Summary

The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12983736
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: BSN/ Oncology Nursing Society Certification preferred or required within one year
• Minimum of two years increasingly complex clinical nursing experience including at least one year of med/surg experience or one year of oncology experience
• Chemotherapy / Biotherapy Certification through the National Oncology Society required within first six months
• Knowledge of Joint Commission Standards
• Proven leadership - self-direction and a high degree of motivation
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with other members of the health care team to accomplish the medical center's mission - vision - and goals
• Evidence of strong positive interpersonal - customer service - verbal/written communication and leadership skills
• Evidence of sound decision making and critical thinking skills
• Evidence of excellent collaborative relationships with physicians and support services
• Computer skills - including Microsoft Word - Excel - and Outlook
• Physical Requirements: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• James H
• Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JHQVAMC) is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility - serving medical - surgical - and neurological inpatients and outpatients
• There is a large outpatient psychiatric population - with admissions for medical co-morbidities
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - lifting 10 pounds or more and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The RN may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The RN may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders.

Duties

• Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse is a clinical expert who uses advanced specialized knowledge and judgement for delivery of high quality and evidence-based care to oncology patients and their families
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse uses a team approach to identify - analyze - and resolve patient care problems with measurable outcomes
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse completes physiological assessments and completes documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) in accordance to established policies and procedures
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse triages patient problems and assists in the evaluation of symptoms and initiate interventions in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse monitors - tracks/tends - and reports ongoing care needs and outcomes to the interdisciplinary team
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse directs the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies - and provides quality improvement and outcome utilization
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse provides a safe working environment while administering - handling - and disposing of antineoplastic drugs and medical waste
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse oversees the administration and management of various medical procedures and treatments in the oncology setting - including vascular access devices and infusion treatments
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse conducts in-service education based on insights gained from oncology professional development activities and acquiring specialized skills in oncology-specific areas - including chemotherapy administration - oncology electronic ordering systems - and calculating drug dosages
• The Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse manages monitoring requirements for specific drugs - handling immediate infusion reactions - and preventing and managing oncology-related symptoms and adverse events - such as chemo-related symptoms and immune-related adverse events
• Supervisory Controls: The incumbent is responsible to the assigned rating and approving supervisors and is accountable to the Associate Director of Patient Care Services(ADPCS)
• Dimensions of Nursing Practice: Leads professional practice using the nursing process (assessment - diagnosis - outcome identification - planning - implementation - and evaluation) to improve evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes for an identified patient population and/or specialized areas within immediate practice setting
• Leadership: Communicates and collaborates as an effective leader of the interprofessional team - at the expert level - with improved evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes for the immediate practice setting
• Professional Development: Expands knowledge base and practice evaluation throughmentoring - precepting - and/or teaching to improve outcomes in the immediate practice setting
• Customer Services Requirements: The incumbent meets the needs of the Veteran and as appropriate the Veteran's family - caregiver and/or significant other - the Veteran's representative - visitors to VA facilities - all VA staff and other customers while supporting VA missions
• The incumbent consistently communicates and treats the Veteran and as appropriate the Veteran's family - caregiver and/or significant other - the Veteran representatives - visitors to VA facilities - all VA staff - and other customers in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• The incumbent provides the Veteran's family - caregiver and/or significant other - the Veteran's representative - visitors to VA facilities - all VA staff - and other customers with consistent information according to establish policies and procedures
• The incumbent handles conflict and problems in dealing with any consumer group appropriately and in a constructive manner
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Pay Scale: NG45 Work Schedule: Full Time (Rotational Shifts) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP : Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized