Sr. Registered Nurse - Oncology

Full Time - Night

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.

MINIMIM SPECIFICATION

Education

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

Experience

• Must have two years of nursing experience.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience - None

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. Current incumbents hired prior to May 1, 2022 that are not in possession of the certificate will be expected to attain no later than May 31, 2022.

Required Tests for Placement

Skills or Special Abilities

• Provides care to assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards.
• Must demonstrate ability to safety and successfully perform all responsibilities of Registered Nurse II-Oncology Services.
• Must have comprehensive understanding of chemotherapy as it relates to indications and side effects.
• Must be able to start and discontinue intravenous access.
• Must be able to access and provide maintenance of central line devices.
• Provides continuous assessment, consults with other team members as required and provides nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care.
• Exercises independent judgment in providing nursing care.
• Must be able to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and hospital staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• May be required to communicate effectively, via the overhead paging system.
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to provide direction to non-nursing staff, serve as a preceptor, and serve on rotation as a Charge Nurse.
• Must be able to prepare and conduct in-service educational programs.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors.
• As applicable, will be required to demonstrate acceptable knowledge of nursing standards of care for specialty care area.
• Must satisfactorily complete the oncology orientation to all applicable competencies.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a patient advocate, by focusing 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 that impact or govern nursing practice, and ensures the hospital and Parkland are in compliance. This includes EMTALA, Order of Productive Custody, Memorandum of Transfer and APOWW. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to 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 meeting admission and discharge criteria, provide safe medication administration using the patients six (6) rights, adequately perform POC monitoring and demonstrate safe infection control practices. Performs patient assessments related to cancer care and other medical diagnosis to include allergies and hypersensitivity reactions, physical, signs and symptoms, changes in activities of daily living, psychosocial, support network and financial dimensions across the continuum of care (diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and end of life). 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.
• Educates patients, families and significant others on cancer care, therapies, treatment side effects, interventions and prevention. Performs patient teaching with documented care plans that are disease site oriented as related to phase of care across the continuum and for discharge planning.
• Collaborates with wound care stoma and ENT nurses for performing wound, colostomy and tracheotomy care as directed.
• Manages triage for patients/families/other internal and external health care professionals to optimally navigate the health care system.
• Seeks and utilizes direction from more experienced staff and team members as needed. May work 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 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 by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals and actively participating 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.
• Will maintain current Commission on Cancer specific certification in the nurse's specialty by an accredited certification program or will continue 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).