(F) Apheresis Nurse Hematology and Oncology

Overview

Main campus, Winston Salem, NC 27157    
Monday to Friday, F 4days - 10 hour days, weekend/evenings/holidays call schedule.

JOB SUMMARY:

Under general supervision, participates in implementation of apheresis procedures according to unit specific policies/procedures; provides specialized nursing care; provides supervision to other licensed and unlicensed employees in this unit; provides evaluation, review, and revision of apheresis related protocols and budgets; coordinates plans for professional staff development within the unit, the Medical Center, and the Community.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing with two years applicable nursing experience in an acute care setting; or the equivalent of one year Oncology In-Service training.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION:

1. Current license as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of North Carolina.
2. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification (or equivalent) required.
3. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification required within one year of hire.
4. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications preferred.
5. Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) certification required prior to involvement in research protocols (required within one year of hire).
6. Apheresis Specialty Certification, Qualifications in Apheresis (QIA), within 2 years of qualifying to sit for the certification required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Patient care, procedure planning, and coordination
   1. Coordinating, facilitating, and scheduling of apheresis treatments for the outpatient clinic, research services, and the inpatient services.
   2. Triage the urgency of patient conditions and need of treatments.
   3. Assist with procedure consent, procedure orders, and venous access resources.
   4. Assist with evaluation of patient’s medication for compatibility and safety during the apheresis procedure.
   5. Be able to perform apheresis procedures in which training and competency have been completed including, but not limited to, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), red blood cell exchange (RBCX), white blood cell depletion (WBCD), cellular collection processes for therapeutic, research, and commercial (CAR-T) products, and extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), and any additional required process initiation or changes.
   6. Be able to evaluate the patient, the on-going procedure, deliver required electrolyte replacements, and monitor required laboratory results though out the procedure.
   7. Participate in clinical research protocols including indicated procedures, data collection, testing, evaluation, and analysis.
   8. Educate patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals to the clinical processes of apheresis.
   9. Complete detailed documentation including electronic medical record procedural flow charts, multiple production applications, and QA/QI data collection.
2. Venous Access
   1. Understand the use, care, and competency for venous accesses used in apheresis including high flow central venous devices, ports, and large bore peripheral IV.
   2. Recommend attending the CEAL training course for using the ultrasound to assess possibility of using peripheral IV access for apheresis procedures with goal of completing competency on 1) venous assessment, 2) ultrasound guided IV access placement.
3. Quality assurance activities including:
   1. Chart review, procedure and process data collection, risk identification, risk assessment, corrective action planning and implementation, and process review.
   2. Demonstrate knowledge and compliance with all departmental and organizational standard operating procedures, policies, practices, and regulations.
   3. Work with collaborative team on weekly TTP patient care conference for patient review and follow-up.
   4. Represents Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in the hospital and in the community by maintaining and promoting a positive organizational and professional image.
4. Equipment and Supply Management
   1. Maintain a working knowledge and competency for each type of apheresis procedural equipment including set up and take down, proper procedural use, cleaning, documentation, and maintenance and rotation schedule.
   2. Assist in processes of equipment qualification, validation, and on-going quality verification.
   3. Maintain the treatment and storage areas including routine procedural and weekly cleaning and stocking.
   4. Supply management, including ordering, receiving, obtaining certifications, documentation, and kit assembly.
   5. Assembles, restocks, and maintains supplies and equipment in a state of readiness to maintain a clean, safe, and efficient work environment.
5. Performs other responsibilities incidental to the work described herein.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Must be able to work independently and as a team with the apheresis nurses and other collaborating nurses and medical staff.
2. Must have Ability to prioritize work activities and achieve procedural goals in a systematic and timely manner.
3. Must be able to maintain take a high-volume weekly clinic schedule in addition to a rotating on-call service for after hours, weekends, and holidays.
4. Must maintain an active role in professional education, competency verification, unit activities, and leadership processes.
5. Complete necessary training and demonstrate competency to perform each job function.
   1. Able to intervene in apheresis related critical or emergent situations.
   2. Have basic knowledge of apheresis applicable disease processes including labs and therapeutic apheresis goals related to the disease.
   3. Maintain competencies on the Spectra Optia Blood Cell Separator and Therakos Cellex Photopheresis machines including ability to trouble shoot alarms.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

1. The apheresis unit maintains an outpatient clinic and provides for the therapeutic apheresis needs of the inpatient services.
2. Appropriate personal protective equipment is required as indicated by infection prevention and hospital protocols.
3. The working apheresis environment has potential exposure to blood and other body fluids.
4. There is the potential of being exposed to mild cleaning solutions in relation to cleaning and maintenance of equipment and the treatment space.