Registered Nurse - TMCH Cancer Center Orange Grove - Tucson, AZ

Registered Nurse - TMCH Cancer Center Orange Grove

Job Category Nursing

Schedule Full time

Shift 1 - Day Shift

SUMMARY

The Registered Nurse II - Radiation Oncology provides comprehensive nursing care to patients receiving ambulatory radiation oncology services throughout the continuum of cancer treatment. This role combines oncology nursing, patient education, symptom management, clinical triage, procedural care, and recovery services to ensure a safe and supportive patient experience. The RN collaborates closely with radiation oncologists, advanced practice providers, radiation therapists, nurse navigators, physicists, dosimetrists, and multidisciplinary care teams to coordinate individualized care plans and optimize patient outcomes.

This position supports both clinic and procedural workflows, including pre-procedure assessment, post-anesthesia recovery, moderate sedation monitoring, symptom management, patient education, and care coordination. Procedural, pre-operative, PACU, or critical care experience is preferred; however, candidates with strong nursing foundations and a desire to specialize in oncology are encouraged to apply.

WHO WE ARE

Our Radiation Oncology program is an ambulatory specialty practice dedicated to caring for patients throughout their cancer journey. We provide individualized, evidence-based care from initial consultation and treatment planning through active radiation therapy, survivorship, and palliative support.

Our nurses develop meaningful relationships with patients and families who are seen frequently throughout treatment. They serve as educators, advocates, coordinators, and clinical experts, helping patients navigate complex cancer care while delivering compassionate support during some of life's most challenging moments.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Oncology Nursing Care

• Performs comprehensive nursing assessments and develops individualized plans of care for patients receiving radiation therapy and related oncology services.
• Monitors patients for treatment-related side effects and complications including fatigue, skin reactions, mucositis, pain, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and other radiation-associated toxicities.
• Recognizes and escalates oncologic emergencies and acute changes in patient condition.
• Provides symptom management interventions and coordinates appropriate supportive care services.

Procedural and Recovery Nursing

• Conducts pre-procedure assessments, including review of medical history, medications, laboratory results, and patient readiness for treatment or intervention.
• Provides care for patients undergoing radiation oncology procedures, including simulation, brachytherapy, fiducial marker placement, SpaceOAR procedures, sedation-assisted treatments, and other department-specific interventions.
• Monitors patients receiving moderate sedation and assists providers during procedural care as appropriate.
• Performs post-anesthesia and post-procedural recovery assessments, monitoring for complications and readiness for discharge.
• Implements emergency response measures and intervenes appropriately during procedural or treatment-related complications.
• Maintains competency in ACLS protocols and emergency response procedures.

Patient Education and Care Coordination

• Educates patients and caregivers regarding radiation treatments, potential side effects, symptom management strategies, medication regimens, and follow-up care.
• Coordinates care with medical oncology, surgical oncology, primary care providers, imaging departments, infusion services, and supportive care teams.
• Triages patient phone calls, electronic messages, and urgent symptom concerns utilizing established protocols and nursing judgment.
• Facilitates referrals to nutrition services, social work, rehabilitation services, palliative care, survivorship programs, and community resources.

Quality and Safety

• Ensures compliance with radiation safety principles, infection prevention measures, and departmental policies.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and complete electronic medical record documentation.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives, accreditation activities, and departmental performance improvement projects.
• Serves as a resource and mentor to staff and assists with orientation and education of new personnel.

WHY NURSES CHOOSE RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Become an Oncology Specialist

Develop expertise in radiation oncology, symptom management, survivorship care, patient education, and cancer treatment coordination.

Structured Onboarding and Training

Whether experienced or new to oncology, nurses are supported through a specialty-focused orientation program that includes clinical mentorship, procedural training, and oncology-specific education.

Meaningful Patient Relationships

Unlike many acute care settings, Radiation Oncology nurses build relationships with patients throughout their treatment course, providing continuity of care and support during a critical time in their lives.

Advanced Procedural Practice

Participate in specialized oncology procedures, moderate sedation cases, recovery care, and emergency management in a highly collaborative environment.

