Griffin Hospital·Derby, Connecticut
Provide specialized clinical care and triage for breast surgery patients, including managing post-operative complications and assisting with in-office procedures. Coordinate care across multidisciplinary oncology and surgical pathways while providing emotional support and education to patients.
Griffin Health is an independent, not-for-profit healthcare system in Derby, Connecticut, dedicated to person-centered, high-quality care for over 130,000 residents. Anchored by Griffin Hospital—a 160-bed acute care community teaching hospital and Planetree International’s flagship facility—Griffin Health emphasizes kindness, respect, and active patient engagement.
Recognized nationally and internationally for clinical excellence, patient satisfaction, and social responsibility, Griffin has earned honors such as Newsweek’s “World’s Best Hospital” list for the last 5 consecutive years, LOWN Institute’s top state ranking for outcomes, and Becker’s “100 Best Community Hospitals” designation, as well as Fortune's Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For". The organization fosters a supportive, wellness-focused work environment with programs like Griffin AgeLess, empowering caregivers to thrive physically, emotionally, and professionally. Through innovation, community outreach, health education, and food-security initiatives, Griffin Health advances whole-person healing and strengthens the communities it serves.
Griffin’s suburban atmosphere offers an easy commute, away from congested cities with easy to find free parking. Employees can also take advantage of generous benefits and wellness programs that add distinct advantage in its employee compensation.
Breast Surgery is a highly specialized clinical environment that requires strong assessment skills, complex patient triage, and multidisciplinary coordination.
1. Advanced Clinical Assessment
RNs are licensed to perform full assessments and make independent clinical judgments, which is critical in determining urgency and escalating appropriately.
1. Triage & Clinical Decision-Making
1. In-Office Procedures
1. Coordination of High-Risk & Oncology Pathways
These tasks require the clinical knowledge and decision-making ability of an RN.
1. Education & Psychosocial Support
RNs are trained for therapeutic communication, complex teaching, and emotional support—skills.
1. Regulatory, Safety, & Compliance Requirements
RNs help maintain compliance due to their broader legal responsibilities and training.
Advanced clinical assessment of breast symptoms, post-op complications, drains, wounds, and infection.
High-level triage skills to determine urgency and escalate concerns appropriately.
Expertise in breast-specific procedures, including assisting with biopsies, managing drains, performing dressing changes, and recognizing seroma/hematoma.
Strong patient education abilities for pre-op, post-op, survivorship, and high-risk patients.
Therapeutic communication to support patients facing cancer diagnoses or complex emotional needs.
Care coordination across imaging, oncology, radiation, genetics, and plastic surgery.
Understanding of pathology and imaging reports to support timely follow-up and provider workflows.
Compliance and documentation proficiency aligned with surgical, oncology, and safety standards.
Provide specialized support to patients. The nurse plays a critical role in helping patients understand new diagnoses and communicates the results of imaging studies (mammograms, ultrasound, MRI) and pathology directly to patients. This role ensures timely patient education, emotional support, and continuity of care.
Must be a licensed Registered Nurse with strong clinical assessment and triage skills specific to breast health and oncology. Proficiency in surgical wound care, patient education, and adherence to Commission on Cancer guidelines is required.
Market context
Connecticut nursing openings typically reflect steady demand in hospitals, long-term care, and outpatient settings, especially for RNs who can step into patient care quickly. These roles are competitive because employers often look for an active Connecticut RN license, BLS certification, and preferred specialty credentials, while education requirements may favor a BSN. On this platform, job requirements and benefits are AI-summarized from the original job description, saving you research time; before applying, confirm your license status and match your certifications to the posting.
