POSITION SUMMARY: The Registered Nurse, Chemotherapy administers a variety of chemotherapy treatment regimens safely and efficiently in a private oncology practice setting. The RN, Chemotherapy works collaboratively with multiple physicians within the practice to meet each patient’s individual need throughout their chemotherapy treatments.
Responsibilities
- Provides treatment to patients according to physicians’ orders by preparing and infusing chemotherapy and other parenteral medications
a. Follows standards set by QOPI to ensure all patient information required for treatment is in place prior to start of each treatment.
b. Follows ONC/OSHA guidelines for proper administration/disposal of chemotherapy.
c. Maintains proper use of personal protection equipment such as gown and gloves when mixing and administering chemotherapy.
d. Uses proper technique in establishing venous accesses by peripheral or central line.
- Requires a broad-based knowledge of chemotherapy, non-chemo therapeutic agents and standard regimen drugs and dosing used in patient treatment.
- Monitors patient status by performing continuous assessments during infusion, such as checking vital signs and possible drug reactions or side effects
- Maintains proper use of personal protection equipment such as gown and gloves when mixing and administering chemotherapy
- Educates patients/significant others about their chemotherapy treatments in relation to possible side effects and self-care measures
- Comforts patients and their families by maintaining constant communication with them and providing emotional and psychological support so as to alleviate any anxieties they may have, while also trying to make their experience as positive as possible
- Ensures adequate supply of drugs by assisting Prep Tech in maintaining a list of chemotherapy drugs used daily, refilling drugs into the Lynx machine, checking the expirations date of emergency drugs, and performing a monthly drug inventory.
- Prevents excessive waste of materials (supplies) that are used for chemotherapy administration by monitoring usage, checking inventory, and ensuring that all equipment is in working order so as to avoid errors that entail multiple procedures.
- Maintains pharmacology knowledge base by remaining up-to-date with new drugs and treatment
10 Ensures proper timely disposal of chemotherapy waste and biohazard materials by emptying bins and wall units, replacing them with new containers and packing and labeling waste boxes accordingly
- Maintains a safe and healthy work environment by following organizational standards and legal requirements as per QOPI
- Ensures that equipment is clean, uncontaminated, and functional by performing cleaning duties especially of the chemotherapy infusion chair and laniar flow hood, and testing the AED monthly.
- Requires knowledge of billing requirements.
a. Drug J codes, billable units
b. Administration codes
c. Procedural and visit encounter codes
d. Proper diagnosis code attachment to above
- Preserves quality service by following organizational standards
- Maintains patient privacy by keeping all information found in patients’ files confidential; HIPAA compliant
- Strives to become Chemotherapy / Biotherapy certified within one year of hire and OCN certified within two (2) years of hire
