Hospital - Oncology RN III (Full Time, Day Shift)

About the Role

The Oncology RN III is an advanced licensed clinician functioning at the proficient level, providing professional direct patient care to a diverse population as a specialty expert. In addition to conducting nursing assessments, assisting with exams and treatment, and maintaining medical records, this role assists in coaching and mentoring department staff in clinical and professional practice areas. The RN III models compassionate communication with physicians and the interprofessional health care team, assuming leadership responsibilities with contributions at the bedside, unit, service line, and across the institution. Responsibilities include leading unit and shared governance activities, serving as charge nurse as needed, assessing unit needs related to practice and improvement opportunities, serving as a clinical resource, and coordinating education in partnership with management.

Responsibilities

• Identifies staff development opportunities for colleagues' professional growth and provides coaching to meet identified goals
• Acts as a model and coaches staff in effective verbal, nonverbal, and written communication, including active listening and teaching
• Provides oversight for student/new employee preceptorships
• Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment, including conflict mitigation
• Advocates for a balanced workload, promotes positive behaviors, and promotes peer-to-peer accountability
• Improves nurse satisfaction by serving as a role model and mentor, facilitating teamwork with RNs, non-licensed staff, and interprofessional staff
• Provides recommendations to improve department scores for turnover/retention
• Leads patient and family-centered care standards and mentors others regarding specialty populations
• Develops, updates, and communicates a plan of care, including discharge, in partnership with the patient, family, and interprofessional team using the nursing process
• Prioritizes care based on patient needs, abilities, and preferences; advocates to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns
• Develops appropriate resources and supports unit practices and guidelines
• Develops and implements effective patient teaching strategies based on learning needs, using appropriate resources and incorporating discharge planning
• Consistently evaluates patient comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly
• Models standards of care related to the nursing process; provides care as staff nurse leader to complex patients and leads the interprofessional team in implementing the plan of care
• Anticipates, prevents, recognizes, and resolves early declines in patient condition and emergent situations
• Manages assignment of complex patients and other unit demands
• Proactively recognizes, determines a plan of action, and responds to situations such as Rapid Response/CERTs and emergency codes
• Models standards related to regulatory requirements and professional practice; integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, and protocols
• Leads improvements in patient safety-related processes at the unit or service line level
• Contributes to development of service line and hospital standards and guidelines
• Leads and identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement
• Investigates and incorporates evidence-based practices presented to shared governance and leadership
• Leads initiatives to improve quality and safety scores through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and identifying solutions
• Models situational awareness using teachable moments to improve safety; audits the plan of care and other areas as needed
• Models independent time management and prioritization of daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime
• Collaborates with interprofessional team to facilitate patient throughput efficiently to meet organizational goals
• Implements department strategies to achieve financial targets and mentors others through timely documentation, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and minimizing incidental overtime
• Expands individual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes; serves as clinical resource
• Develops and disseminates informational/educational resources and programs designed to improve quality and professional practice
• Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes
• Fosters identification and implementation of innovative solutions to improve patient care or unit operations by leading and/or participating in unit projects and shared governance activities
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Demonstrates skills and competencies necessary to safely perform assigned job through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English necessary to perform essential functions, especially regarding patient or employee safety/security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers consistent with customer service focus and positive language principles
• Demonstrates expertise in operating the electronic medical record
• Acts as effective change agent
• Uses therapeutic communication to establish relationships and collaborate on the plan of care
• Strong assessment, organizational, and problem-solving skills with capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
• Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional team, patients, and families
• Demonstrates proficient time management skills
• Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act
• Working knowledge of Microsoft
• Ability to serve as a preceptor and mentor by fostering a teaching environment
• Position eligible for preceptor premium pay with completion of preceptor education and leader approval

Education Requirements

• Associate's degree in Nursing required at date of hire
• Must obtain Bachelor of Science in Nursing within 2.5 years of date of hire

Certification/Licensure

• Current Texas Board of Nursing (or Compact State) RN license; or Temporary Texas RN License (permanent TX license within 90 days upon hire)
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 7 days of hire

Required Experience

• Two (2) years nursing experience in a healthcare environment

About Us

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites higher education, biomedical discovery, and healthcare within one visionary institution. As the third-largest research university in Texas and a Carnegie R1-designated institution, UT San Antonio is a model of access and excellence — advancing knowledge, social mobility, and public health across South Texas and beyond. UT San Antonio serves approximately 42,000 students in 320 academic programs spanning science, engineering, medicine, health, liberal arts, AI, cybersecurity, business, education, and more. With 17,000 faculty and staff, UT San Antonio has been recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Company Culture.

Benefits

• Medical: UT SELECT Medical insurance offered free for employees, administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas; family members can be added through payroll deduction; discounted copays and coinsurance when using UT Health Physicians network
• Life & AD&D: $50,000 group term life insurance and $50,000 basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance free for employees; options to purchase additional employee and dependent coverage at group rates
• Dental: Three dental insurance plan options through Delta Dental Insurance Company (two PPOs and one dental HMO)
• Vision: Fully insured Vision Care benefits through Superior Vision Services with standard or enhanced options
• Disability: Disability Insurance providing income if non-work related illness or injury prevents working
• FSAs: Flexible spending accounts for qualifying dependent day care or out-of-pocket health care expenses
• Retirement: Teacher Retirement System (TRS) defined benefit plan with UT Health matching contributions, or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP); voluntary retirement programs also available with five providers
• Time Off: Front-loaded Paid Time Off: 128 to 208 hours (16 to 26 days) based on years of service, given at start of each fiscal year (may be prorated in year one); Extended Illness Bank: 8 hours (1 day) accrued per month; Paid Family Leave: Up to 240 hours (6 weeks) to care for spouse, child, or parent after 6 months; 12 paid holidays each year
• Discounts: Range of discounts on services, tickets, and gym membership