Job Description

There's an energy and excitement here, a shared mission to improve the lives of others as well as our own. Nursing here isn't for everybody. Instead of seeing a handful of patients each day, your work may affect millions for years to come. Ready for a new path? Start doing your life's best work.(sm)

The primary role of the Home Infusion Nurse is to provide clinical care and education to home-based and AIS patients receiving a wide range of parenteral medications dispensed from Optum Infusion Pharmacy (the Company). The most common route of administration is intravenous, however medications may also be given via subcutaneous infusion or injection, intramuscular injection, or intraspinal (intrathecal and epidural) infusion. Service delivery takes place in patient homes, alternate care settings and in ambulatory infusion suites (AIS), where available. All infusion services and medication delivery is provided in accordance with Optum Infusion Pharmacy policies, procedures and therapy-specific protocols, and based on comprehensive orders received from a physician or licensed practitioner. The Home Infusion Nurse fills an integral role in the clinical operations of the organization, working collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team needed to prepare, deliver and seek reimbursement for the infusion therapy that is safely and effectively administered to each patient.

The primary role of the Start of Care Nurse will be to onboard new patients, complete starts of care and transition to the primary RN to take over the case. The SOC nurse will not carry a caseload.

The Start of Care Nurse will be assigned late day, evening or same-day starts. Work schedule would be flexible with most starts scheduled beginning at 12pm or 1pm in the afternoon. Nurse may work until 9-10pm.

Primary Responsibilities:
* Establish and maintain positive clinical rapport with patients and their families, working closely with them in the provision of infusion therapy, education related to self-care and self-administration, and clinical monitoring of patient response to therapy
* Assess patient appropriateness for home infusion therapy, including safety of the home environment, availability of caregiver support, and willingness of patient and/or caregivers to become as independent in therapy administration and monitoring of response to therapy as possible
* Obtain and document patient's medical history at the start of care and ongoing, particularly as related to the diagnosis being treated with the prescribed infusion therapy
* Complete all required clinical documentation thoroughly and timely, including nursing plans of care (POC), plans of treatment (POT)/485's, supplemental physician orders, visit notes, clinical summaries, medication profiles, discharge summaries and any updates provided to members of the patient's care team, as well as obtaining patient and/or caregiver signatures on relevant consents and required forms
* Participate in case conferences as needed to comprehensively plan patient care with the multi-disciplinary care team
* Provide comprehensive skilled care to patients of varying ages and medical conditions, as outlined in the plan of care and in accordance with physician orders and the plan of treatment.
* Establish, secure and maintain vascular access devices as prescribed, including (but not limited to) peripheral IV (PIV) placement, PICC and tunneled central venous catheter dressing changes, and implanted port access
* Administer medications as prescribed, performing clinical assessments in accordance with the Company's policies, procedures and protocols, which may include frequent vital sign monitoring, management of acute infusion reactions, monitoring of side effects, and procurement of laboratory specimens as well as reporting of patient status as it relates to other concomitant medical conditions
* Communicate observations of patient response to therapy and overall physical assessment/condition with members of the care team in a timely manner, which may include the nursing supervisor, dispensing pharmacist, registered dietitian, and licensed prescriber, among others
* Establish collaborative relationships with home health agencies (HHAs) delivering services on behalf of/or in conjunction with the Company, providing agency education and support as requested by the nursing supervisor
* Maintain a comprehensive knowledge base of infusion therapies administered in the home and ambulatory infusion center, utilizing Company policies, procedures and protocols in addition to all available training resources to ensure understanding of each therapy before initiating treatment
* Maintain current nursing licensure in all states in which patients are serviced, as required by the respective State Boards of Nursing and/or Department of Health
* Comply with all State and Federal regulations and laws, including employee health and safety protections mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), patient privacy and data security required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as all home infusion standards of practice
* Complete all training as required upon hire and annually per policy, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
* Serve as a professional representative of the Company when meeting with and/or providing education to external customers, payers and referral sources
* Assist in staff orientation and training, serving as a clinical educator and resource as requested
* Drive personal/rental vehicle (per travel policy) in the completion of job duties, including (but not limited to) travel to the Company office, patient homes, area hospitals, physician offices, home health agency offices, and the Company's Ambulatory Infusion Suite (AIS)
* May be required to work any day or shift as needed to accommodate patient schedules, including participation in the after-hours on-call schedule
* May be required to transport, lift or carry equipment and supplies into patient homes

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:
* Active and unrestricted licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state(s) of practice and others as requested
* One (1)+ years of experience working as an RN in a clinical care setting that contributes to proficiency in infusion therapy (such as medical surgical unit, emergency department, intensive care unit, post-anesthesia care unit, or similar setting)
* Willing and able to work with an interdisciplinary team of professionals including pharmacists and technicians, physicians and other licensed prescribers, registered dietitians, home health agencies (HHAs), sales representatives, and others as needed to provide comprehensive care and support of patients and caregivers
* Willing and able to work independently in home or alternate-site settings
* Willing and able to assume a flexible work schedule in meeting attendance, overtime, after-hours on-call, and other reliability requirements of the position
* Access to reliable transportation that will enable travel to customer and/or patient sites

Preferred Qualifications:
* Knowledge of the Infusion Nursing Society (INS) standards of practice, policies and procedures
* Experience administering infusion therapy in a home or alternate-site setting
* Knowledge of HIPAA patient privacy and data security requirements, OSHA employee protection regulations, and the ACHC's accreditation standards for home health and home infusion pharmacy (and other relevant accrediting organizations, as applicable)
* Proficient with Microsoft Office
* Effective teaching skills
* Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills
* Effective interpersonal communications, both written and verbal

Careers with Optum Infusion Pharmacy. If you choose a career with Optum Infusion Pharmacy, you'll join a team that is dedicated not only to delivering the latest in home infusion therapy, but also providing that care in a patient-first approach that offers better outcomes. As part of the Optum and UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, we strive to help our patients feel comfortable in their regimen so they can receive the treatment they need while maintaining the lifestyle they prefer. At Optum Infusion Pharmacy, you'll join a team that inspires you to do better every day, resulting in your life's best work.(sm)

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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

Job Keywords: RN, Registered Nurse, Infusion Nurse, Home Infusion, home health IV, IVIG, IV therapy, INS, ER, Oncology, ICU, Infusion Therapy, UHG, Optum, OptumRx, BriovaRx, Clifton Park, Ballston Spa, NY, New York