Growing Cancer Program

Join a rapidly expanding oncology service line with opportunities for professional growth, specialty certification, leadership development, and participation in innovative cancer therapies and treatment approaches.

Coordinates patient care planning with other disciplines utilizing the principles of the nursing process and critical thinking skills in order to maintain patient safety and well-being. (Some positions might be assigned to critical care areas requiring specialized training.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure safe patient care.
• Writes or obtains initial nursing histories, assesses patients' conditions and develops individual care plans; maintains patient documentation.
• Receives and reviews preceding shift reports and floor nurse reports; makes complete rounds of all units, and notes patients' condition.
• Notifies appropriate physician regarding any unusual or unexpected events or problems requiring direct physician consultation.
• Works with other members of the interdisciplinary patient care team, implements and reinforces patient instructional needs with patient and family offering informational material and pointing out special areas of concern.
• Evaluates outcomes of patient care, consults with other specialists as needed and adjusts nursing care processes as necessary to ensure optimal patient care.
• Identifies and resolves workplace health and safety issues.
• P rovides appropriate, direct patient care utilizing appropriate aseptic techniques.
• May manage IV lines, ensure that sterile techniques are adhered to, and oversee patient movement and positioning to ensure that the patient is handled in a medically safe manner.
• May perform the administration of pharmacological vasodilator medications for the purpose of nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging; complies with examination competency as defined in the Imaging Services Practice Standards.
• Complies with policies, procedures, regulations, and standards and takes corrective action when violations occur.
• Orients, instructs, and educates assigned personnel.
• Behavioral Health RN: Assesses psychological needs of patient and families upon referral from nursing/medical personnel, external programs, and facilities. Provides discharge and aftercare planning as needed for a smooth transition from urgent care, inpatient, hospitalization, partial hospital program or intensive outpatient program. Represents psychiatric services to referral sources, community agencies, court services, social service agencies, and others as required.
• EP-RN Specialist : Assists physicians with procedures such as pacemaker, implantable defibrillator placement, angiograms, ablations, and other electrophysiology-based procedures; inserts cardiac catheters including central arterial/venous access catheters, performs catheter manipulation services. Operates and maintains all electrophysiology recording systems, stimulators and ablations systems, responsible for patient specimen testing, quality control and improvement.
• EP Coordinator: Oversees EP area and coordinates with Cardiac Cath Lab lead to better evaluate staffing and schedule needs, training required, materials management, and provides recommendations for efficiencies.
• Maternal / Child Float Pool: The Rincon location is an extension of the TMC labor and delivery program. Staffing expectations for the Maternal/Child float pool include coverage at both the Main TMC campus and the Rincon campus. Team members may be assigned to either location based on operational needs and patient care requirements.
• Adheres to and supports team members in exhibiting TMCH values of integrity, community, compassion, and dedication.
• Adheres to TMCH organizational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values, policies and standards.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE

• One (1) year of nursing experience in an acute care setting preferred. (Positions assigned to EP: require two (2) years of EP experience or demonstrated competency in all areas of EP Lab procedures).
• One (2) year of nursing experience preferred.
• Oncology, procedural, infusion, critical care, emergency department, perioperative, ambulatory surgery, PACU, pre-operative, interventional radiology, cath lab, or endoscopy experience preferred.
• Radiation Oncology experience preferred but not required.
• Candidates with strong clinical nursing backgrounds and a commitment to learning oncology care will be considered and trained.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: Current RN licensure permitting work in the State of Arizona and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required. Additional certification may be required per department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of direct patient care and critical care procedures and techniques, tools, and responses required to ensure optimal patient care.
• Knowledge of exam indicators, contraindications, and patient preparation.
• Skill in communicating in a clear and concise manner with staff involved in critical care, and physicians to ensure the proper care of patients.
• Skill in reading 12-lead EKG.
• Skill demonstrated in assigned disciplines such as EP, directly involved in patient care.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to listen and accurately interpret others’ communication or instructions to take appropriate action.
• Ability to speak and communicate effectively.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.