Senior Registered Nurse - Chemotherapy Infusion

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The RN is a licensed professional who uses the Parkland nursing professional practice model to coordinate patient care delivery, that focuses on a particular patient population(s)/specific health conditions, by the health care team. Using the nursing process, the RN assesses the patient, identifies nursing diagnoses based on responses to health problems, develops and implements an individualized plan of care, and evaluates the patient's response. The RN utilizes knowledge of patient needs and the healthcare environment to assist patients to transition through the healthcare encounter without any preventable complications or delays. The RN delegates interventions to health care personnel based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act, each patient's condition and the competencies of the employee.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education

- Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.

Experience

- Must have two years of nursing experience.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

- Must have current, valid RN license or temporary RN license from the Texas Board of Nursing; or valid Compact RN license. - Must have current healthcare provider BLS for Healthcare Providers certification from one of the following: - American Heart Association - American Red Cross - Military Training Network - Must have Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy certificate within six months of placement in the role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Serves as a patient advocate

- Focuses on patient needs, patient rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences. - Maintains positive working relationships with all Parkland internal and external customers, employees, etc. - Serves as a resource for patients and other healthcare team members. - Provides patient care educational information and training to patient and family members. - May serve as a resource for specific clinical patient care issues. - May participate in community outreach activities (such as health fairs, community collaborations or outreach clinics) as assigned.

Maintains and implements knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines

- Ensures the hospital and Parkland are in compliance with applicable state/federal laws and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. - Maintains and updates knowledge of sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, equipment, appropriate utilization of supplies and materials.

Performs appropriate patient assessments

- Meets admission and discharge criteria. - Provides safe medication administration using the patients six (6) rights. - Adequately performs POC monitoring. - Demonstrates safe infection control practices. - Completes appropriate documentation by maintaining accurate and timely entries and notations in patient care records and hospital documents. - Ensures that all records and documents meet the standards, goals, and objectives of Oncology Services and Parkland.

Collaborates with wound care stoma and ENT nurses

- Performs wound, colostomy and tracheotomy care as directed.

Manages triage for patients/families/other internal and external health care professionals

- Optimally navigates the health care system for patients/families/other internal and external health care professionals.

Seeks and utilizes direction from more experienced staff and team members

- Works with other staff in providing direction to non-nursing staff. - Participates in information exchanges with nursing and other Parkland staff that support the standards, missions, goals, and objectives of Oncology Services and Parkland.

Identifies ways to improve work process and improve patient and customer satisfaction

- Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of Oncology Services and Parkland.

Serves as a preceptor or trainer

- Serves as a preceptor or trainer to newer nursing staff members. - Serves as a Charge Nurse on rotation as necessary. - Serves as a role model for oncology nursing. - Serves as a resource to unit nurses.

Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements and trends in nursing practice

- Attends seminars/workshops, reads professional journals, and actively participates in specialty nursing organizations. - Keeps abreast of current clinical trials relevant to the patient population and specific cancer, communicating effectively with clinical trial staff. - Maintains State of Texas Licensure as a Registered Nurse, plus any additional required licensures/certifications. - Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices. - Prepares and conducts an in-service educational program for Oncology Services, at least once per year.

Continues education

- Maintains current Commission on Cancer specific certification in the nurse's specialty by an accredited certification program or continues ongoing education by earning 12 cancer-related continuing education nursing contract hours per year or 36 cancer-related continuing education nursing contract hours each accreditation cycle (3 years).