RN - Hematology/Oncology Clinic

The Outpatient Hematology/Oncology Clinic of the Nemours Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Wilmington, DE provides comprehensive outpatient services to children and families with hematological and oncological diagnoses. We care for patients with ages as defined by Nemours Policy 1.6.1 (Patient Care Protocols). Services in the Outpatient Hematology/Oncology Clinic and Day Therapy area include, but are not limited to: diagnostic workups, physical exams by physicians, peripheral IV insertion, central line access and care, medication administration, chemotherapy administration, blood product administration, emergency care, lumbar punctures, pheresis services including ,  apheresis with the Apheresis team, pre-, pre- and post-bone marrow transplant patients, and the initiation of the admission process to the hospital.

The Hematology/Oncology Clinic and Day Therapy is staffed by Registered Nurses on weekdays. Hours of operation are as follows: 06:45am - 5pm, Mondays and Thursdays 8:30am -5pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Nursing shifts will vary. Late shifts are assigned to meet patient needs There may be consideration for experienced applicants to flex a full-time FTE between the inpatient 5 West inpatient hematology/oncology/BBMT unit and the outpatient Hematology Outpatient Clinic.

Nurses are assigned to various roles each day. Nurses work collaboratively with providers to care for each patient’s needs during the clinic visit. Nurses in the Hematology/Oncology Clinic assess, plan and initiate care for a variety of patients, while collaborating with the interdisciplinary team.

Principal Diagnoses include but are not limited to

• Anemia
• Thrombocytopenia
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Hemoglobinopathy
• Coagulopathy Disorders
• Neutropenia
• Spherocytosis/Elliptocytosis
• Hemolytic Disorders
• Leukemias
• Brain/CNS tumors
• Solid tumors
• Lymphomas
• Histiocytosis
• Neuroblastoma
• Neurofibromatosis
• Genetic blood disorders

The goal of the Hematology Oncology nursing team is to provide high-quality care to our patients and families. Nurses are responsible for coordinating patient care as part of an interdisciplinary team. Patient and family needs are assessed, interventions provided, and outcomes evaluated based on written departmental policies and procedures as well as multidisciplinary plans of care.

Nurses working in the Hematology Oncology Clinic are required to be competent in the care of a patient receiving chemotherapy and biotherapy, as well as in the care of the pre and post bone marrow transplant patient. Competency is established and maintained through internal and external educational processes, including hospital-based lectures, interdisciplinary educational forums and external conferences and seminars relevant to clinical practice. These educational forums are specific to patient care needs and identified learning needs of the outpatient nurses.

Such forums include journal article reviews, product in-services, disease-specific lectures, and patient-specific team meetings. All registered nurses in the Hematology Oncology Clinic must successfully complete the National APHON (Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses) Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider Course, the APHON BBMT Core Curriculum, and PALS certification. The team of nurses provides nursing care through the Synergy model for patient care.

This model provides a structure for matching the patient's needs with the nurse's competencies to guide assignments that lead to the best possible patient outcomes. One nurse is assigned each day to the Phone Triage position, answering calls from patients and families re: treatment, medications, and side effects. The phone triage nurse also provides education and anticipatory guidance to families over the phone.

Patient care is delivered in both the Hematology/Oncology Clinic and Infusion Center areas. Day Therapy is staffed with a minimum of two nurses at a time to provide for safe patient care delivery.

Requirements

Active registered nurse licensure for appropriate state (based upon location of practice site) required Current AHA Healthcare Provider (HCP) Certification required BSN required Specialty certification in pediatric hematology oncology nursing (CPON/CPHON) preferred PALS certification or obtain within 3-4 months of hire Previous experience in pediatric hematology oncology Required APHON Chemo/bio provider certification preferred #LI-MR1