Chemotherapy Nurse

Blmk Icb; Luton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is expanding its chemotherapy unit and has vacancies for Band 6 Chemotherapy Nurses in Bedfordshire. You will work with Oncology Consultants, Clinical Nurse Specialists and MDTs to deliver seamless care to cancer patients, relatives and carers.

Your role includes providing high standard nursing care, safely administering cytotoxic drugs, supporting patients through treatment, and contributing to audits and service improvements.

Qualifications

• RGN registration with NMC.
• Post-graduate study in Haematology/Oncology preferred.
• SACT accredited course or equivalent.
• BSC/MSC in a relevant field.

Responsibilities

• Provide high standard of care to cancer patients in the chemotherapy unit.
• Administer cytotoxic drugs and other therapies safely in a nurse-led setting.
• Collaborate with MDTs including Oncology Consultants and Clinical Nurse Specialists.
• Support patients and their carers throughout treatment and follow-up.
• Perform phlebotomy and cannulation; monitor and manage treatment toxicity.
• Contribute to clinical audits and service improvements.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Education

RGN

Post-graduate Haematology/Oncology

SACT accredited course

BSC/MSC

Mentorship/teaching

Job description

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Chemotherapy Nurse

The closing date is 29 October 2026

Due to recent expansion of the chemotherapy unit we have vacancies for Band 6 Chemotherapy Nurses.

The role will involve working with the multi-disciplinary teams, Oncology Consultants, and site specific Clinical Nurse Specialists to provide a seamless service for patients with cancer, their relatives and carers.

To provide a high standard of care to patients who attend the chemotherapy unit for treatment and other supportive therapies.

To ensure that cytotoxic drugs and other treatments are administered in a safe manner in a nurse-led setting. It is expected that the post holder will be responsible for their own decisions regarding care, with the support of senior nurses.

To ensure patients and their carers receive ongoing support throughout their treatment.

The post holder will be expected to work closely with the Clinical Nurse Specialists, the multi-disciplinary teams, Consultant Oncologists, and other appropriate professionals involved in the patient's care pathway.

Main duties of the job

To ensure the effective and efficient care and management of cancer patients.

To facilitate the smooth running of the treatment administration clinics on a daily basis.To assist with the implementation of standard setting, measuring outcomes and taking an active part in clinical audit.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults: All employees and volunteers working within the Trust have a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

Undertake telephone triage for chemotherapy patients and their carers, to ensure that potential treatment toxicities are treated appropriatelyand swiftly.

To work within a nurse-led environment, taking responsibility for assessment of the patients clinical condition and consequent clinical decisionmaking. Analysing problems, evaluating and implementing solutions.

To work as an independent non-medical prescriber within areas of work as required, taking responsibility for the clinical assessment of the patient, establishing a diagnosis and the clinical management, as well as responsibility for prescribing where necessary and the appropriateness of any prescription used. Independent prescribers will be responsible for prescribing a range of drugs within their competence in accordance with trust protocols.

Recognition of poor response/deteriorating performance status thereby arranging early medical review and / or hospital admission

To ensure the patients physical, social, and psychological needs are met and refer to appropriate services when necessary.

To ensure that nursing is of a high standard and in accordance with Trust policies, procedures and contracts. As a qualified chemotherapy nurse, the post holder is responsible for their own practice and that of the Unit, hence must be willing to comment on and contribute to any changes of Unit work procedures.

To ensure that cytotoxic drugs, blood transfusions and other supportive treatments are administered in a safe manner. Be aware of the safety implications of cytotoxic drugs and be able to work safely with an unpredictable workload.

To perform phlebotomy and cannulation; administration of cytotoxic drugs, blood transfusions and other supportive treatments. Liaise with hospital and community staff for follow-up care, providing those staff with specialist advice where necessary.

To recognise own limitations and know when it is appropriate and desirable to ask for assistance.

To provide evidence based clinical advice to patients and their carers. This includes telephone advice and deciding on whether patients need further medical advice in the community or admission to the hospital.

To support patients, their carers and staff as they cope with their diagnosis, recognising when there is a need to refer on for more specialist input. Provide a high level of interpersonal skills. To include cytotoxic, biological and investigational and new drug treatments

Ensure accurate doses have been prescribed

Order relevant investigations as per protocol.

Undertake phlebotomy as required

Insertion of peripheral vascular access devices

Maintenance of peripherally inserted / tunnelled central catheters

Ensure that all supportive pre-medication, hydration and medications have been prescribed, and are administered

Check that cumulative doses of drugs with maximum lifetime doses have not been exceeded

Ensure that the patient is monitored for hypersensitivity/allergic reactions and in that instance the appropriate action is instigated immediately.

Ensure the patient understands how and when to take oral cytotoxic agents and other supportive medication.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To manage the treatment clinics on a daily basis, ensuring effective use of all resources. This involves planning the patients care package appropriately, adjusting work plan according to the needs of unwell patients and ensuring data entry of clinic information on the hospital computer system.

To manage the unit in the absence of the manager, ensuring adequate staff cover is maintained.

To maintain confidentiality and privacy at all times.

To act as an advocate for patients and their carers and refer on as appropriate.

To be aware of and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Luton & Dunstable Hospital.

To be responsible for managing and ordering stores/supplies within practice area whilst being aware of budget constraints.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RGN
• Post graduation study/Haematology/Oncology course.
• SACT accredited course/Passport
• BSC/MSC
• Mentorship/teaching

Knowledge

• Knowledge of cancer and chemotherapy treatments. oUnderstanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times.
• Cytotoxic treatments and management of treatment side effects
• Ability to support and influence change
• Experience of audit and research
• Experience of audit and research
• Experience of teaching

Communication

• Advanced communication skills training
• Handling distressed patients and their carers
• Highly effective communication
• Counselling course

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust