Saint Joseph East is a 217-bed full-service community hospital located in the rapidly growing southeastern section of Lexington Kentucky. We provide care for patients in Fayette and surrounding counties. At Saint Joseph East ambulatory surgery 24-hour emergency care and women’s health services are supported through a vast array of inpatient and outpatient program. Additional specialty services include Heart Care Breast Care Sleep Care and Weight Loss Surgery. CHI Saint Joseph Health supports 5000 active employees 8 hospitals specialty clinics and a Medical Group with more than 200 locations across Central and Eastern KY. CommonSpirit Health was formed by the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health in 2019. With our combined resources CommonSpirit is committed to building healthy communities advocating for those who are poor and vulnerable and innovating how and where healing can happen both inside our hospitals and out in the community.

Job Summary / Purpose

This position is responsible for providing professional nursing care to the hematology/oncology patient. Applies knowledge of current cancer treatment modalities to patient care.  Administers chemotherapy and biotherapy agents according to institutional policy, standards, and guidelines.  May mix chemotherapy/biotherapy agents on occasion in the absence of a pharmacist.  Answers telephone calls from patients.  Provides patients and families with emotional support, information and guidance during treatment.  Educate patients and families in areas of health and illness that maintain optimum levels of physical and emotional functioning.  

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

1. Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care.
2. Ability to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients and reassessments as per policy. This includes pediatric, adolescent and geriatric patients and the general patient population.
3. Ability to assess and reassess pain and pain management techniques utilized.  Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
4. Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring, identifies dysrhythmias.
5. Assists the physician(s) with office procedures; maintains medical and surgical asepsis.
6. Maintains medical equipment; disinfects and sterilizes instruments.
7. Answers telephone calls in a professional manner; refers patient problems to office/clinic physician; schedules patient appointments.
8. Maintains accurate and continued nursing documentation including patient histories, conditions, treatments, responses and assessment of changes.
9. Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity.  Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and family.  Functions as liaison between administration, patients, physicians and other healthcare providers.
10. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age appropriate care to the patients served
11. Able to interpret data about the patient’s status in order to identify each patient’s age specific needs and provide care needed by the patient group.
12. Interacts professionally with patient and family and involves patient and family in the formation of the plan of care.
13. Ability to work with insurance companies to receive authorizations for prescription medications for patient in a timely manner.
14. Formulates a teaching plan based on identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning; includes family in teaching, as appropriate.
15. Maintains current knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on age of the patient and his/her clinical condition
16. Demonstrates knowledge of lab requirements, requisitions
17. Maintains established office/clinic policies and procedures, objectives, performance improvement program, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
18. Plans and provides nursing care in accordance with physician orders.
19. Maintains a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients and families in accordance with office/clinic standards.
20. Ensures an adequate stock of supplies and proper functioning of equipment
21. Assists in cost containment through appropriate ordering and conserving of supplies and equipment.
22. Cooperates with other personnel to achieve office/clinic objectives, maintains good employee relations.
23. Demonstrates knowledge of healthcare plans, procedural costs.
24. Demonstrates the ability to assist physicians with procedures in the office/clinic.
25. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops; shows responsibility for own professional practice and ongoing education.
26. Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
27. Demonstrates awareness of current state, federal and local laws governing the delivery of care.
28. Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

The job summary and responsibilities listed above are designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed within this job. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all job responsibilities required of employees assigned to this job. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.