Registered Nurse RN-Blood Transfusion Services

The BTS staff nurse is a registered nurse who is responsible for assuring competent, compassionate, and professional nursing care for unique and highly specialized patients in the BTS Patient Services Division. The BTS consists of the following sub-specialties: therapeutic apheresis, stem cell collections, transfusions, intravenous infusions, therapeutic phlebotomies, autologous whole blood collections and extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) treatments. The staff nurse performs all adult and pediatric therapeutic apheresis procedures up to and including stem cell collections in a safe and competent manner. The staff nurse performs all blood component transfusions and intravenous infusions, safely and competently. The staff nurse is responsible for the registration and screening of therapeutic phlebotomy and autologous whole blood donors. The staff nurse is responsible for the collection of WB units on these patients. The staff nurse is responsible for complete and accurate computer data entry of all blood components collected up to and including the stem cell collections. The staff nurse collaborates with the nurse manager and the BTS nursing staff to ensure the highest quality patient care. The staff nurse often progresses to the role of resource nurse in one of the sub-specialty areas. The staff nurse shares daily operations resource nursing responsibilities with her/his colleagues. In this role he/she will complete the daily nursing assignment and ensure that it is carried out ensuring optimum patient coverage and safe patient care. The nurses meet daily to assess the daily assignment to ensure safe, adequate and efficient daily operations. The BTS staff is composed of 5 RN’s and 1 LPN. The Practice Manager, the Practice Support staff and BTS nursing collaborate collegially to provide safe and efficient patient care. The staff nurse is required to perform (24/7) standby coverage for emergency therapeutic apheresis procedures on a rotating basis with his/her colleagues. The staff nurse is actively involved in the orientation of new staff. The staff nurse collaborates with the nurse manager to ensure adequate and safe staff scheduling. The staff nurse often contributes to the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs). The staff nurse assists the nurse manager to ensure that all staff are current in their CPR certification, annual Fire/Safety, Infection Control, Standard Precautions reviews, and relevant educational opportunities.

• Provide competent, compassionate nursing care representing the highest of nursing standards based on specific principles and the use of accepted nursing practice.
• Provides and maintains a calm and therapeutic environment for patients, the general public, the families of patients, and for co-workers.
• Articulates the BTS nursing role to the patients, the general public, and the families of patients.
• Identifies, facilitates, and evaluates the outcomes of nursing care for individual patients or groups of patients.
• Coordinates involvement of the patient, the family members and the health team members in the patient care being provided.
• Provides excellent patient teaching and discharge planning, as appropriate.
• Documents all relevant patient information in accordance with all Regulatory Standards.
• Communicates the plan of patient care and other pertinent information to/from other health team members.
• Participates in all Quality Assurance/Quality Control activities.
• Collaborates with all involved medical professionals.
• Manages, directs and monitors non-professional BTS personnel in creating and maintaining recognized standards.
• Teaches and directs all personnel for whom she/he is responsible.
• Participates in the orientation of all new and temporary staff members.
• Appropriately utilizes all available nursing resources to fulfill daily assignments and projects.
• Interprets hospital and departmental policies and procedures to nurses and other BTS health team members.
• Participates in daily operational activities necessary for a safe patient and staff environment.
• Utilizes resources efficiently to facilitate optimal donor care.
• Assists in the management of supplies and equipment.
• Requires occasional lifting of objects such as apheresis kits, anticoagulant solutions, etc.
• Provides input to the nurse manager regarding unit challenges, concerns, issues and needs.
• Participates in unit and departmental committees for formulation of BTS policies and procedures.
• Knows and adheres to safety precaution techniques for Universal Precautions per Regulatory Standards.
• Performs appropriate Quality Control and Preventative Maintenance procedures. Understands and practices Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Provides support to BTS Programs as directed by the nurse manager to include but not limited to:

Possess basic computer competency.

Has strong leadership skills.

Works well under pressure.

Adapt well to change(s).

Works well with staff of diverse educational and ethnic backgrounds.

Possess excellent inter-personal communication skills.

Possess excellent written communication skills.

Possess excellent customer service capabilities.

Has excellent materials management skills.

Able to lift objects weighing 25lbs or more.

Current valid Massachusetts’s licensure as a Registered Nurse.

CPR certified.

Bachelor’s degree in nursing Graduation must be from an accredited nursing program”,

Previous general medical – surgical nursing experience strongly preferred

Apheresis dialysis or IV therapy experience desirable

Critical Care Nursing skills preferred.

The response time from the receipt of the emergency apheresis notification to the time the BTS RN arrives in the Blood Transfusion Service is an hour or less.