncological and\/or disease–related problems seen for consultation, treatment, and follow‑up. By applying the nursing process, the RN delivers direct care and implements plans for continuity and coordination of patient care with other members of the patient’s health care team. In collaboration with the AN, the nurse provides guidance and supervision for ancillary nursing personnel and participates in the orientation of new medical and\/or technical personnel. Responsibilities include compliance with Medical Center and departmental policies and procedures, environmental safety, house and telephone standards, and all regulatory agency requirements. The hours are generally daytime from about 7 AM to 5 PM, with start times from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and end times from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, including occasional overtime. The RN functions as the primary contact for the patients of specific MD(s) to manage side effects, symptoms, care, and coordination of complex interdisciplinary services. The position may involve travel between or working at other UCSF Radiation Oncology sites. Responsibilities 20% Assessment Identify patient physiological and psychosocial status to implement care plans. Seek and utilize available diagnostic tests, lab values, reports, and medical record information to assess current or potential problems. Respond to or refer inquiries appropriately, recognizing and reporting specific physical and emotional conditions to the healthcare team. Obtain vital signs (including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation) and weights on patients seen for consult, follow‑up, and weekly treatment visits; report abnormal findings to MD. Anticipate patient response to treatment and/or disease progression and assess appropriately per clinical condition. 20% Planning Develop holistic health care plans based on the patient’s medical condition, treatment goals, and psychosocial status. Anticipate potential physical and psychosocial problems to guide patient teaching, support, coordination, and timely provision of care. Incorporate the patient’s family into the plan of care as appropriate. Coordinate planning with other members of the Cancer Center, SFGH, VA, and other facilities as relevant. Mentor, train, assist, and serve as a resource for staff to improve coordination of patient care. 30% Implementation Demonstrate specialized knowledge of oncology and radiation therapy nursing in providing direct care, education, and support to patients/families. Provide care of gamma‑knife patients from admission through discharge, including counseling, evaluating patients before the procedure, assisting the neurosurgeon with frame placement, scan preparation, coordination, discharge teaching, and all other duties related to gamma‑knife nursing care. Make follow‑up calls to gamma‑knife patients after discharge to determine status post‑procedure. Apply UCSF standards outlined in the Nursing Procedures Manual, including care of patients requiring intravenous therapy, oxygen therapy, contrast injection, pain management, sedation, monitoring of tubes, drains, catheters, surgical revisions, skin care, and nutrition teaching. Report concerns or abnormal changes in patient condition to the appropriate healthcare team. Assist physician and patient during diagnostic procedures (e.g., pelvic exams, needle biopsies and aspirations), nasopharyngeal scope, spinal tap, sedation, and brachytherapy appliance insertion and removal. Comply with all UCSF/MTZ Comprehensive Cancer Center and unit‑based policies and procedures, including infection control, safety, and administrative and clinical practices. Understand and implement procedures for medical emergencies, Code Blue, and other emergency\/disaster situations. Evaluate and document patient response to treatment plan and nursing interventions. Direct and delegate appropriate tasks to medical assistants and administrative staff, ensuring adequate follow‑through. Act as Charge Nurse in the absence of the Administrative Nurse as assigned. Work at any UCSF Radiation Oncology Site as determined by departmental needs, including traveling to another UCSF location during a shift. Be flexible with work hours as determined by departmental needs; start times may vary from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and end times from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with occasional overtime. Assist patients in navigating complex healthcare systems between clinics, specialty practices, treatments, and other services. Assist physicians in coordinating care between various specialty practices and medical services. Assist in upholding the quality of care, preventing waste, and controlling cost. 10% Advocacy / Patient Education Assess patients’ and families’ understanding of illness and radiation therapy knowledge; educate and document accordingly. Use clinical knowledge and communication skills as an initial and ongoing resource for patients and families. Inform patients/families about services available at UCSF/MTZ Comprehensive Cancer Center and the community. Promote patient participation in planning and understanding of care. Evaluate effectiveness of health teaching by obtaining feedback from patients and families and revising care plans accordingly. 10% Coordination / Communication Coordinate resources and communicate to minimize fragmentation of care within the department, patient care units, other clinics and departments, and other facilities. Communicate directly with appropriate nurses verbally and in writing regarding specific patient needs or concerns. Assist supervision of timely transportation of patients to and from other units/facilities, including reporting as needed. Facilitate appropriate community health and social service referrals (e.g., VNA, Hospice, housing, transportation). Document nursing assessments and interventions accurately in patient chart. Coordinate patient teaching, directions, and planning for diagnostic tests, other appointments, and hospital admissions. Evaluate education effectiveness by obtaining patient and caregiver feedback and observing outcomes. Use AIDET principles and Living Pride initiatives in communication. Uphold Medical Center Telephone Communication Standards. Use APEX MyChart effectively and respond to patient messages within required time. Use email, internet, and other electronic communications per department policies. Maintain HIPAA privacy standards. 10% Professionalism Stay informed of policy and procedure changes related to role. Demonstrate knowledge of radiation safety standards and practices and observe required precautions. Treat all patients, visitors, and co‑workers with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect in accordance with Medical Center standards. Maintain flexibility in shift and work assignments, including overtime, shifts, assignment, site, and holidays. Maintain confidentiality of patient and staff matters. Comply timely with UCSF nursing service requirements and state licensure requirements. Comply with regulatory agencies such as CMS, JCAHO, Title 22. Assist with data collection for research, QA/QI initiatives such as hand‑hygiene data and chart audits. Participate in orientation of nursing, medical, and technical personnel regarding patient care functions and standards. Use conflict resolution skills. Participate in department, nursing, Medical Center committees such as Magnet as applicable. Participate in special projects for the department, including work groups for IAP goals or delegated tasks from Administrative Nurse. Qualifications Required Qualifications Minimum 1 year registered nurse oncology experience within past 3–5 years. Minimum 2 years inpatient experience as a registered nurse. Radiation oncology experience as an RN in last 6 months. Excellent communication skills. Experience with starting IVs and maintaining IV therapy. Interpersonal interaction skills with patients and staff. Ability to handle issues related to death and dying. Basic computer skills including email, internet navigation, Windows, and learning clinical systems such as EPIC and Aria. Flexibility to orient and work at all UCSF Medical Center Radiation Oncology locations. Preferred Qualifications Procedural experience. Oncology experience. Accessing ports. Radiation oncology experience. Licensure / Certifications Active Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in California. Active American Heart Association CPR Certification. American Heart Association BLS Certification. Equal Employment Opportunity The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Salary Information Final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Placement within the salary range depends on factors such as work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For union‑represented positions, placement within the salary range is guided by the collective bargaining agreement. For more information on benefits, visit the UCSF compensation and benefits website. #J-18808-Ljbffr UCSF Health