JOB LISTINGS

LVN Telephone Triage Nurse

Employment: Clinical

Type: Full Time

Location: 2130 W Holcombe Blvd 10th Floor Houston, TX 77030, TX

"You can make a difference in the life of an oncology patient and find your career satisfaction by joining our team of healthcare professionals today."

About Oncology Consultants

Oncology Consultants has been a premier adult medical oncology & hematology practice in Houston, TX for over 40 years. Our healthcare team is committed to provide state of the art cancer treatment in a caring environment as we continue to expand our oncology services in the metropolitan region. 

About the Position

The term Telephone Triage Nurse describes the nurse whose educational preparation is at the generalist level. The nurse functions in an expanded role, but does not have a master’s or doctoral degree. The Telephone Triage Nurse is recognized in this practice, in accordance with the Oncology Nursing Society’s position, as a Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse who has a cancer-specific knowledge base and has demonstrated clinical expertise in oncology nursing practice. The TTN is responsible for providing telephone triage (sorting/prioritizing patients) to ensure prompt identification of patients with high-risk conditions. 

The goal of the TTN in oncology patient care is to promote the optimal function of the individual/family throughout the continuum of the disease experience.  This is achieved by integration of physiological and psychosocial components, utilizing the nursing process: 

 

Benefits:

• Medical, Vision
• Dental
• 401K
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Free Parking
• Holidays
• CE
• Competitive Salary

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Scope of Nursing Practice: 

The Telephone Triage Nurses performs independent, interdependent, and dependent nursing actions and demonstrates personal professional accountability.  The TTN is a Registered Professional Nurse  or Licensed Vocational Nurse who is expected to deliver and indirect patient care.  This care includes, but is not limited to: 

1. All actions which are defined as basic nursing 

2. Collaboration with other members of the health care team in order to coordinate nursing care, maintain continuity of health care 

3. Recognition of the uniqueness and wholeness of the individual and the importance of social relationships for the person living with cancer 

4. Advocates the individual’s freedom to  choose treatment and determine the direction of their lives throughout the disease process 

5. Participate in continuing education programs and pursue professional development 

6. Talk directly to patients on the telephone and then direct to (when appropriate) to see their physician at the office, Urgent Care or ER. 

7. Performs short evaluation of the patient situation to estimate severity of illness including learning about chief complaint and, as possible, obtaining vital sign and mental status information. 

8. Determines urgency of seeing the patients based on brief assessment and on familiarity with a patient’s condition and history. May use software which uses triage algorithms that closely imitate physician logic and thought patterns as guide. Confers with Physician as needed. 

9. Sends those with high-risk chief complaints such as chest pain, abdominal pain and or oncolytic emergencies to ER. 

10. Sets up appointments for those patients who do not need to go to ER but need to see an OC physician or Mid-level Provider. 

11. Handles routine information from patients, e.g. lab results, messages to physician and disability/FMLA paperwork and requests. 

Areas of Nursing Practice: 

The Telephone Triage Nurse will comply with the practice policies and procedures, as published and on site in each practice location.  The individual practitioner is responsible to review and implement updates as they are made available.  In the performance of clinical activities, the TTN is expected to be aware of and utilize: 

1. Telephone Triage for Oncology Nurses, Hickey, Newton, 2012 

Specific areas of nursing practice essential to optimal function with Oncology Consultants include: 

1. Patient Education:  Address knowledge deficits and skill deficits through individual and/or group instruction.  Areas of education include, but are not limited to: 

1. Cancer prevention and detection 

2. Disease process 

3. Chemotherapy 

4. Nutrition 

5. Community Resources 

6. Skills required for self-care behaviors 

2. Patient Assessment 

1. Psychosocial Status:  Address psycho-emotional deficits through counseling and/or referral 

1. Coping 

2. Grief 

2. Physiological Status:  Address resources and deficits relating to the physiological condition of the patient: 

1. Comfort 

2. Protective mechanisms 

3. Nutrition  

4. Mobility 

5. Ventilation 

6. Elimination 

7. Sexuality 

3. Oncology Nursing Interventions 

1. Function as liaison between patient / health care system / lay public 

4. Professional accountability is expected of each Professional Registered Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse, in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act of Texas and policies and procedures of the practice: 

1. Knowledge of laws governing the practice of nursing in Texas 

1. Identification as RN/LVN via ID badge during all patient contact 

2. Current licensure by the State Board of Nurse Examiners 

1. Reported to administration with each renewal period 

3. Documentation according to practice standards includes written notes and the utilization of computer technology appropriately and effectively 

Requirements:

• Current, active LVN license in Texas
• Oncology experience preferred

Oncology Consultants is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

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Apply today. Our short application process takes less than 5 minutes with your phone, tablet or computer.