Staff Nurse

Overview

This is a 32-hour/week position. The Oncology Registered Nurse focuses on patient assessment, patient education, coordination of care, administration of therapy, symptom management, and supportive care for Oncology and Hematology patients at Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute. The nurse’s responsibilities include assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care for a complex patient population. The role includes administration of chemotherapy and other medications and infusions, telephone nursing care, direct patient care, and charge capture/billing for all services rendered.

The nurse provides patient and family education, psychosocial and emotional support and is a member of a multidisciplinary care team that requires effective communication and collaboration with co‑workers, staff, collaborating institutions and agencies.

• Delivers expert, evidence‑based nursing care to patients and families: Implements nursing process: assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation. Assesses patient and family needs. Promotes health care outcomes in concert with currently accepted clinical practice guidelines. Analyzes assessment data to develop and support clinically accurate diagnoses. Collaborates proactively with all interdisciplinary team members with a patient‑centered focus to facilitate and maximize patient healthcare outcomes.
  
  Plans care by establishing goals with measurable outcomes. Implements the plan of care. Evaluates the patient’s response to interventions. Documents care according to Institute and regulatory agencies’ requirements. Administers medications and other treatments, which may include chemotherapy, and performs procedures safely and efficiently in accordance with Institute policy. May administer blood transfusions. Evaluates educational and psychological needs of patient and family and incorporates identified needs into the plan of care.
  
  Educates patient and family regarding treatment modalities of disease, which may include chemotherapy and radiation therapy and symptom management. Reviews patient’s clinical status and laboratory values pre‑treatment and consults with provider when appropriate. Evaluates and determines need for patient referrals to other members of the interdisciplinary needs as appropriate. Identifies appropriate community resources to promote continuity of care and makes appropriate referrals.
  
  Manages patient care across the continuum, making appropriate referrals to home care and hospice, as necessary. Prepares and administers chemotherapy/biotherapy and supportive therapy in accordance with ASCO/ONS Guidelines. Recognizes and responds to emergency situations appropriately. Maintains BLS certification. Provides telephone triage according to policies and documents telephone interactions. Performs the following technical skills; intravenous therapy including peripheral and central venous vascular access devices, including obtaining IV access, safe handling practices for hazardous, cytotoxic and biological agents, chemotherapy administration skills, including vesicant and non‑vesicant medications.
  
  Complies with accepted standards of professional nursing practice, as well as with all licensure/registration requirements applicable to the nursing role. Supports the DFCI Nursing Department Professional Practice Model and Quality Plan. Accurately records charges for all services rendered on the day of service. Collaborates with Clinic Assistant to assure accurate inventory of all supplies. Serves as a resource to medical personnel in other health facilities, providing telephone consultation to engender optimal Oncology practices and knowledge among health care professionals caring for cancer patients.
• Establishes rapport with patients and families from a variety of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds: Interacts with patients and families in a caring and compassionate manner respecting the need for privacy and confidentiality. Develops approaches to problem solving which meet the individual needs of the patients and families. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide age‑specific care…