STAFF NURSE - CHEMOTHERAPY

About the role

The Aultman Registered Nurse (RN) is a professional nurse that provides direct, primary nursing care to patients/residents. The RN delegates and coordinates patient care, based upon a documented assessment of the patient’s/resident’s needs. The RN supervises the care provided by individuals such as licensed practical nurses, patient care technicians/state tested nursing assistants/nurse aides, medical assistants, and etc., if applicable.

Department Summary

The Infusion Therapy Center is in the Timken Family Cancer Center on the main campus. The unit operates Monday through Friday 7A-5:30P, Saturday 7:30A-4P and Sundays/Holidays as needed. The hours of operation are subject to change to meet the needs of the patients served by the department. The unit consists of 44 treatment areas containing a mix of private and community infusion suites. The focus is on patients requiring chemotherapy and/or other medication administration, blood product administration, and/or central line care. Many of the patients carry an oncological or hematological diagnosis, but patient admission is not limited to these types of patients.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing; BSN preferred.
• Current, active licensure as a Registered Nurse through the Ohio Board of Nursing.
• American Heart Association (AHA) training in Basic Life Support (BLS) utilizing Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) is required.
• Certification preferred for RNs meeting applicable certification eligibility requirements.
• Membership in professional nursing organization preferred.

Department Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing; BSN preferred.
• Current, active licensure as a Registered Nurse through the Ohio Board of Nursing.
• Maintain current, active BLS certification through the American Heart Association.
• Certification preferred for RNs meeting applicable certification eligibility requirements.
• Membership in professional nursing organization preferred.
• Chemotherapy education and administration training to be completed within 3 months of hire.
• Oncology Certification preferred for RNs meeting applicable certification eligibility requirements.

Skills

• Proficient computer skills to complete tasks as required.
• Able to organize, prioritize tasks, and manage time effectively.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on safe practices and quality care.
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors.
• Competent in establishing peripheral IV lines and central venous access including Mediports, PICC lines, Midlines, and Hickman catheters.
• Fluishes access devices and changes dressings to sites per protocol.
• Able to troubleshoot issues with devices as needed.
• Safely removes PICC lines at the completion of entire treatment.
• Administers blood and platelet transfusions as ordered provider.

Responsibilities & Expectations

• Applies the nursing process of assessment, planning interventions, accurately implements and/or delegates patient care, evaluates that care, and accurately communicates patient information in a timely manner.
• Fosters patient safety, comfort, and satisfaction as a patient/resident advocate in conjunction with the other members of the healthcare team.
• Attains knowledge and competency that reflects current nursing practice.
• Demonstrates quality and effectiveness of nursing practice.
• Adheres to professional standards and guidelines, including ethical actions, relevant statutes, rules, and regulations, during nursing practice.
• Collaborates with patient, family, and others in the conduct of nursing practice.
• Exhibits High Reliability Organization (HRO) tools and tones.
• Provides leadership in the professional practice setting and contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues, and students.
• Integrates research findings into practice.
• Responsible for timely review of emails, department communications, and applicable learning assignments and completion as applicable.

Department Responsibilities & Expectations

• Applies the nursing process of assessment, planning interventions, accurately implements and/or delegates patient care, evaluates that care, and accurately communicates patient information in a timely manner.
• Fosters patient safety, comfort, and satisfaction as a patient/resident advocate in conjunction with the other members of the healthcare team.
• Attains knowledge and competency that reflects current nursing practice.
• Demonstrates quality and effectiveness of nursing practice.
• Adheres to professional standards and guidelines, including ethical actions, relevant statutes, rules, and regulations, during nursing practice.
• Collaborates with patient, family, and others in the conduct of nursing practice.
• Exhibits High Reliability Organization (HRO) tools and tones.
• Provides leadership in the professional practice setting and contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues, and students.
• Integrates research findings into practice.
• Responsible for timely review of emails, department communications, and applicable learning assignments and completion as applicable.
• Documents patient assessment and intervention data using established medical record forms/automated systems and documentation practices.
• Nursing assessment and intervention, patient education, and the administration of any medication or chemotherapy is documented in the electronic health record.
• Administers chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hydration, and other medications under the direction and supervision of a physician and within the scope of nursing.
• Follows guidelines for the safe administration and handling of hazardous drugs.
• Affirms patients for changes in condition or drug reactions and initiates appropriate emergency resuscitation during infusions.
• Facilitates dose modifications with chemotherapy regimen in consultation with the physician related to symptom management and lab test results.

Working Conditions

• Meal and break times are coordinated with other staff members to maintain adequate coverage.
• Shifts are scheduled or changed due to the staffing needs of the unit/department based upon volume and acuity.
• Work weekends and holidays as assigned or as applicable based on department needs.
• Cross training depending upon department needs.
• Day shifts with staggered start times are variable to volume of department.
• RNs scheduled to close will stay until the last patient leaves for the day.
• Approximately every tenth weekend and 1 holiday every other year, may fluctuate to meet the demands of the department.
• Lunch periods and breaks are coordinated with other staff members to maintain adequate floor coverage.
• Cross-training to all areas in the department is required, including but not limited to, administration of chemotherapy.

Hazardous Exposure Category

• Category I - Includes tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues. All procedures or other job-related tasks that involve an inherent potential for spills or splashes of, or mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues are Category I tasks. Use of appropriate protective measures is required for every employee engaged in Category I tasks.

Physical Demands

• Lifting: 0-10 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Lifting: 10-20 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Lifting: 20-35 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Lifting: 35-50 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Lifting: 50-75 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Lifting: 75-100 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Lifting over 100 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Forward Reaching: Frequent (34-65%)
• Overhead Reaching: Frequent (34-65%)
• Standing: Continuous (66% of the day)
• Walking: Continuous (66% of the day)
• Sitting: Occasional (10-33%)
• Climbing: Occasional (10-33%)
• Stairs/Ladder: Occasional (10-33%)
• Bending/Stooping: Frequent (34-65%)
• Twisting/Turning: Occasional (10-33%)
• Kneeling/Squatting: Occasional (10-33%)
• Crawling: Never
• Pushing/Pulling: 0-10 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Pushing/Pulling: 10-20 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Pushing/Pulling: 20-35 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Pushing/Pulling: 35-50 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Pushing/Pulling: 50-100 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Pushing/Pulling over 100 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Carrying: 0-10 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Carrying: 10-20 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Carrying: 20-35 lbs - Frequent (34-65%)
• Carrying: 35-50 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Carrying: 50-100 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Carrying over 100 lbs - Never
• Grasping/repetitive sustained: Frequent (34-65%)
• Fine motor coordination: Continuous (66% of the day)
• Vision: Near/Far/Color: Continuous (66% of the day)
• Hearing: ordinary conversation/other: Continuous (66% of the day)
• Sitting: Continuous (66% of the day)
• Climbing: Occasional (10-33%)
• Stairs/Ladder: Occasional (10-33%)
• Twisting/Turning: Occasional (10-33%)
• Kneeling/Squatting: Occasional (10-33%)
• Pushing/Pulling: 50-100 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Pushing/Pulling over 100 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Carrying: 35-50 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Carrying: 50-100 lbs - Occasional (10-33%)
• Fine motor coordination: Continuous (66% of the day)
• Vision: Near/Far/Color: Continuous (66% of the day)
• Hearing: ordinary conversation/other: Continuous (66% of the day)