Job Description

To provide holistic patient centered nursing care to oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy and other modalities of treatment in accordance to Cancercarexe2x80x99s standards, policies and procedures.

To oversee patients and manage the chemotherapy nursing team.

• To assess, develop, implement ,evaluate and record patient care.
• To work with members of inter professional team to ensure quality of care for patients are maintained and that the patientsxe2x80x99 needs are met.
• To conform to the Health and Safety regulations whilst dealing with cytotoxic chemotherapies ensuring a safe working environment.
• To provide evidence based clinical advice, education and support to patients and relatives.
• To comply with relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols and codes of conduct of Cancercare and the bodies that accredit our company and profession.
• Assign chemotherapy nurses to patients and to ensure nursing and operational standards are met and that nurses practice within their scope of practice.
• Ensure compliance with nursing policies and procedures.
• Train new team members and evaluate their performance

Interpersonal factor

• As a professional all services delivered needs to be in line with the Cancercare Values, of CARE. Each task needs to be consistently executed whilst at all times displaying a positive influence on all stakeholders and within the general working environment. It is expected from the employee to deliver all the tasks reflecting a willingness top operate outside the scope of the job description as per operational requirements. The factors below cannot therefore be reviewed and assessed in isolation.
• To display the company valules: C xe2x80x93 Compassion, A xe2x80x93 Accountability, R xe2x80x93 Respect, E xe2x80x93 Ethics (CARE)

Administration of chemotherapy and other oncology treatments

• Supervise the chemotherapy nursing staff in the unit.
• Provide and supervise the delivery of evidence based holistic nursing care, using the nursing process to assess, plan, implement and record the plan of care for patients undergoing chemotherapy .
• Correctly interpreting and managing blood results, in consultation with a doctor
• Monitor, interpret and record patientxe2x80x99s vital data, reporting abnormalities to the doctor.
• Establish and keep record of patients allergies.
• Provide patients with relevant written information regarding their treatment and ensure patient has a signed informed consent.
• Demonstrate knowledge and competency in intravenous access, the management of intravenous catheters, including the management of extravasation.
• Program the infusion pumps as applicable to patient specifics and instruct patients on the usage of pumps for home care as applicable.
• Administer chemotherapy and other oncology treatment including anti-emetics and supportive therapy according to protocol.
• Verify chemotherapy drugs as per protocol and query the rationale behind the decision of chemotherapy regimens that varies from standard regimens with the treating oncologist.
• Educate patient on the effects and side effects of chemotherapy and other oncology treatments.
• Prevent, identify, report and record adverse reactions of chemotherapy and other oncology treatments to the doctor.
• Provide emotional support for patient and family during treatment and refer to Oncology Social Worker as necessary.
• Co-ordinate follow up of treatment plans by scheduling patients correctly.
• Provide applicable discharge instructions and health education to patients and significant others including an emergency contact number of a health care professional who is available 24hours.
• Collaborate with members of the inter-professional team and service providers to ensure optimal patient.
• Recordstatistical data
• Administer other oncology treatment as prescribed
• Providing emotional support for patient and family during treatment
• Continually monitors chemotherapy patients during and after treatments
• Provides Symptom Control that results from chemotherapy treatment
• Manage patients pain
• Keep statistical data
• To ensure scientific nursing practice within the legal framework of nursing.
• To ensure that accurate documentation of patient care within legal framework of nursing
• To promptly react and report any abnormal blood results
• To identify and assess patient's condition and readiness to receive chemotherapy
• Informed patients
• To maintain aseptic principles as applicable and prevent the risk of vesicants and irritants
• Daily scheduling of all patients
• To accurately administer the correct dose of chemotherapy
• To accurately administer the correct dose of chemotherapy to the correct patient
• Administer safe treatment within the company policies
• To ensure that the emotional needs and health education needs of the patient is met.
• To ensure continued care and correct scheduling of all patients
• To ensure updated communication of patientxe2x80x99s information to all healthcare providers involved in the patients care

Safety awareness and risk management

• Practice and oversee the principle of infection prevention and control and adhere to all standard precautions inclusive of PPExe2x80x99s as per institutional policy.
• Adhere and monitor adherence to the Sharps protocol.
• Maintain and ensure a therapeutic, clean and safe working environment in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Health and safety representation in the unit.
• Keep a record of chemotherapy adverse events.
• Ensure effective risk prevention and record, report and act upon potential/actual risk identified
• Apply Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation as necessary.
• Correctly use clean and store equipment as per institutional policy ensure that nurses adhere
• Keep service records of all equipment, arrange for repair or replacement when needed. Adhere to the Medical Waste management principles inclusive of cytotoxic waste, keep record of waste generation certificates.
• Check and oversee that emergency trolley/oxygen cylinders are checked as per policy.
• Prevent and educate patients on the risk of falling as applicable
• Arrange staff medicals as per company policy.
• Ensure all nurses are BLS trained.
• To minimize the risk of infections.
• To prevent sharp injuries.
• Compliance and adherence to legislation and policies
• To ensure staff and patient safety
• Ensure appropriate resources present to avoid treatment delay.
• To ensure quality care rendered.

Quality assurance

• Actively support and participate in ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
• Adhere and oversee that nurses do patient satisfaction program as per institutional program and protocol.
• Manage patient complaints.
• Auditing of nursing documents
• Monthly reporting of incidents and adverse events to the HOD
• Ensure the adherence and implementation of workflow SOPxe2x80x9ds
• Health & Safety representation in the unit
• To maintain high standards of nursing.
• To ensure continuous process evaluation and quality improvement in all units and the company

Billings

• Correct capturing of patient billings daily.
• Confirm correct medical aid authorization of treatment.
• Ensure that authorization is valid for each treatment/ Check expiry dates of auth
• Ensure correct codes for treatment authorized
• To ensure date extensions are done timeously
• Knowledge of coding for treatments
• Assist with billing queries
• Billing forms for accounting
• To prevent treatment delays
• To ensure adequate payment of treatment

Staff Managment

• Perform one on one meetings with staff and keep record.
• Support and development of Oncology Nursing sisters role in unit, including appropriate use of time and resources
• Monitoring statistics and motivation for additional posts when required
• Arrange staff meetings and keep minutes
• Assist with performance management
• Processing of leave applications
• Maintaining overview of staff coverage, shortfalls and locum placements
• Monitoring staff attendance
• Ensure clinical competence.
• Support of Oncology Nursing sisters development of job specific skills & identification of learning needs
• Maintain high standard of service delivery within unit
• Sufficient & available staff management
• Ensure manageable workload
• Patient safety

Continued Professional Development

• Keep up to date with Cancer carexe2x80x99s policies and procedures
• Ensure staff adherence to policies and procedures.
• Participate in ongoing personal and professional development
• Maintain personal competence in BLS.
• Maintain personal competence in GCP for trials where applicable.
• Assist with the coaching of subordinates and junior staff within the unit
• Participate in unit academics.
• Coordinate unit inservice training
• Manage the orientation and training of new staff
• Researching best practices/New pathways and encourage and assist nurses.
• Plan, implement and evaluate best practice /evidence based nursing
• To ensure and improve knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to oncology practice.
• To practice safely and ethically.
• To improve therapeutic skills
• To advance oncology nursing
• Assist staff with research

Required minimum education:

General Nursing Diploma

Required minimum experience:

Current clinical experience in acute nursing care of at least 5 years.Leadership experience.

Cancercare SA