Registered Nurse - Oncology

Job Description

• Ensure confident, competent nurse management of chemotherapy administration and other supportive and therapeutic treatments to patients within a specialist team
• Provide direct high standards of evidenced based nursing care for patients primarily in the administration of chemotherapy and related oncologic therapies.
• Complete the first level assessment of patients with cancer and their families to gain an understanding of their physiological, psycho-social, spiritual and cultural needs and to develop a positive, realistic and supportive attitude to ensure that these needs are met.  This will include:  Counterchecking patients’ vital signs, blood results, patient body surface area, chemotherapy prescription and consent before administration of treatment.
• Ensure the safe administration of chemotherapy systemic anticancer therapies regimes and safely dispose of all equipment by adhering to hospital policy and following recognized protocols
• Assess patients’ physical condition and interpret blood results according to recognized protocols ensuring patients are fit to receive their prescribed chemotherapy
• Liaises with medical staff and off-site oncology team if patient’s condition necessitates further treatment.
• Educate patients and families regarding the side effects of chemotherapy and the oncology disease process.
• As a specialist chemotherapy nurse, to assess the educational and informational needs of the patient and family. This includes producing and using appropriate materials to ensure optimum understanding of treatment process and the likely outcome.
• Act as a resource for patients, families and other health professionals.
• Coordinate chemotherapy orders with physicians and physician’s nurses.
• Mix and administer chemotherapy, hydration and other medications as ordered.
• Administer medicines as prescribed with adherence to NMCSH Guidelines for Medicines Administration and Medication Management Policy.
• Adherent the practice of Medication Review
• Performs phlebotomy procedures including starting peripheral IVs and drawing blood from midline catheters, peripherally inserted central catheters, and ports. Utilizes cannulation skills to gain intravenous access. Assesses patients with difficult venous access and make recommendations for alternative routes of venous access and then either makes arrangements to site PICC line or refers on to appropriate personnel for skin-tunneled catheter.a