Plans, coordinates and directs quality, compassionate care by maintaining standards of professional nursing practice and creating positive therapeutic relationships with patients/families.  Provides leadership to other team members by articulating and delegating expected standards of care, supervising and encouraging team members, and supporting their contributions.  Supervises LPNs, PCAs, PCAs/US, US and/or Techs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Assesses condition on each assigned patient on admission and on an ongoing basis to include but not limited tothe patient’s physical condition, psychological status, social status, spiritual and cultural needs, pain assessment/management, nutritional and functional status, developmental or age related factors, and discharge planning needs.  Specific ages: adolescent, adult and geriatric as defined by scope of service.

2. Plans, provides and documents patient and/or significant other education based on physical, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors, after identifying barriers to learning.
3. Evaluates and regularly reevaluates the nursing needs of the patient; initiates, develops, implements, and makes necessary revisions to the patient’s plan of care according to problems identified.
4. Assigns and delegates nursing care to team members in accordance with the patient’s needs and the capabilities of the team members.
5. Applies safety principles when performing care and accurately documents observations, care provided and changes in care plan.
6. Collaborates and coordinates with physicians and other disciplines regarding individualized patient treatment/care plans by participating in team conferences, care planning/problem identification and team shift reports.
7. Assists in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.
8. Accurately documents care provided/observations according to policies and procedures.
9. Performs initial and annual competency per job class.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE

Current Alabama RN licensure.  Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORK CONTEXT

• Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Includes exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.
• Includes demonstrating leadership skills, delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communicating with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Activities: 

• Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and/or walking.
• Ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Must be able to do frequent stooping and on occasion, crouching, crawling or kneeling.
• Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction.
• Ability to run in emergency situations.
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner.
• Must have ability to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips.

• Requirement:
• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Able to push stretcher / wheelchair with average adult patient. 
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential. 

OTHER JOB FACTORS

• Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

• Obtains baseline data while performing health assessments
• Utilize catheters and ports for blood sampling and medications as necessary.
• Set ambulatory infusional pumps, connect to vascular access device and teaches patient and family on all aspects of pump.
• Develop an individual approach for teaching patient and family regarding chemotherapy drugs, side effects, their management, route and interval to be given and the need for laboratory and x-ray studies.
• Assist as preceptor in clinical portion of chemotherapy certification.
• Demonstrates clinical expertise utilizing expanded knowledge, skills, and decision- making capability, and personalized nursing care to cancer patients.
• Screens for medical, physical, emotional and psychological problems related to cancer or its treatment with subsequent appropriate referrals.
• Assess and meet patient's needs by teaching, counseling, and coordinating all phases of care.

• Cross train to the Radiation Clinic.
• Demonstrates understanding of neutropenic precaution, radiation safety and infection control.
• Prior to administering new medication verifies that any necessary insurance prior authorization has been obtained.

• Certified and gives IV contrast media.

• Maintain BLS, Chemotherapy certification, OCN certification, and ONS chemotherapy & biotherapy certification as appropriate.
• Must adhere to AIDET principles.
• Know emergency procedures, tornado, fire disaster and code silver, etc.