Oncology & Chemotherapy Nurse Educator (RN) - Northwest Georgia Oncology (Outpatient)

The Oncology Clinical Resource Nurse & Chemotherapy Educator serves as a dedicated clinical resource for oncology patients throughout their treatment journey. This position is responsible for providing comprehensive chemotherapy and immunotherapy education prior to treatment initiation, conducting ongoing symptom assessment and triage, managing treatment-related toxicities, coordinating supportive care interventions, and ensuring timely communication between patients and the oncology care team. The RN functions as a critical liaison between patients, physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), infusion services, pharmacy, and ancillary departments to promote patient safety, improve treatment adherence, enhance the patient experience, and reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospital admissions.

• Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy & Treatment Education: The Oncology Clinical Resource Nurse & Chemotherapy Educator is responsible for preparing patients and caregivers for treatment by providing comprehensive education prior to Day 1, Cycle 1 and reinforcing education throughout the continuum of care. Conduct individualized treatment education appointments for all new chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, biologic therapy, and supportive treatment starts. Review the patient's diagnosis, treatment goals, treatment schedule, and anticipated duration of therapy. Explain each medication included in the treatment regimen. Educate patients and caregivers regarding common and serious treatment-related side effects. Review symptom management strategies and supportive care measures to minimize treatment-related complications. Educate patients on infection prevention practices, including hand hygiene, avoiding sick contacts, and monitoring for signs of infection. Review all prescribed supportive medications, including antiemetics, bowel regimens, growth factor support, pain medications, and other treatment-related prescriptions. Verify patient understanding of medication schedules and administration instructions. Assess barriers to care including transportation, financial concerns, caregiver support, health literacy, and psychosocial needs. Coordinate referrals to social work, nutrition services, financial counseling, palliative care, pharmacy, and other supportive resources as appropriate. Provide and review disease-specific and treatment-specific educational materials. Utilize teach-back methodology to validate patient and caregiver understanding. Review after-hours and weekend access procedures and reinforce when patients should contact the oncology team. Educate patients on symptoms requiring immediate medical attention. Verify completion of all pretreatment requirements including laboratory testing, treatment consents, insurance authorization, and supportive medication prescriptions. Document all education provided within the electronic medical record.
• Oncology Triage & Symptom Management: The Oncology Clinical Resource Nurse & Chemotherapy Educator serves as the primary clinical contact for patients receiving active cancer treatment and provides ongoing assessment, symptom management, care coordination, and clinical decision-making between scheduled provider visits.
• Rapid Clinical Assessment & Risk Stratification: Respond to patient phone calls, patient portal messages, and clinical inquiries related to symptoms, treatment concerns, laboratory results, and medication questions. Conduct comprehensive nursing assessments utilizing established oncology triage protocols and clinical judgment. Perform rapid risk stratification to identify patients requiring urgent intervention. Recognize and appropriately escalate oncologic emergencies and treatment-related complications.
• Same-Day Clinical Decision Making: Determine the most appropriate level of care based on clinical assessment. Coordinate same-day or next-day appointments with physicians and APPs as clinically indicated. Facilitate urgent evaluations to prevent treatment delays and avoid unnecessary Emergency Department utilization. Communicate treatment recommendations and follow-up plans to patients and caregivers.
• Treatment Tolerance Monitoring: Monitor patients between visits for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and supportive treatment-related side effects. Assess treatment tolerance and patient response to therapy. Evaluate and manage common treatment-related symptoms. Reinforce symptom management education and treatment expectations throughout the course of care. Identify patients requiring provider evaluation, treatment modification, or supportive care interventions.
• Medication Management: Manage supportive care protocols under provider-approved standing orders and clinical guidelines.
• Review and process prescription refill requests. Assess medication adherence and patient understanding of prescribed therapies. Coordinate management of: Antiemetic regimens, Bowel management protocols, Hydration recommendations, Pain management support. Growth factor support medications. Collaborate with providers and pharmacy services regarding medication access, prior authorizations, and treatment-related medication concerns.
• Laboratory & Diagnostic Result Management: Review laboratory and diagnostic results according to provider direction and established workflows. Identify abnormal findings requiring intervention or escalation. Coordinate timely follow-up for: Electrolyte abnormalities, Critical laboratory values, Dehydration, Blood product support, Additional testing, Repeat laboratory monitoring. Arrange clinic or infusion center visits for supportive interventions such as: Intravenous hydration, Electrolyte replacement, Injections, Additional monitoring. Communicate laboratory results and care recommendations to patients in a timely manner.
• Provider Communication & Escalation: Serve as a liaison between patients, oncologists, APPs, infusion staff, pharmacy, and ancillary departments. Ensure timely communication of urgent clinical findings and patient concerns. Escalate patient issues requiring treatment modification, hospitalization, or specialist consultation. Collaborate with providers to develop and implement individualized care plans. Facilitate continuity of care across clinic, infusion, inpatient, and emergency care settings.
• Documentation & Care Coordination: Document all patient interactions, assessments, education, interventions, and follow-up plans in the electronic medical record. Maintain accurate and timely documentation that supports quality care and regulatory compliance. Track unresolved patient concerns and ensure appropriate follow-up is completed. Coordinate referrals to supportive services including social work, nutrition, palliative care, survivorship, and financial counseling.

