Oncology Charge Nurse

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Oncology Charge Nurse (RN) provides specialized oncology nursing care while serving as the on-shift clinical and operational leader for the infusion center. The role integrates direct patient care, advance review and coordination of chemotherapy and infusion treatments, staff support, patient flow, resource allocation, and timely escalation of clinical or operational concerns. Working collaboratively with nursing leadership, physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacy, scheduling, and other interdisciplinary partners, the Charge Nurse promotes safe, efficient, evidence-based, and patient-centered care across the continuum. Performs job duties in accordance with the mission, vision, values, policies, and regulatory standards.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide and coordinate safe, evidence-based nursing care for patients receiving oncology, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, transfusion, and other infusion therapies.
• Serve as the on-shift clinical resource and team leader, supporting staff with patient assessment, clinical decision-making, emergency response, and escalation of high-risk or complex situations.
• Coordinate daily patient flow, assignments, staffing coverage, chair utilization, and clinical resources in collaboration with nursing leadership.
• Delegate and oversee clinical activities based on patient needs, staff competency, scope of practice, and organizational policy.
• Review treatment charts and infusion schedules in advance to verify required laboratory results, signed medication orders, treatment parameters, prior authorization status, and medication availability.
• Evaluate laboratory values and clinical findings; promptly communicate potential dose adjustments, treatment delays, required interventions, or other concerns to providers, pharmacy, nursing staff, scheduling teams, and leadership.
• Monitor patients for treatment-related symptoms, adverse reactions, complications, and changes in condition; initiate appropriate nursing interventions and emergency response procedures.
• Educate patients and families regarding treatment plans, expected side effects, symptom management, recovery expectations, self-care, and changes to scheduled care.
• Conduct follow-up communication after a patient’s initial infusion, as assigned, to assess status, answer questions, and identify concerns requiring intervention.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant documentation of assessments, interventions, care coordination, patient education, and treatment outcomes in the electronic medical record.
• Support staff orientation, precepting, competency development, and adherence to clinical standards, infection prevention practices, hazardous drug precautions, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, incident review, workflow optimization, and other unit or organizational initiatives.
• Assist with proactive review of treatment charts, laboratory results, medication orders, authorization status, medication availability, and infusion schedules to identify and resolve issues before treatment.
• Coordinate with providers, nursing, pharmacy, leadership, and scheduling teams regarding required changes or interventions; communicate treatment updates to patients and follow up after their first infusion to address questions or concerns.