Lead Nurse - Cancer Center (m/f)

The Cancer Center Lead Nurse will serve as the team lead over other nursing staff within both the Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology areas. This position coordinates, assigns, and guides the work activities of other RN staff. This position monitors work schedules, maintains department scheduling guidelines, leads nursing practice oversight, and trains and mentors new staff. In addition to lead worker duties, the Lead Nurse will also work collaboratively as an active member of the interprofessional team to provide therapeutic patient and family-centered care. The Lead Nurse systematically and continuously collects and assesses data related to patient outcomes to develop, execute, and evaluate the plan of care. The Lead Nurse utilizes evidence to drive clinical decisions and practice in compliance with the UPMC Hillman standards of care. The Lead Nurse establishes goals and strategies for meeting care coordination needs across settings with the patient, family, and/or other care providers. The Lead Nurse considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, and fiscal accountability in planning and delivering care. The Lead Nurse participates in continuous quality improvement initiatives and assumes responsibility for his/her own professional development. Clinical Operations Duties: - Execute nursing interventions by collaborating with the interprofessional team incorporating appropriate standards of care and practice and patient outcomes - Assess and systemically collect any data related to patient treatment and works in collaboration with the care team to develop the plan of care - Evaluate the patient’s response to the plan of care and work in collaboration with the interprofessional team to make any needed adjustments - Utilize data to continuously meet care coordination needs across settings in conjunction with the patient, family, and/or other care providers - Assume responsibility and accountability for overseeing safe nursing care - Document nursing assessments and interventions to reflect a comprehensive and integrated approach to patient care - Provide care that is safe, ethical, patient- and family-centered, culturally congruent, and evidence-based The Lead Nurse is expected to perform a range of common responsibilities across the oncology setting, including but not limited to: - Telephone, charting and in-person triage (for symptom management) - Reviewing and acting on test results (lab, x-ray) - Reviewing and managing communications from internal and external “customers” - Safe handling and administration of antineoplastics and immunotherapy - Ability to function in a Radiation Oncology nursing role - Skilled in accessing IV and handling central lines - Assisting the medical staff with special procedures - Providing patient/family education - Maintain consistent communication with the hospital (i.e. lab, emergency room, etc.) - Assist with management of urgent and emergent patient care situations - Serve as a mentor and resource to staff members - Other duties as assigned Professionalism Duties: - Work independently within their scope of practice to achieve clinical outcomes - Maintain a level of professional development through continuing education, quality improvement initiatives, and sharing of knowledge - Demonstrate leadership through collaborative partnerships with external medical centers - Utilize clinical evidence and science to guide practice - Demonstrates and conveys a favorable image of the Cancer Center - Effectively communicates with Operations Director, Medical staff, and coworkers Nursing Practice Oversight and Leadership Duties - Analyze clinical practice and identify opportunities to increase quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency - Identify clinical indicators to measure, evaluate, and improve care - Maintain compliance with all clinical policies, procedures, and regulations - In collaboration with the oncology team, ensure compliance with applicable clinical oncology safe standards of care and any required accreditations - In collaboration with the Operations Director, assist in the recruitment, retention, performance reviews, and professional development related to clinical staff - Organize and lead the delivery of nursing care for both Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology - Daily oversight of the staffing plan for both Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology

- Minimum three (3) years of relevant oncology experience