Employee performs within the prescribed limits of Tanner Health's Ethics and Compliance program. Is responsible to detect, observe, and report compliance variances to their immediate supervisor, the Compliance Officer, or the Hotline.

Three years of related experience. Requires a working knowledge of standard practices and procedures Minimum of three (3) years of nursing experience required.

One year of related experience. Requires a working knowledge of standard practices and procedures Experience in ambulatory/hospital oncology, infusion services, nurse navigation, care coordination, or triage.

• Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) certification Preferred

GEORGIA REGISTERED NURSE LICENSE

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER (CPR)

Exercises no supervision, work direction, or instruction of other employees or students.

Work involves a variety of problems in a general field, some of which are complex. Involves some independent judgment to decide what to do to assemble facts, determine variations from standard procedures, or plan other action to be taken to meet general objectives.

Light physical effort - Much of work done while sitting but with more than normal standing or walking. Handles light materials intermittently. Office or laboratory work requiring more than normal visual effort.

Balancing - Rarely

Bending - Rarely

Carrying - Rarely

Climbing - Rarely

Color Vision - Frequently

Crawling - Rarely

Driving -- CDL class vehicles - N/A

Driving -- Class C vehicles - N/A

Driving -- Utility vehicles such as golf carts, Gators, ATV, riding lawnmowers, skid steer, aerial lift - N/A

Feeling (Touch) -- determining temperature, texture, by touching - Frequently

Handling -- seizing, holding, grasping - Frequently

Hazmat suit usage (PPE) - Frequently

Hearing - Frequently

Kneeling - Rarely

Lifting 25 to 60 lbs. - Rarely

Lifting over 60 lbs. - Rarely

Lifting up to 25 lbs. - Occasionally

Manual Dexterity -- picking, pinching with fingers etc. - Frequently

N95 Respirator usage (PPE) - Frequently

Pushing/Pulling -- 25 to 60 lbs. - Rarely

Pushing/Pulling -- over 60 lbs. - Rarely

Pushing/Pulling -- up to 25 lbs. - Occasionally

Reaching -- above shoulder - Occasionally

Reaching -- below shoulder - Occasionally

Running - in response to an emergency - Occasionally

Smelling - Frequently

Speaking - Frequently

Squatting - Rarely

Standing - Frequently

Tasting - N/A

Typing - Frequently

Visual - Frequently

Walking - Frequently

Performs tasks involving contact with blood, blood-contaminated body fluids, other body fluids, or sharps (needles). Yes

Directly works with Patients less than 12 months of age. No