Registered Nurse - Oncology

Primary Role:

Doctors Hospital is a multidisciplinary health care facility that provides support for a wide variety of Surgical, Medical and Urgent Care specialties. The Registered Nurse – Oncology is expected to provide exceptional patient care in an environment where quality, respect, caring and compassion are at the center of all we do and to provide professional nursing skills in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the nursing care for assigned patients. All while providing exceptional therapeutic care.

Responsibilities Specific to Oncology

• Coordinates care of oncology patients with oncology team, including oncologist.

• Manages transitions of care and support for the patient and family/carer across the oncology treatment pathway.

• Liaises with the consultant oncologist for advice where necessary to be able to answer a patient query.

• Administers chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other oncology treatments.

• Monitors and manages treatment-related side effects, adjusting care plans as needed.

• Assesses and manages cancer-related pain through effective pain management strategies.

• Addresses and manages cancer-related symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

• Provides education on symptom management and coping strategies.

• Educate patients and their families about cancer, treatment options, and potential side effects.

• Offers guidance on post-treatment care, survivorship, and palliative care.

• Provides ongoing support to individuals and their families throughout the cancer treatment process.

• Trains staff during orientation periods as well as existing staff with chemotherapy administration.

• Contributes to the identification of training needs pertinent to the clinical area.

Responsibilities:

• Provides direct care to assigned patients.

• Assessing, implementing, planning, or evaluating patient nursing care.

• Plans by working with healthcare team members

• Takes the nursing history, summarizes data, and states nursing diagnoses/ patient care needs.

• Observes and records signs, symptoms, and behaviors, including the physiological and psychological status of patients; presents the assessment of changes, the proposed revision of interventions, and desired outcomes.

• Follows policy for activating an individualized plan of care for newly admitted patients.

• Delivers designated nursing interventions to assigned patients that are consistent with the stated medical plan of care.

• Performs admissions, discharge and transfer procedures, and assists others with patient's activities and care.

• Executes physician's orders for all assigned patients; safely and properly administers medications and treatments. Starts IVs, procedures and special tests.

• Notifies appropriate nursing and medical staff to changes in the patient's status.

• Independently performs duties and assumes responsibility for care of assigned patients.

• Performs techniques/procedures and routines in the specialty service area.

• Provides instant medical care in emergencies

• Performs or assists others to perform proper aseptic techniques, isolation procedures, and infection control measures.

• Provides timely identification and communication of any issues to the Clinical Coordinator.

• Demonstrates a confidence/competence in all hospital policies and guidelines.

• Efficient recording of all necessary documentation.

• Monitoring of all risk management processes.

• Maintaining an effective interdisciplinary communication process.

• Participate in all ward and hospital nursing communication processes (ward meetings/hospital meetings).

• Maintains a professional portfolio, attend CME/CNE sessions.

• Ensures their professional and personal interactions with others positively reflects the profession of nursing and Doctor’s Hospital.

• Identifies potential and beneficial topics for nursing research.

• Utilizes all practical opportunities to educate the patient and their family.

• Be a preceptor and/or supervisor to students and newly appointed staff and participate in their performance review with the Chief Nurse.

• Identify and contribute to the continual enhancement of learning opportunities in the clinical area.

• Participate in the clinical induction of all new nursing and support staff.

• Demonstrates clinical skills which are outlined on the orientation checklist.

• Demonstrate safe, effective and efficient patient care by way of reviewing physicians’ orders, timely and precise patient chart documentation, prompt clarification of physicians’ orders, prompt notifications in any and all changes in a patient’s condition and/or critical medical results with timely feedback and documentation.

• Develop leadership ability in order to act as an effective role model.

• Assume responsibility for own learning and development needs.

• Utilizes effective time management skills.

• Maintains professional appearance and dress code.

• Complies with guidelines for absence or tardiness.

• Attends staff meetings, reads emails and other postings.

• All employees are expected to remain flexible to meet the needs of the hospital, which may include floating to other departments to assist as the patient needs fluctuate.

• Wears Identification badge when working.

• Documents nursing care in all assigned patient records, in a professional, legible and timely manner.

• Maintains patient's privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times.

• Evaluates care given including the patient response.

• Reassesses and documents the proposed revision of interventions and desired outcomes.

• Demonstrates ability to assess patient's understanding of and compliance with instructions and health care teaching. Educating patients and family members on treatments and care plans.

• Reviews documentation of instructions, teaching topics, and patient response with the Chief Nurse/Clinical coordinator.

• Adheres to internal controls established for department.

• Performs related duties as required.

• Providing pre- and post-operation care.

• Adhere to The Cayman Islands Nursing and Midwifery Council adoption of the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics.

• Ensure the patient’s needs are individually assessed.

• Ensure that a care plan and evaluation process is planned and implemented.

• Collaborate with physicians and nurses to devise individualized care plans for patient.

• Ensure patient’s families/significant others are involved as appropriate.

• Ensure patients are cared for in the optimum clinical environment, adhering to all nursing and hospital wide policies and guidelines.

• Ensure full nursing participation in and supervision of patient’s meals.

• Set standards utilizing structure, process and outcome.

• Partakes in all hospital, regional and national audit processes.

• Partakes in Health Promotion initiatives.

Other Duties:

• The employee, as part of his/her job description shall take part in the activities of any committee that he/she is assigned by his/her supervisor and is expected to attend all scheduled meetings. The employee further agrees to be an active participant in assigned activities related to CTMH Doctors Hospital attaining and maintaining Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation.

Qualifications / Knowledge Requirements:

• At least 5 years Medical/Surgical/Emergency care with minimum 2 years experience in Oncology.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) or Diploma in Nursing together with a Post Basic BScN degree.

• Must have completed a Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Administration course from an accredited provider.

• Knowledge of oncology treatment procedures, facilities and equipment.

• Knowledge of related accreditation and certification requirements.

• Knowledge of supportive care principles and techniques for oncology patients.

• Ability to educate patients and/or families as to the nature of disease and to provide instruction on proper care and treatment.

• Ability to maintain emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.

• Knowledge of the nature and treatments of oncological diseases and of reactions and side effects of related therapy methods.

• Experience in hospital setting and understanding of hospital operations.

Accountability:

The Registered Nurse – Oncology will be accountable to the Chief Nurse with secondary reporting lines to his/her designate: The Clinical Coordinator – Medical Surgical Unit.

Travel:

None expected.

 Benefits:

None expected Doctors Hospital offers a competitive benefit package that includes paid vacation, health insurance and pension in accordance with the Cayman Islands regulations.