Chemotherapy Nurse

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults: All employees and volunteers working within the Trust have a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

Undertake telephone triage for chemotherapy patients and their carers, to ensure that potential treatment toxicities are treated appropriately and swiftly.

To work within a nurse-led environment, taking responsibility for assessment of the patient's clinical condition and consequent clinical decision-making. Analysing problems, evaluating and implementing solutions.

To work as an independent non-medical prescriber within areas of work as required, taking responsibility for the clinical assessment of the patient, establishing a diagnosis and the clinical management, as well as responsibility for prescribing where necessary and the appropriateness of any prescription used. Independent prescribers will be responsible for prescribing a range of drugs within their competence in accordance with trust protocols.

Recognition of poor response/deteriorating performance status thereby arranging early medical review and / or hospital admission

To ensure the patient's physical, social, and psychological needs are met and refer to appropriate services when necessary.

To ensure that nursing is of a high standard and in accordance with Trust policies, procedures and contracts. As a qualified chemotherapy nurse, the post holder is responsible for their own practice and that of the Unit, hence must be willing to comment on and contribute to any changes of Unit work procedures.

To ensure that cytotoxic drugs, blood transfusions and other supportive treatments are administered in a safe manner. Be aware of the safety implications of cytotoxic drugs and be able to work safely with an unpredictable workload.

To perform phlebotomy and cannulation; administration of cytotoxic drugs, blood transfusions and other supportive treatments. Liaise with hospital and community staff for follow-up care, providing those staff with specialist advice where necessary.

To recognise own limitations and know when it is appropriate and desirable to ask for assistance.

To provide evidence based clinical advice to patients and their carers. This includes telephone advice and deciding on whether patients need further medical advice in the community or admission to the hospital.

To support patients, their carers and staff as they cope with their diagnosis, recognising when there is a need to refer on for more specialist input. Provide a high level of interpersonal skills. To include cytotoxic, biological and investigational and new drug treatments

Ensure accurate doses have been prescribed

Order relevant investigations as per protocol.

Undertake phlebotomy as required

Insertion of peripheral vascular access devices

Maintenance of peripherally inserted / tunnelled central catheters

Ensure that all supportive pre-medication, hydration and medications have been prescribed, and are administered

Check that cumulative doses of drugs with maximum lifetime doses have not been exceeded

Ensure that the patient is monitored for hypersensitivity/allergic reactions and in that instance the appropriate action is instigated immediately.

Ensure the patient understands how and when to take oral cytotoxic agents and other supportive medication.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To manage the treatment clinics on a daily basis, ensuring effective use of all resources. This involves planning the patient's care package appropriately, adjusting work plan according to the needs of unwell patients and ensuring data entry of clinic information on the hospital computer system.

To manage the unit in the absence of the manager, ensuring adequate staff cover is maintained.

To maintain confidentiality and privacy at all times.

To act as an advocate for patients and their carers and refer on as appropriate.

To be aware of and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Luton & Dunstable Hospital.

To be responsible for managing and ordering stores/supplies within practice area whilst being aware of budget constraints.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• RGN
• Post graduation study/Haematology/Oncology course.
• SACT accredited course/Passport
• Evidence degree level study

Desirable criteria

• BSC/MSC
• Mentorship/teaching
• Cancer / Oncology qualification

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of cancer and chemotherapy treatments. • Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times.
• Cytotoxic treatments and management of treatment side effects
• Current relevant research

Desirable criteria

• Data collection service improvement
• Team working
• Ability to support and influence change
• Experience of audit and research
• Experience of audit and research
• Experience of teaching

Communication

Essential criteria

• Advanced communication skills training
• Handling distressed patients and their carers
• Managing difficult conversations
• Highly effective communication

Desirable criteria

• Counselling course
• Presentation skills

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

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