Job responsibilities
Clinical:
1. To manage a clinical caseload
2. To maintain a cohesive team dynamic and be able to respond to and manage the demands of the various stakeholders.
3. To provide clinical advice and support for patients, carers and other healthcare professionals in the treatment and management of dermatological conditions and its complications.
4. To participate in the maintenance and development of local and national service initiatives to provide the highest standards of care in line with accepted best clinical practice and the aims and objectives of the Trust, the local Commissioners and the wider National Health Service.
5. To initiate and develop personalised care plans to ensure high quality care specific to dermatological conditions and facilitate the patients in self-management of their long-term condition, understanding of their potentially life-long diagnosis, long term management of their condition, medication, management of possible complications
6. If the postholder has a prescribing qualification this area may include prescribing following appropriate training and assessment.
7. To promote standards of care and practice as identified within Trust policies and local practice guidelines
8. To undertake clinical assessments of patients referred to the Service using a level of clinical knowledge and judgement including advising on appropriate management strategies.
9. To maintain accurate and appropriate professional standards of documentation and patient data.
10. To support the Trust and Primary Care professionals in implementing and maintaining the highest possible standards of care as indicated by National Guidance, Frameworks and Directives.
11. To actively engage in education and the development of training materials and strategies for the ongoing development of clinical staff within the Acute Trust and the Primary Care team.
12. To actively participate in the collection and collation of data for clinical audit and research in relation to the care of people with dermatology in hospital
Educational
1. To maintain and update evidence-based knowledge and skills
2. To identify, assess and meet the educational and training needs of patients and carers with a dermatological condition.
3. To deliver high quality education to clinical and support staff on an ad-hoc and formal basis as required.
4. Initiate, participate and deliver education and training to other healthcare professionals in the hospital to develop their skills in dermatology management.
5. Be involved in the provision of mentorship to student nurses and other healthcare students, including dietetics, podiatrists, doctors etc.
6. Act as a resource for all Trust staff, acting as a role model and disseminating clinical skills and knowledge.
Prescribing Role
1. To maintain up to date clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to the specialty
2. To consider all the available treatment options and recommend the most appropriate to the patient based on a full and comprehensive assessment of need
3. To work within accepted professional and organisational standards in line with professional codes of conduct and local policy.
4. To critically appraise and apply research-based and best practice evidence to support any prescribing decision.
5. To work with the local Medicines Management Team in optimising, where appropriate, drug utilisation and spending according to clinical need and individual patient safety / benefit.
6. To attend required in house Continuing Professional Development sessions specific to non-medical prescribing
Communication
- Promote and maintain effective communication with the patient, their carer(s) and outside agencies
- Use communication skills to convey highly complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers and other staff, overcoming any barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events
- Ensure that patient documentation is completed correctly, appropriately and in a timely manner
- Ensure patient confidentiality is maintained
- Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and colleagues
- Develop and maintain others awareness of their role within the speciality, the organisation and local networks and maintain mechanisms for contact and referral
- Ensure that appropriate information is disseminated within the speciality, the Trust and external agencies and forums.
- Develop and maintain partnership working with other practitioners, local and national bodies and forums
- Identify, develop and sustain mechanisms to support patient involvement and feedback
- Establish networks with other specialists at a local, national and international level, to exchange and enhance knowledge and expertise
- Communicate the vision and rationale of the service provided
Professional Issues
1. To comply with current NMC directives and Codes of Conduct
2. To ensure clinical practice is in line with the recognised nursing competencies for dermatology nursing at specialist nurse level
3. To participate in Trusts appraisal process
4. To be familiar with and comply with Trust Policies and Procedures
5. To maintain an appropriate level of professional and personal development
Managerial
1. To support and promote the effective use and utilisation of NHS resources
2. To develop and maintain specialist protocols and policies as requested by the Senior Nurse/Matron/Lead Nurse/Service Manager.
3. To monitor and evaluate current practice and the impact of both current and emerging practice on patient satisfaction and outcomes
4. Attendance at meetings relevant to role
Clinical Governance
1. To participate in the development of clinical standards
2. To always comply with all Trust risk management strategies
3. To maintain an appropriate standard of continuing professional development
4. To promote evidence based and cost-effective practice
