Direct Patient Care 90%
* Acts under the physician's direction in providing nursing care & provides nursing care in accordance with the Nursing Practice Act of Illinois.
* Follows standards of nursing practice in accordance with SIU's policies and procedures & Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) evidence-based care & medication manufacturer's direction as indicated.
* Follows research protocols when conducting patient research, including obtain informed consent, providing patient care as directed by research methodology, & documenting patient care according to protocol or clinic standards.
* Maintains patient confidentiality in all patient interactions & medical records.
* Performs nursing assessments on patients in the clinic & on the phone: general, treatment-specific, or problem-specific depending on the need & appropriateness. Assessments include anatomy & physiology, compliance, response to therapy, symptom management, monitoring for complications (i.e. myelosuppression, mucositis, infection, etc.), laboratory & radiographic results, nutrition, pain, psychosocial, home care, patient resources, hospice & bereavement as appropriate to oncology office-based nursing.
* Monitors patient's response to therapy & the early detection of complications/side effects. Reports & documents findings to physician (MD) and within electronic medical record.
* Performs clinic laboratory testing & procedural testing according to clinic protocols. Reports findings to MD & documents with electronic medical record.
* Provides follow-up coordination of patient care by telephone with the patient, family, & other health care providers including insurance companies, case managers, home care agencies, pharmacies, extended care facilities, hospice units & hospitals when directed or needed.
* Performs patient teaching in regards to disease management, medications, & assists in teaching chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biotherapy, prevention & early detection of complications, symptom management & proper follow-up. Documents teaching, phone calls & nursing assessments, interventions & evaluations in the electronic health record.
* Performs nursing procedure such as dressing changes, accessing/discontinuing central lines, administering IV fluids & medications including chemotherapy/biotherapy according to protocol & clinical standards.
* Under direction of MD, orders, medication, testing & procedures & documents such in the electronic health record. Triages phone calls for MD.
* Works with other health care team members in the multi-disciplinary clinic including other MD's as requested. Participates with MDs & staff in primary care of outpatients.
* Obtains referrals, pre-certifications etc. with third party payers when required/needed.
* Organizes & manages outpatient clinics providing clinic nursing care & delegation of clinical duties to licensed practical nurse (LPN) & medical assistants (MA's). Clinic duties include but not limited to evaluating medical records for completeness prior to patient visit; maintaining electronic health records; rooming patients, obtaining patient history, assisting with portions of physical examinations & procedures, obtaining vital signs, height, weight; providing wound care; reviewing current medications & allergies with patient; scheduling appointments, hospital admissions, tests, consultations, etc. Maintains clean, well-equipped treatment & procedure rooms.
* Providing safe delivery of chemotherapy/biotherapy not only for patient but for employees/visitors according to ONS guideline standards.
* Responsible for maintaining/managing/assisting pharmacy duties in compliance with USP
* 797 regulations as needed/required.
Administrative Responsibilities 10%
* Assists in orientation and training of new employees, temporary ones and familiarizes residents & medical students with the clinic operation & physician preferences when requested/needed.
* Maintains or delegates inventory of adequate supplies necessary for daily clinic activities and makes recommendations to the Charge Nurse for equipment, commodities, and non-routine supplies.
* Assists in monitoring nursing quality assurance within the clinical areas & if requested, participates on committees designed to improve the quality of nursing care provided in the Department's clinics.
* Initiates and participates in the development of patient & family education information relevant to patient care.
* Offers suggestions to help plan, implement, & evaluate procedures designed to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness within the assigned clinic/office.
* Performs other duties as assigned.
