Registered Nurse - Ambulatory Oncology

About the role

Performs an age-specific plan of care for a designated group of patients using the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with physicians and other health team members in coordinating and implementing procedures and treatments.
• Uses leadership skills/clinical judgment in coordinating patient care and directing/delegating activities of the patient care unit team.
• Assesses the patient’s physiologic health status:
• Conducts patient interview, explains policies and procedures to patient/significant others, reviews patient’s chart and answers questions correctly and courteously;
• Performs a comprehensive health assessment across all body systems;
• Determines mobility, sensory deficits, prostheses use, and skin condition and adjusts plan of care, as appropriate;
• Communicates/documents patient’s physiologic health status and plan of care.
• Assesses the patient’s psychosocial health status:
• Elicits perception of medical/nursing care and the expectation of care;
• Determines coping mechanism, knowledge level, and ability to comprehend;
• Identifies cultural/ethnic requirements to reduce anxiety and ensure patient satisfaction;
• Communicates and documents psychological status and care plan;
• Supports group, counseling services, social services.
• Identifies patient outcome:
• Develops criteria for measurement of patient outcomes;
• Identifies actual/potential patient problems;
• Identifies patient’s need for teaching based on psychosocial and developmental assessment;
• Develops patient outcome statement(s) and establishes individualized patient goals.
• Formulates the plan of care and establishes the priorities necessary to achieve expected outcome:
• Coordinates the cost-effective use of supplies, equipment and medication to achieve expected outcome;
• Documents the plan of care and collaborates with physicians and other health team members.
• Implements the plan of care:
• Maintains constant vigilance over patients’ care to ensure that safety precautions/needs are followed;
• Exercises professional skills related to the plan of care;
• Reassesses patients as needed and appropriately revises plan of care;
• Correctly administers prescribed treatments;
• Correctly uses equipment necessary for patient care;
• Provides emotional support to patient and significant other;
• Applies scientific principles in performing procedures;
• Carries them out safely, timely and efficiently;
• Makes accurate observations of patient’s conditions during treatments/procedures. Reports and records same as appropriate;
• Keeps accurate documentation of patient’s treatment, activity and condition, as well as patient’s responses to medical and nursing interventions;
• Uses appropriate methods of documentation according to departmental policy;
• Acts rapidly and effectively during any emergency situation, managing self, patients and other employees;
• Provides a calm, quiet, restful atmosphere.
• Evaluates care provided for patient outcome:
• Demonstrates ability to measure effectiveness of care provided and documents same;
• Performs variance analysis related to outcome data for performance improvement;
• Designs, implements, and evaluates systems to improve care in Unit;
• Keeps accurate documentation of patient’s treatment, activity and condition;
• Uses appropriate methods of documentation according to departmental policy.
• Collaborates with other care team members in planning and carrying out treatment regimen:
• Provides direction to other members of the care team:
• Collaborates with the appropriate Physician or Provider on patient’s plan of care;
• Accurately interprets and implements treatment regimen as prescribed by the Physician or Provider;
• Assists the Physician or Provider during treatments and/or diagnostic procedures;
• Keeps the Patient Care Manager/designee and/or Physician or Provider abreast of changes in patient’s condition and/or treatments, as appropriate;
• Uses clinical judgment in delegating assignments in providing patient care, and ensures that assignments are completed in a timely fashion.
• Administers medications correctly and safely:
• Correctly identifies medication (action; dosage; side effects and implications for the patient);
• Maintains standard on medication administration examination;
• Demonstrates preparation of local solutions;
• Demonstrates preparation of I.V. drips;
• Administers and documents medication correctly;
• Administers IVP medication as per department policy and procedure;
• Educates patients and significant others related to drug and food interactions.
• Participates in patient and family education:
• Provides the patient with an explanation of his/her condition as indicated;
• Communicates assessment data in an orderly fashion by recording, updating and verbalizing pertinent information to care team members and to appropriate agencies;
• Recognizes and utilizes health teaching opportunities and resources /materials available for this teaching;
• Provides for early discharge planning and appropriate referrals for post-procedural or operative care;
• Coordinates appropriate referrals for follow-up care, specialty services, or community resources;
• Evaluates the effectiveness of teaching by feedback from patient/family and documents same.
• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, preferred.
• Must be enrolled in an accredited BSN program within two (2) years and obtain a BSN Degree within five (5) years of job entry date.
• Current license to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State required, plus specialized certifications as needed.
• Gyn experience preferred.
• Oncology experience highly preferred.