Job Description

Work Schedule - Days

PRN - Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Provides care to assigned patient population in accordance with established protocols and multidisciplinary plan of care utilizing independent, dependent, and interdependent interventions to restore stability, prevent complications, and achieve and maintain optimal patient responses for all patients through patient centered/patient valued care.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education

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

Experience

• If less than 9 months experience, a Nurse residency is required. LVN experience does not waive this requirement.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• None

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have current, valid RN license or temporary RN license with the Texas Board of Nursing; or, valid Compact RN license.

Must have current healthcare provider CPR course completion card from one of the following:

• -American Heart Association
• -American Red Cross
• -Military Training Network.

Must have Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy and Biotherapy certification within six months of placement in the role.

Skills or Special Abilities

• Provides care for assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multi-disciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards.
• Applicants must pass Medication Examination prior to hospital orientation. Current Parkland employees requesting reassignment to role must have current Medication Examination on file.
• Must be able to provide continuous assessment, consult with other team members as required and provide nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care.
• Must exercise independent judgment in providing nursing care and takes initiative in recommending changes to care plan.
• 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 inservice educational programs.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors and be capable of handling complex or clinical specialty care, and initiate changes utilizing independent judgment with minimum supervision.
• -As applicable, will be required to demonstrate acceptable knowledge of nursing standards of care for specialty unique critical care area.
• -Must possess leadership abilities.

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 basic patient assessments related to cancer care to include 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.
• Performs review of treatment plans, labs and diagnostics for care coordination and patient education.
• Assess patient performance status for changes, collaborating with providers for appropriate interventions (nutritionist, rehabilitation, ACS, pharmacy, social work, chaplain, palliative medicine, speech pathologist, etc.).
• Educates patients, families and significant others on cancer care follow up, therapies, treatment side effects, interventions and prevention.
• Assists providers with department procedures, following universal precautions performing time outs.
• Collaborates with wound care, stomal and ENT nurse and for performing wound, colostomy and tracheotomy care as directed.
• 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.
• Assesses patient's discharge readiness and collaborates with other core team members for optimal discharge planning.
• Evaluates the patient's response to plan of care, and prioritizes and implements appropriate changes as needed.
• Interprets and organizes sequencing of diagnostic tests and procedures to exercise nursing judgment.
• Effectively manages telephone triage and practice for patient/family/other internal and external health care professionals to navigate the health care system with nursing supervision.
• Provides a comprehensive report with transferring accountability of patient's care to another nurse, unit, or facility.
• 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.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements and trends in nursing practice by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals and actively participating in professional organizations. Maintains State of Texas Licensure as a Registered Nurse, plus any additional required licensures/certifications. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• 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).