Clinical Nurse - Oncology (DH8009)

Navajo Preference Employment Act :In accordance with Navajo Nation and federal law, TCRHCC has implemented an Affirmative Action Plan pursuant to the Navajo Preference in Employment Act.  Pursuant to this Plan and corresponding TCRHCC Policy, applicants who meet the necessary qualifications for this position and (1) are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will be given preference in hiring and employment for this position, (2) are legally married to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and meet residency requirements will be given secondary preference, and (3) are enrolled members of other federally-recognized American Indian Tribes will be given tertiary preference.Overview:

POSITION SUMMARY

This position provides specialist nursing advice and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through all stages of treatment. The incumbent is responsible for providing medical oncology and other infusion treatments and education regarding these treatments to patients with cancer, ensuring continuity of evidence-based nursing care for patients undergoing chemotherapy, assessing health, health related and nursing needs of patients, their families, and other caregivers by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care.

Education:

Associate or bachelor degree in Nursing

License/Certification:

• Must have valid, current, full and unrestricted Professional Nursing License to practice nursing in any state of the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or territory of the United States
• Must have ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Certificate Provider Card
• Must maintain current valid certification of the following throughout employment:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) from the American Heart Association

Experience:

• Must have two (2) years practice experience as a nurse in the acute care and/or ambulatory care setting including three (3) years of oncology nursing experience 
• Must have hands-on experience in all routes of infusion therapy, including peripheral lines, PICCs, implanted ports and other central venous access and different chemotherapy regimen

Other Skills and Abilities:

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers.  All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:

• Strong networking and relationship skills with demonstrated ability to work with staff, physicians, patients, and the general public
• Experience and knowledge in the management of the physiologic and psychological effects of illness and subsequent treatment; experience in cancer care and treatment a plus
• Possess understanding of Medical Oncology, Oncology Nursing, and other cancer treatment modalities
• High motivated, self-directed individual with a demonstrated understanding of nursing care in ambulatory service delivery
• Ability to provide direct care appropriate to support the specific populations served in Oncology Services
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Excellent writing, communication, and computer skills
• Completion of and, above-satisfactory scores on all job interviews, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the interviewees and TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job.
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job.
• Submission of all required employment-related documents, applications, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading, or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Assesses and evaluates patients with acute and chronic problems related to cancer and cancer therapies according to standardized nursing procedures.
2. Provides direct patient care to oncology and hematology patients receiving outpatient infusion and other therapies, as required by caseload and staffing needs.
3. Manages a select caseload of patients receiving chemotherapy/biotherapy/supportive care on an outpatient basis.
4. Demonstrates knowledge and skills in intravenous access, the management of central venous catheters, venipuncture, and chemotherapy delivery, including the management of anaphylaxis and extravasation.
5. Administers chemotherapy/biotherapy/supportive care, performs patient assessment, and provides symptom management and patient and family education.
6. Evaluates learning needs of patient and/or family and provides patient/family education appropriate to age, culture, condition, and circumstances.
7. Acts as part of a multidisciplinary team providing continuity of care throughout various stages of treatment and follow-up.
8. Collaborates as needed across disciplines to coordinate patient care, including patient transfer, discharge, referral, and spiritual/psychosocial and nutritional support needs.
9. Plans, implements, and evaluates patient care plans based on patient assessment, to optimize outcomes and maximize available resources.
10. Ensures all patients have an accurate plan of care, reflecting the assessment undertaken and incorporating issues and recommendations.
11. Monitors, records and communicates patient condition as appropriate.
12. Complies with measures to actively manage and reduce risk to patients, and the formal reporting and recording of adverse incidents.
13. Maintains contemporaneous and accurate treatment records, submitting relevant statistics, reports and activity data as requested.
14. Ensures all patients are fully informed of the risks and benefits of proposed procedures/ treatments, contributing to the process of securing informed consent.
15. Responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to patient service role.
16. Ensure proper PPE is always worn while on duty including but not limited to, face mask, gloves, gown, isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher, and eye or face shield as required.
17. Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. (see CDC website for most current updates).
18. Complete task training for all routine cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level of patient, visitor, employee, and external customer satisfaction.
19. Performs other duties as assigned.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORT

The individual shall perform a variety of responsible nursing care procedures requiring professional knowledge and consideration specific patient conditions and treatments and ability to work independently in completing assignments.  The incumbent shall perform duties as assigned and ensure quality patient care despite the situation encountered, be it routine or emergent. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Requires the ability to handle multiple assignments, balance priorities, and make sound decisions.

Physical:

Work requires prolonged periods of standing; walking; talking or hearing; sitting watching, observing, concentrating on computer monitors and equipment; use of hands to finger, handle, feel; bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching; reaching with hands and arms; and taste or smell.  Agility and the ability to lift, pull and bend are required to move patients to and from beds, wheelchairs, stretchers, et cetera, and in moving equipment and medical supplies. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. frequently through entire shift. Most be able to move, pull/push, lift, maneuver more than 100 lbs. when caring for patients and must be able to use proper body mechanics and lifting equipment when available. Must be able to discern when working with over a hundred pounds when, how, and who to ask for assistance to protect and prevent self-injury. Must have the ability to hear and recognize alarms on equipment; client calls; instructions from physicians/department staff; and hear overhead pages through loudspeaker. This position requires vision required to see close; distant; colored; peripheral; and depth perception. Must be able to adjust visual focus as needed. to ask for assistance. This position requires the ability to perform repetitive motion actions in both hands including prolonged grasping of simple/light action; intermittent grasping of firm/heavy action; and prolonged ability of fine dexterity. 

Mental:

Contacts often require tact and sensitivity as those related to stressful situation such as death, dying, and catastrophic illnesses.  Must be able to prioritize and use good judgment.  Must be able to coordinate a variety of issues while being frequently interrupted. Must be able to work with the attitude of team building with other staff; collaborate with multiple departments and job positions. Must be willing to assist when able and as needed with other team players. 

Environmental: 

Will be working occasionally around fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and risk of electric shock. Typical environmental noise level is moderate. As with any area of a Health care setting, must be able to work around and with infectious diseases.