Office Oncology RN

Job Summary

Responsible for providing nursing care to patients in a professional and courteous manner including education and management of oral chemotherapy care plans and general nursing care to patients in an office setting. Carries out Physician orders including but not limited to assisting with procedures, administering injections, performing phlebotomy, PICC line care, VAD care, Hickman/Broviac care and maintenance, wound care, taking patient calls, cleaning and stocking exam rooms, calling in and preauthorizing prescriptions, coordinating supply levels, pre-certifying patients medical services, and assisting the physician with all other patient care as requested.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education: Graduate of an Accredited School of Nursing
Minimum Years of Experience: None.
Substitutable Education & Experience: None.
Required Certifications/Licensure: Current South Carolina license as a Registered Nurse;

ONS Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Certification required within 6 months of hire and recertification as required;

BLS and CPR certification;

National Oncology Certification within 2 years of hire.
Required Training: Strong analytical skills with in-depth knowledge of cancer and cancer therapy;

Demonstrated proficiency in PICC line care, VAD care, Hickman/Broviac care and maintenance.

Essential Functions

• Maintains a positive attitude. Has contact by phone, correspondence, or personal meetings with persons in other departments or outside the practice; tact is required in these contacts and the employee assumes the responsibility for harmonious relationships.
• Demonstrates the following:           
  • Appropriate communication of information to all ages.       
    • Adult – 18 years through 65 years         
    • Geriatric – Over 65 years         
  • Responsiveness to all patients and office staff requests and needs.    
  • Performance of duties assigned by authorized personnel or as required in an Emergency, i.e., fire or disaster
• Assists physicians with patient care including but not limited to setting up equipment and supplies for medical procedures, administers injections as directed by the physician and ensures appropriate documentation in patients’ medical records.
• Triage patients over the telephone and in person. Instructs and informs patients as to physician orders and/or lab results and ensures that prescriptions are called in expeditiously. Ensures that patients are given thorough instructions for taking medications and verifies this through the teach-back method of patient education.
• Process chemotherapy orders, notifies physician of patient needs and changes in condition promptly.
• Documents all procedures and activities performed pertaining to chemotherapy dosing administration in the EHR.
• Chemotherapy dose limit checking, adjustment and banding.  This will include drug interaction checking (drug/drug, drug/allergy, drug/diagnosis, and drug/gender) and medication reconciliation.
• Determines the amount and type of nursing care needed for each patient and applies appropriate nursing care model to care given.
• Regularly re-evaluates the needs of the patient.
• Counsels the patient, family and significant others on nursing, teaching and related needs.
• Inserts intravenous cannulas, administers prescribed intravenous solutions and medications.  Monitors and maintains infusion sites and systems.  Evaluates response to prescribed therapy.
• Refers patient to Hospital Social Worker, Nurse Navigator, Financial Counselor, Dietician, Home Health, DME, or Hospice when appropriate.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepares clinical records and progress notes for each patient visit in a timely manner.
• Actively participates in educational in-service programs.  Demonstrates continuous pursuit of current information and trends in oncology care.
• Awareness of cost containment and avoidance of drug waste.  Communicate with the billing staff to proactively facilitate insurance approvals for all medications ordered including chemotherapy treatment prior to administration of any medications.
• Refers patients for ancillary testing and to consulting providers as instructed by the physician.
• Maintains, sterilizes and calibrates medical instruments as needed.
• Understands and agrees to seek compliance with OSHA and CLIA health and safety regulations.
• Assists physician with maintaining patient care logs including, but not limited to: ancillary tests, consent forms, and medical records. Maintains patient medical literature.
• Cleans and stocks exam rooms and coordinates supply levels.
• Notifies billing team to pre-certify patients for inpatient admissions, outpatient procedures, and other visits needing prior approval. Notifies hospital of pending patient admissions.
• Documents all situations, both internally and externally, that may arise out of the ordinary or are necessary to maintain accurate patient charts/records. Completes Online Occurrence reporting as appropriate.
• Helps maintain the work area in a neat and orderly fashion. Responsible for keeping supplies necessary to perform the job duties.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.