Job Description
This position is Casual status working 9 hours shifts, roughly between 7:00am and 5:30pm in Infusion and cross-trained to radiation. This position may also be scheduled to work at both the McHenry and Huntley clinics.
The Staff Nurse Oncology Infusion Outpatient RN reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
An Oncology Infusion Registered Nurse is a clinically competent, registered, professional nurse who prescribes, delegates and coordinates nursing care to the acutely ill patient through the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation and evaluation. The infusion nurse provides quality care, safely administers chemotherapy, immunotherapy and supportive medications following the standards of professional nursing. Has experience in the functioning and diversity of central venous access devices and demonstrates ability to handle and dispose of chemotherapeutic and immunologic agents. Utilizes critical thinking, therapeutic communication, and interpersonal relationship building skills, has the ability to function independently and strives to improve team effectiveness, system processes and patient outcomes across the continuum of care.
Responsibilities:
Assessment and Planning:
- According to hospital and department specific guidelines and standards of practice, provides services reflecting age specific physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and environmental variables affecting the patient.
- Assesses patient/family educational needs, abilities, learning preferences, and readiness to learn.
- Anticipates potential problems including those related to the patient’s disease entity, adjustment to disease, physical complications, knowledge deficit, discharge needs, and family support.
- Initiates and coordinates effective communication with physicians and/or other healthcare providers by reporting and recording pertinent observations and reactions regarding patient/family/significant others.
- Assesses patient response to treatment regimen, recognizes and analyzes the cause of patient’s symptoms and changing condition and initiates appropriate nursing interventions.
Implementation:
- Appropriate age-specific interventions are identified, implemented, and documented in a safe and timely manner; documentation and practice reflects patients response to interventions.
- Includes the patient/family/significant other as active participants in the development of the plan of care, the care given, and in teaching.
- Demonstrates competence in performance of nursing skills and department specific procedures.
- Performs job responsibilities in a safe manner utilizing knowledge of standards of care in providing education relating to prescribed medications, and treatment regimens.
Evaluation:
- Consistently evaluates patient diagnostic data in a timely manner and intervenes appropriately.
- Comprehensively and accurately documents patient’s response to interventions/medication regimen.
- Communicates patient’s status changes to physician and/or other healthcare team members as appropriate.
- Evaluates patients and family's response to teaching plan including level of understanding, acceptance, and compliance.
- Participates in evaluation of treatment plan.
Leadership:
- Consistently uses effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills evidenced by clear, concise, objective, accurate, and timely messages.
- Views change as an opportunity for professional growth and enhanced patient care; understands and promotes rationale for change, attends new product in-services, and complies with new policies/procedures.
- Delegates appropriate responsibilities to unlicensed staff members in accordance with the patient’s needs as well as capabilities and qualifications of the staff to be assigned.
- Supports department leadership in implementation of new programs or ideas.
- Demonstrates support by objective participation in and evaluation of change.
- Independently accesses unit/hospital/department resources by referencing policies, procedures, and guidelines, as necessary to maintain standards of care.
- Serves as a positive role model to students and orientees.
- Answers questions and provides resources in a professional manner.
- Participates in orientation of new personnel; creates a positive learning experience for students, encourages students to ask questions to further learning, invites students to assist with procedures as appropriate, and provides instructor with feedback.
- Participates in the identification of own learning needs and sets goals for professional development by seeking appropriate consultation, formal education, or resources as needed to meet identified goals.
- Completes all department-based skill competencies during the designated time frame.
- Objectively completes self-evaluation within assigned time frame; provides objective timely peer review input as requested.
Continuous Quality Improvement and Risk Management:
- Maintains knowledge of ongoing department Performance Improvement initiatives and results by attending 50% of staff meetings annually.
- Participates in PI activities.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Required:
- Associates Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing within 5 years.
- Licensed Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois.
- One year of experience in similar role.
- CPR – Basic Life Support.
- ONS Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy Certification or obtain within 30 days of hire.
- OCN Certification, or obtain within 2 years of hire.
- Preferred:
- Bachelors of Science in Nursing.
- Three years of experience in a similar role.
- Outpatient oncology experience.
- ONS Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy Certification.
- OCN Certification.
Additional Information
Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.
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