Outpatient Specialty Registered Nurse (RN): Oncology

At MercyOne, health care is more than just a doctor’s visit or a place to go when you’re in need of medical attention. Our Mission is based on improving the health of our communities – that means not only when you are sick but keeping you well. MercyOne North Iowa is the largest provider of health care services in our region, and we are proudly the largest employer in Cerro Gordo County. Our hospital is a private, not-for-profit health care center, licensed for 346 beds, which serves more than 400,000 inpatients and outpatients each year.

In addition, MercyOne North Iowa is a teaching institution. We conduct a Family Medicine Residency, Internal Medicine Residency, Cardiology Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency and a School of Radiologic Technology. MercyOne North Iowa is a clinical training site for approximately 500 students from 127 different colleges enrolled in programs for medical laboratory, nursing, paramedic, rehabilitation, medical assistants, pastoral services, physicians and many other medical fields.

About the role

Join the MercyOne Family as an Outpatient Specialty Registered Nurse at our MercyOne North Iowa Cancer Center. As an Outpatient Specialty RN, you will accept responsibility and accountability for the delivery of care through the use of the nursing process. You will direct and guide patient and family education, and care for all types of oncology/hematology and related patients in Medical Oncology while maintaining professional nursing standards.

The MercyOne North Iowa Cancer Center offers the most respected and sophisticated oncology care, including state-of-the-art therapies, personalized medicine, surgery, clinical research, and many support services. Our Cancer Center is staffed by highly specialized and caring professionals with numerous years of experience in providing high-quality cancer care. The center is designed to provide a broad spectrum of necessary treatment services in one, easy-to-access location, allowing you to coordinate with your entire care team without traveling to several locations.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate customer service as a priority by integrating Service Excellence into all aspects of the workday, taking responsibility for service recovery, and working for outcomes that delight the customer.
• Evaluate patient/family response to nursing interventions and act as a resource for other clinical nurses.
• Assess patients and identify common physical and psychosocial needs, developing the ability to recognize unusual or complex needs.
• Guide and direct patient care activities for oncology/hematology patients using clinical/critical thinking skills and evidence-based practice.
• Triage patient phone calls, assess the level of care needed, and refer to physicians or provide nursing intervention as indicated.
• Assist physicians/mid-level providers in patient care activities, including consultations, exams, procedures, follow-ups, and treatments.
• Provide or facilitate learning opportunities to meet the educational needs of patients and families by assessing learning needs and formulating teaching plans.
• Serve as an educator on management of parental and oral antineoplastic therapy administration, safe-handling, medical adherence, and side-effect management.
• Collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to achieve desired patient care outcomes.
• Adapt positively to the ever-changing healthcare environment by supporting technology and process changes, learning new things, and maintaining a calm, positive manner under stressful conditions.
• Identify, participate in, and take action in activities that solve problems, promote better patient care, nursing development, and professional growth, and support process improvement teams.
• Promote and maintain positive working relationships in a collegial manner with coworkers, medical staff, and personnel of other departments, demonstrating effective communication skills.
• Assist others needing help as necessary and display flexibility in job responsibilities.
• Participate in achieving the department budget by managing work hours, flexing and staffing to volumes, minimizing overtime, utilizing supplies appropriately, and applying process improvement techniques.
• Participate in the application of process improvement principles by assisting in development and data collection.
• Attend and participate in department staff and committee meetings.
• Provide competent patient care by obtaining and interpreting data, making decisions based on age-specific growth and development, and adapting procedures and treatments accordingly.
• Communicate and perform duties following MercyOne – North Iowa Guiding Behaviors.
• Support and abide by all medical center, departmental, and safety policies and procedures, proactively identifying safety concerns.
• Act in a professional manner reflecting the mission, philosophy, and values of MercyOne – North Iowa and the Sisters of Mercy.
• Perform other responsibilities as requested by the Director/Supervisor.
• Participate in activities promoting better patient care, nursing development, and professional growth.
• Develop and review departmental policies and procedures, nursing standards of care, and practice.
• Maintain required department confidentiality and abide by HIPAA regulations.
• Take an active role in enhancing ability to carry out job functions through personal and professional/job-related growth and development.
• Communicate and perform duties following the philosophy of MercyOne – North Iowa and the Sisters of Mercy.
• Support and abide by all medical center, departmental, and safety policies and procedures, proactively identifying safety concerns.
• Perform other responsibilities as requested by supervisor, manager, or department head.

Requirements

• Current RN license in the state of Iowa.
• Associate Degree in Nursing or graduate from an RN program required.
• Must complete and successfully pass Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) courses: Cancer Basics and Chemotherapy Biotherapy: Fundamentals of Administration courses after 9 months of employment.
• Must successfully complete the ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy Certificate course and renew every 2 years.
• Strongly preferred OCN certification within 2 years of employment.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in a healthcare setting preferred (inpatient, outpatient, home care, hospice, or clinic experience).

Schedule

PRN (as needed), Day Shift, Part-time

Benefits

Colleagues of MercyOne Health System enjoy competitive compensation with a full benefits package and opportunity for growth throughout the system. Visit MercyOne Careers to learn more about the benefits, culture, and career development opportunities available.

Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care.