JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for providing specialized nursing care and education of patients receiving radiation therapy, for preparing the patient for and assisting the physician with examinations, for maintaining medication and medical supplies, assisting other areas or staff as necessary, and for keeping the nursing area neat and orderly.

This position is a Safety Sensitive Position. The essential functions, physical demands, and mental competencies of this job require the employee maintain the ability to work in a constant state of alertness in a safe manner.

JOB SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provides specialized nursing care in support of radiation therapy patients; assesses patient problems, recommends, initiates, and evaluates nursing interventions, responds to and provides crisis interventions, makes referrals and documents in a clear concise manner.
Assesses educational needs, distributes educational materials, conducts patient education, and instructs patient and family on nursing care during radiation therapy.
Requests outside records and x-rays, assembles records and prepares charts, while maintaining confidentiality of all medical documents and patient information.
Prepares and instructs patients for examination; assists physician when necessary.
May be subject to assist Physician with HDR procedures and provide specialized radiation therapy nursing care per physician's orders and departmental guidelines, determines and prepares set-up per policy.
Cleans and prepares exam rooms for the next patient, issues supplies to patients as necessary.
Collects patient specimens for laboratory, charges appropriately, records results in patient chart, and notifies physician of abnormal results.
Performs patient care procedures; changing dressings and bandages, administers intramuscular, subcutaneous, and PO medications, documents in patient's chart and charges appropriately.
Monitors flow of patient's IV lines and equipment
Schedules patient lab work, x-rays or other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures with area hospitals or facilities as directed by the physician.
Schedules patients for new or re-evaluation appointments and follow-up visits. Requesting, receiving, and returning records and x-rays on an as needed basis.
Cleans, sterilizes, and stores instruments per policy.
Inventories medical and office supplies. Orders or notifies appropriate personnel of needed items.
Monitors medical equipment in the nursing area and requests repairs/replacements, as necessary.
Maintain nursing areas in a neat and orderly fashion.
Assists in training new departmental personnel.
Assists with the orientation and supervision of CARTI students rotating through the nursing area.
Investigates and examines patients and employees involved in accidents. Prepares Patient Occurrence Report/Variance Report.
Maintains confidentiality of all patient, employee and institution information.
Assist other areas or staff as needed.
Collects and documents patient health information as directed for compliance with Meaningful Use and ACR recommendations.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS: Subject to overtime and call back as required by the institution. May be required to travel to satellite CARTI facilities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, LICENSURE and REGISTRATION:

ADN or BSN from an accredited College of Nursing
Current licensure as a Registered Nurse by the State of Arkansas.
Valid Arkansas Driver's License (if travel is required)
Current BLS certification.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Skill and proficiency in the field of oncology nursing. Such proficiency is acquired through completion of a registered nursing program.
Proficiency in nursing practice and clinical skills as normally acquired through two years of nursing experience.
Knowledge of CARTI and department policies and procedures, preparation of patients for examination, patient flow through the department, physician preferences and protocols, medication administration, venipuncture skills knowledge of oncology nursing as acquired through orientation within CARTI for a minimum of three months.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Must interact and communicate both verbally and in written form.
Must interact and exchange information regarding patients with physicians and other departmental personnel, and outside agencies on a frequent basis while respecting the confidentiality of patient information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
The employee frequently performs moderate lifting of patients.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
This position involves potential exposure to infectious diseases. Colleagues are offered appropriate vaccinations and safety training.

COMMENTS:
This description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of the job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.