Registered Nurse, Radiation Oncology, Newark, DE

ChristianaCare is currently seeking a full-time Registered Nurse for our Radiation Oncology team at the hospital located in Newark, DE. Must also be available to cross cover the other locations listed below as needed.

• Helen F. Graham Cancer Center on the main campus of ChristianaCare in Newark, DE
• Union Hospital in Elkton, MD
• Concord Health Center in Chadds Ford, PA

Our Team:

There are ten (10) Radiation Oncology Registered Nurses responsible for coverage at the four locations, with six nurses scheduled to cover the high volume of patient visits at the main HFGCCRI location in Newark, two nurses covering the high acuity HDR patients at the Hospital, one nurse at the Concord Health location and one nurse at the Union location.

Shift:

• Full-time - 40 hours/week
• 8:00am-4:30pm (with occasional late day coverage)
• No holidays and no weekends.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Completes comprehensive nursing assessment of patients before, during, and after radiation therapy by means of interview, patient history, and/or review of symptoms ensuring unmet needs are matched with appropriate referral sources.
• Provides professional nursing care as appropriate. Coordinates patient care with radiation oncology physicians.
• Performs triage for a case load of between 25-40 patients per day, managing side effects of radiation/chemoradiation treatments and providing/reinforcing education and management of symptoms.
• Identifies potential barriers to care, to include but not limited to: transportation, psychosocial, financial, disparity, language, etc) and initiates referrals in a timely manner.
• Coordinate care with the research nurse in the interdepartmental management of patients requiring combined therapy (chemotherapy/hormonal/biological/radiation); navigates patient through course of treatment ensuring compliance with protocol.
• Navigates patient through appointments including Radiation Oncology, Hematology/Oncology, Imaging, Laboratory, GYN Oncology, and Multidisciplinary Clinics (MDC)
• Coordinates plan of care with external departments including MDC, Hematology/Oncology, GYN Oncology, and other departments as appropriate.
• Identifies barriers in the navigation process and seeks appropriate resources to mitigate barriers.
• Schedules patients for diagnostic and other imaging studies to ensure timely delivery of care and in conjunction with physician order.
• Responsible for the coordination of care for patients undergoing high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy procedures including patient educations for pre and post-surgery; scheduling OR or anesthesia; assisting Radiation Oncologist with actual procedure; inventory supplies; sterilization of instruments, cleaning.
• Monitor/manage post-anesthesia pediatric patients undergoing radiation therapy in collaboration with professional staff from A I Dupont and other facilities where the pediatric patient is located.
• Changes dressings, catheterizes patients for specific CTs, takes vital signs, triage patients for acute changes in condition
• Provides patient education, identifies barriers to education, and reiterates physician instructions and advice; collaborates with patient to establish realistic goals and activities to enhance patient self-management and participates in plan of care.
• Coordinate neurosurgeons, breast surgeons, urologists, interventional radiologists, other specialists and intra/interdepartmentally all aspects of the scheduling involved with complex radiotherapy cases including total body irradiation, stereotactic radiation surgery, high dose rate brachytherapy, and low dose rate brachytherapy.
• Participates in the development of assessment tools, nursing policies and procedures, patient education literature, treatment pathways and algorithms for cancer patients within the department.
• Leads or participates as a member on the department performance improvement committee and collaborates with other committee members, assisting in the analysis of clinical outcomes and identifying both strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinates and provides patient, family, staff and community education through the use of expert clinical knowledge base.
• Leads education and provides resources on transitioning patient from end of treatment to survivorship program
• Acts as patient advocate ensuring resources are available to the patient, and acts on behalf of the patient for continuity of care
• Initiates team meetings (huddles) with co-workers and other members of the healthcare team, to review daily operations, review list of outstanding issue concerning patient care Obtains insurance authorization for required tests, procedures, medications, etc.
• Assists in the implementation of performance improvement programs for the radiation oncology cancer patients.
• Monitors progress in achieving demonstrable clinical outcomes and provides data upon request.
• Maintains collaborative professional working relationship with co-workers, Radiation Therapists, Radiation Oncologists, support, and administrative staff necessary to develop and provide a successful continuum of care for cancer patients.
• Maintains required credentials and assumes responsibility for ongoing personal professional growth.
• Exhibits a high level of professionalism, providing a role model for others in the department and in the organization.
• Maintains the confidentiality of patient, and staff information per hospital policy and regulations.
• Attends meetings and in-service educational programs as required.
• Demonstrates skills and knowledge necessary to provide care appropriate to pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients, including knowledge of growth and development, the ability to obtain and interpret information to identify patient needs, and to provide the care needed.
• Performs assigned work safely, adhering to established departmental safety rules and practices. Reports to immediate supervisor, in a timely manner, any unsafe activities, conditions, hazards, or safety violations that may cause injury to oneself, other employees, patients, and visitors.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education and Requirements:

• Current RN licensure in the state of DE. May be required to obtain PA RN license.

• Two years of nursing experience is required; nursing experience in oncology is preferred.  

• An advanced nursing degree or certification as an Oncology Nurse (OCN) by the Oncology Nursing Society is preferred.  If not OCN certified, certification should occur within two (2) years. 

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted. 

• BLS required and active at the time of hire 

ChristianaCare Offers:

• Complete Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, etc.

• Two retirement planning offerings, including 403(b) with company contributions

• Generous paid time off with annual roll-over and opportunities to cash out

• 12-week paid parental leave

• Tuition assistance

• Incredible Work/Life benefits include an annual membership to care.com, access to backup care services for dependents through Care@Work, retirement planning services, financial coaching, fitness and wellness reimbursement, and great discounts through several vendors for hotels, rental cars, theme parks, shows, sporting events, movie tickets and much more!

Qualified candidates should apply online and attach a current resume for consideration.

Christiana Hospital, Newark, Delaware. This 1,007-bed, 1.3-million-square-foot modern facility provides a level of care only available in large-scale teaching hospitals. Christiana Hospital includes Delaware's only Level-I Trauma center (as verified by the American College of Surgeons), which is prepared to handle the most extreme medical emergencies. In fact, it is the only Level-I Trauma center on the East Coast corridor between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Christiana Hospital has also been nationally recognized in U.S. News and World Report's Best Regional Hospitals rankings as #1 in Delaware and #3 in the Philadelphia metro area, plus High Performing in 9 Adult Procedures/Conditions.