Staff Nurse - Yawkey 6

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life-changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations.

About the role

The Staff Nurse’s responsibilities include assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care for a complex patient population. The infusion nurse provides patient and family education and psychosocial and emotional support. As a member of a multidisciplinary care team, this role requires effective communication and collaboration with co-workers and staff at the Institute, BWH, and other collaborating institutions and agencies. The role demands clinical expertise, critical thinking, collaborative practice, excellent communication skills, and an understanding of the principles and practices of clinical research.

Responsibilities

• Delivers expert, evidence-based nursing care to patients and families.
• Implements the nursing process: assesses patient and family needs, analyzes data to develop clinically accurate diagnoses, plans care by establishing measurable goals, implements the plan, evaluates patient responses, and documents care according to regulatory requirements.
• Administers medications, including chemotherapy, and performs procedures safely and efficiently in accordance with Institute policy. May administer blood transfusions.
• Evaluates educational and psychological needs of patients and families, incorporating them into the plan of care.
• Educates patients and families on disease aspects and treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• Recognizes and responds to emergency situations appropriately; maintains BLS certification.
• Identifies community resources to promote continuity of care and makes appropriate referrals.
• Complies with professional nursing standards, licensure requirements, and Institute policies.
• Establishes rapport with patients and families from diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, interacting with compassion and respect for privacy.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills for age-specific care across young adults to geriatrics.
• Manages the patient care environment, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
• Contributes to unit, divisional, and Institute goals, participating in committees, councils, and initiatives.
• Demonstrates flexibility in setting and changing priorities, accepting additional responsibilities as needed.
• Participates in quality assurance and improvement projects.
• Supports research activities within the unit and Institute.
• Works collaboratively as an effective member of the healthcare team, addressing and managing conflicts.
• Delegates and supervises assistive personnel in patient care.
• Functions in the charge nurse role when necessary, coordinating patient flow.
• Identifies professional growth areas, formulates goals, and pursues ongoing education.
• Acts as a preceptor and mentor for new staff.
• Collaborates in preparing professional reports, articles, and presentations.
• Meets annual evaluation requirements and competencies.
• Pursues active membership in professional organizations.

Procedural Nurse Responsibilities

• Performs pre-procedural assessments, including obtaining medical history, medication reconciliation, and reviewing procedural sedation history.
• Provides patient-specific pre-procedural instructions and creates premedication regimens in collaboration with procedure APPs.
• Obtains IV access and pre-procedural lab work.
• Administers pre-procedural medications, titrating according to patient needs, and may administer chemotherapy or blood transfusions.
• Works as a co-sign for Intrathecal Chemotherapy administered by APPs.
• Assists in emergency nursing procedures for prompt control of changes in patient conditions.
• Maintains awareness of procedural suite activities to maximize workflow.
• Monitors patients intra-procedurally, including airway management, circulation, respiration via capnography, and telemetry.
• Safely recovers patients post-sedation, performs discharge teaching, and evaluates discharge safety.
• Coordinates research specimen collection with research coordinators.
• Maintains Joint Commission readiness.
• Provides support for biopsy specimen collection when not in a procedural sedation role.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree in Nursing. Baccalaureate degree in Nursing strongly preferred. If Associate degree, must complete BSN within 4 years.
• Experience: Completion of the Oncology Nurse Residency Program (ONRP) or 1 year of recent experience as a Registered Nurse. Ambulatory and/or oncology experience preferred.
• Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or State of New Hampshire.
• AHA BLS required (AHA ACLS accepted as minimum requirement).
• Professional nursing certification preferred (e.g., OCN, BMTCN, CPHON, AOCNP, CRNI, RN-BC).

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to work as an effective member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving, and ability to make independent decisions.
• Ability to function in a busy work setting with patients who have complex needs.
• Understanding of special needs and behaviors of age groups served: young adults to geriatrics.

Pay

$44.14 - $109.51 per hour.