Medical-Surgical Telemetry Oncology RN
Tacoma, Washington
Saint Joseph Medical Center

Job Opportunity: MS/Tele Oncology RN - Travel Contract

Location: Tacoma, Washington
Specialty: Medical-Surgical / Telemetry Oncology (MedSurg Oncology)

Contract Details

• Length: 13 weeks
• Shift: 12-hour shifts, rotating between 07:00-19:30 and 19:00-07:30
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend (Nights: Friday, Saturday; Days: Saturday, Sunday)
• Holiday Requirement: Rotate with permanent staff
• Call/Standby: None
• Floating: Required within Med Surg/Tele service line; floats in rotation with permanent staff (union dictates floating)

Experience & Certification Requirements

• Years of Experience: Minimum 2 years in Oncology nursing (higher value from description)
• Certifications:

  • Active BLS required
  • Chemotherapy certification preferred (ONS provider card)
  • Washington State RN License required (pending license acceptable; temporary license takes ~4 weeks)
• Prior Travel Experience: Not explicitly required

Unit & Patient Population

• Unit Type: MedSurg Oncology with telemetry
• Beds: 28
• Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:4-5
• Patient Types: Oncology and general medical-surgical patients; includes hospice inpatient program
• Telemetry: Full telemetry monitoring; RNs responsible for reading and interpreting cardiac rhythms
• Common Diagnoses: Oncology-related conditions, general med-surg, hospice care

Skills & Responsibilities

• Must have oncology experience
• Ability to pass a dysrhythmia exam during onboarding
• RNs titrate drips such as Heparin and Cardizem; may see other cardiac drips
• Experience with central lines and ports (accessing, changing sterile dressings) required
• Nurses perform nebulizer treatments, breathing treatments, and suctioning of tracheostomies
• Work closely with respiratory therapy (RT manages CPAP/BiPAP)

Team & Support

• Charge nurse present on each shift (typically does not take patients)
• CNA support: 1 CNA per pod during day shifts; 2 CNAs at night for 28 beds
• Central monitoring unit with monitor techs

Orientation & Training

• Unit-specific orientation includes Epic training (1st shift Epic class; inpatient staff may test out)
• Orientation with preceptor for 1-2 days, maximum 2 days

Additional Requirements

• COVID-19 vaccination required
• Professional dress code: scrubs, no t-shirts, closed-toe shoes

This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for experienced oncology nurses comfortable with telemetry and med-surg patient care in a dynamic hospital setting.