CLINICAL NURSE I - IV CHEMOTHERAPY

PLEASE BE ADVISED that this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. Pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement, Cook County will exhaust internal eligible applicants prior to considering external applicants. Cook County is assembling a list of qualified candidates for this position that will be considered should the position not be filled with internal eligible applicants.

JOB SUMMARY

LOCATION: John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital (Chemo-Infusion)

SHIFT: 7:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Starting salary is commensurate with years of RN experience

The Clinical Nurse I (CNI) is a first level professional nursing position who specializes in caring for patients diagnosed with cancer. The CNI is the patient's first line of communication and helps to coordinate the many aspects for care for the patient while receiving chemotherapy and providing supportive care to significant others. The CNI administers care by means of the nursing process and is responsible for providing safe, effective nursing care for patients, independently and collaboratively. As a member of the healthcare team, the professional nurse continuously assesses, delegates, and monitors patient care in an ethical way to a diverse patient population. The CNI may provide chemotherapy in the Infusion Center at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital.

Typical Duties

• Reviews patient health history
• Reviews medical record for chemotherapy orders, consents, history and physical, pregnancy status, allergies and laboratory results prior to initiating every treatment
• Performs chemotherapy dose calculations
• Assesses for and documents toxicities to chemotherapy/biotherapy
• Conducts initial, ongoing patient assessment and ensure patients comfort during infusion procedure
• Assesses, monitors, and documents patients physical and emotional status
• Establishes and maintains peripheral IVs and central venous access devices, including restoring patency of central line catheters
• Administers hazardous and non-hazardous drugs, inclusive of chemotherapy/biotherapy, blood products, and intravenous fluids
• Prioritizes patient care based on laboratory results
• Communicates directly with pharmacy regarding status of chemotherapy/biotherapy drugs
• Administers medications intravenously and by injection
• Monitors patients for, and treats patients with, adverse reaction to medications that may arise
• Monitors IV tubing, IV sites, medication flow, and patient response to drug therapy
• Assists Oncologist with Intrathecal chemotherapy administration as assigned
• Maintains infection control practices, such as hand hygiene, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Educates patients/family about cancer, treatment plan and side effects
• Facilitates the learning of patients, to plan for, how to manage symptoms throughout treatment by using an interpreter when warranted
• Establishes a therapeutic nurse-patient, nurse-family relationship
• Demonstrates competence in the safe and effective use of clinical equipment necessary for providing safe patient care
• Makes appropriate and timely decisions in an emergency situation
• Applies knowledge of standard operating policies and procedures
• Establishes nursing diagnosis, problems and desired outcomes and interventions based on the Treatment plan and patient needs
• Collaborates with patient, significant other and other healthcare team members in planning care and discharge
• Provides appropriate education and guidance to patients and significant others on symptom management and complications of therapy and when to contact a health care professional
• Collects assessment data and develops an individualized plan of care in collaboration with patient/ significant other and other health care team members. The plan is developed with consideration to the patient's age appropriate needs, cultural and spiritual values; learning needs, biophysical, psychosocial, environmental needs, self-care capabilities, safety, infection control, and nursing standards of practice
• Performs ongoing and scheduled reassessments according to Divisional/department standards
• Establishes nursing diagnosis, problem, desired outcome, and interventions based on assessed needs
• Performs transfer assessments and handoff of patients to other levels of care or discharge

Reporting Relationships

Reports to the Nurse Coordinator II

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois.
• Current Bas