Staff Nurse

Job responsibilities

To provide and plan nursing care and support for patients and their families in the terminal stages of their illness, ensuring processes and procedures are initiated and followed over the 24 hour period.

JOB PURPOSE

Working alongside the Sister/Charge Nurse or senior nurse on duty, as a Staff Nurse you will be working within a multidisciplinary team you will be part of the team to provide holistic care to meet the needs of patients and those important to them. You will develop, implement and evaluate individual programs of care without direct supervision working in partnership with NVQ3 and health care assistants. You will provide guidance and support to the team to ensure high standards of patient care, and support the management of operational aspects for the patients under your care, liaising as appropriate. He/She will maintain high standards of professionalism as outlined in the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.

· Supporting the admission/ discharge of patients where appropriate

· Manage symptoms in collaboration with senior nursing and medical team

· Undertake Clinical interventions

· Medications management

· Advanced care planning

· Holistic care to include psychological, spiritual and emotional wellbeing for patients and families and those important to them

· Liaise with Multidisciplinary team

· Maintain high standards of quality and safety

· Ensure relevant updates for patient care are completed including but not exclusive to PA assessments, discharge medications, CQC form.

Team Management

· Take responsibility for the delegation of workload for your identified cohort of patients

· Lead the ward round (Where applicable)

· Undertake delegated duties such as medication rounds, admissions and discharges, review assessments

· Provide appropriate handover to clinical teams, ensuring documentation is updated documentation as appropriate

· Be responsible for ensuring care is updated and patient assessments revaluated within the specified time frames

· Act as a mentor and role model for other team members

· Highlight any areas of concern and support investigation as appropriate

Patient Centred Care

· Provide excellent customer care skills to ensure patients come first.

· Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical and personal care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.

· Recognise the patient’s right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality, showing due regard for the patient’s property. .

· Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient-orientated approach to the delivery of care over the 24 hour period

· Implement the “what matters to me” conversations with patients and families at the beginning of each shift

Clinical Care

• To assist in developing a caring, supportive and spiritual atmosphere for patients and relatives.
• To maintain professional and ethical standards and set a high standard of patient care.
• Utilise specialist skills in all aspects of palliative care and carry out or delegate care to members of the team, ensuring communication and collaborative approaches.
• To evaluate the total care of the patient and their family.
• To support Sister/Charge Nurse/ senior nurse in their role.
• Cover a 24 hour nursing rota when the need arises and for the professional development in the total care of patients requiring palliative care.
• Develop managerial and teaching skills under the supervision of senior nursing staff.
• Assist in ward management and determining nursing priorities under the direction of the Sister/Charge Nurse/ senior nurse.
• Supervise the work of Healthcare Assistants and volunteers and ensure that hospice policies are followed.
• Maintain a clean, safe and secure environment for patients, visitors and staff.
• Communicate information on patient care and related matters to Sister/Charge Nurse, Advanced Nurse practitioner and the Medical Team.
• Accept professional responsibility for the safe custody, administration and recording of medications in accordance with statutory requirements and established Hospice policy and procedures.
• Ensure correct use and due economy is made of equipment and resources. Be prepared to cope with incidents or emergency situations as they arise as delegated by the Senior Nurse on duty.

• Report any changes in conditions or situations to the Senior Nurse in charge.

· Be involved in quality assurance and collaborate with the Management Board in standard setting and audit of patient care.

· Develop communication skills both written and verbal to ensure accurate information is conveyed to other members of the team.

· Undertake a range of delegated clinical care duties to deliver agreed plans of care, acting on own initiative.

· Chaperone patients to and from home / hospital / hospice, following assessment by a registered nurse, to maintain patient safety.

· Care for the body after death and support family members / carers appropriately

Medications Management

· Administer medication in accordance with Hospice policy and procedure.

· Monitor the administration of medication via syringe drivers and undertake first line troubleshooting when problems occur

· Complete all relevant documentation appropriate to medication and administration including syringe driver monitoring sheet

Clinical

• Assessing the individual needs of the patient and the family and initiating and participating in the implementation of programmes of care to meet physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patients, carers and families.
• Evaluate and document nursing care continuously.
• Be involved in a multidisciplinary approach to patient care together with other health care professionals and the clergy who are involved in the care of the patient and family.
• Develop discharge-planning skills and complete relevant documentation.
• Assist the Medical Staff in patient and relative care, reporting changes in symptoms and needs as they occur.
• Develop clinical expertise in symptom control working in partnership with the Medical Team and within your professional competence, seeking support where required.
• Accept professional accountability for extension of own clinical practice.
• Participate in research projects and the development of specialist palliative care.
• Keep abreast of current nursing concepts and be prepared to adopt new methods of patient care as appropriate.
• Provide support and information and advice to patients, families and professional colleagues.

Learning

• Develop specialist knowledge and informal teaching skills in this field of nursing.
• Participate in staff induction acting as mentor where appropriate with new staff.
• Encourage a learning environment for student nurses and volunteers.
• Develop communication through attending advanced communication course.
• Develop accuracy skills when dealing with medication.

· Use opportunities to extend clinical and professional knowledge.

· Accept accountability for own clinical practice to continue personal development.

· Promote best practice in relation to Health and Safety.

· Ensure that all statutory regulations are adhered to and that NMC Guidelines are followed.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Committed to the vision, values and objectives of Trinity Hospice & Palliative Care ServicesPleasant warm personality with a kind and sympathetic attitude
• Positive attitude to change and flexible working practices
• Highly self -motivated and enthusiastic about the work of Trinity
• Good organisational skills

Qualifications

Essential

• First level RGN. Registered with NMC
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• ECDL or other basic IT competency qualification

Desirable

• Formal qualification in palliative care
• Attendance at communication skills course
• Teaching/mentoring qualification
• Degree level study or willing to work towards

Experience

Essential

• Interest in palliative care

Desirable

• 2 years post registration experience
• Knowledge of multidisciplinary working
• Awareness of end of life pathway tools

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Good communication skills both verbally and written
• Ability to work within codes of professional practice
• Ability to establish good working relationships and works well in a team of both paid and volunteer staff
• Good level of IT skills (minimum required ability to log in, e-mail, check calendars & use word documents)
• Able to physically carry out the duties of this role (see job description)
• Able to follow instruction and also use own initiative
• Willingness to learn new tasks, procedures or methods

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).