Job summary
To ensure the provision of high quality specialist nursing care to patients under investigations for an Oesophagogastric cancer. The nurse will triage gastroenterology referrals for suspected Upper GI cancers, with symptoms of dysphagia, dyspepsia and iron deficiency anaemia. Then support these patients through investigations and diagnosis.
They will be responsible for working as an autonomous expert practitioner, making critical holistic clinical decisions through assessment, monitoring and planning. Facilitating timely investigations, coordinating care and providing information to enable patients to make informed choices.
They will work alongside the Iron Deficiency Anaemia Specialist Nurse offering clinical supervision and support.
Main duties of the job
As an Upper GI Triage CNS, you will have an expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills and clinical competencies for an expanded autonomous scope of practice within Gastroenterology.
Undertake Nurse-led, Consultant-supervised protocol driven triage of Direct to Test Upper Endoscopy referrals e.g. for patients with symptoms of dysphagia, dyspepsia and Iron Deficiency Anaemia.
Be responsible for taking a relevant and comprehensive patient history using tools such as the Edinburgh Dysphagia Score and Rockwood Frailty Score. Using protocols, clinical judgement and advanced practice skills you will decide on an appropriate treatment pathway for each individual patient.
Advise patients on the risk and benefits of each intervention and give advice on procedures e.g. reviewing anti-coagulation, etc.
Be responsible for ensuring diagnostic procedures have been requested and proactively avoid any potential to delay.
Proactively seek out results generated from investigations eg: endoscopy, CT, biopsies.
Review the results and decide on the most appropriate course of action e.g.: present patient to Upper GI MDT, discharge back to GP.
Be an advocate for the patient, keeping the patient/ relatives informed and sharing information in a way that is sensitive and in a way that can be understood.
Act as an expert resource for patients and professionals alike.
The role will also include direct clinical support and supervision of the IDA Nurse Specialist.
About us
About us
Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire University NHS FT, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust.
Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.
We are a progressive and forward looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care wed want for our family and friends.
More than 3,000 people work for the Trust they tell us its a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.
We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.
Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: "The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential."
Our values -Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right time.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Undertake Nurse-led, Consultant-supervised protocol driven triage of Direct to Test Upper Endoscopy Referrals e.g. for patients with symptoms of dysphagia, dyspepsia and iron deficiency anaemia.
Take a clear and concise history from patients, assessing their health and well-being.
Assess patients fitness and appropriateness for investigations e.g. Upper endoscopy, CT scan.
Assess and articulate risk vs benefit of investigations, communicate this in a way that is understandable to patients and carers
Using advanced patient assessment skills, autonomous and specialist knowledge create a plan of care that is appropriate for each individual patient. Be confident in decision making and be able to articulate decisions to other members of the MDT, if required.
Support the Trust in achieving compliance with Urgent Suspected Cancer (USC) and Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting time targets.
To use highly advanced communication skills in supporting patients throughout the diagnostic pathway; using advanced clinical assessment skills to ensure all relevant clinical information is available to the multi-disciplinary team.
To use specialist nursing knowledge to review and interpret all clinical investigatory results and determine next pathway stage, including further necessary diagnostic procedures, staging investigations discharge and referral back to GP, or referral to specialist services as dictated by treatment pathway and patients performance status
Present and advocate for patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, with a confident understanding of pathology, performance status etc. Actively contribute to discussion and planning of future patient care.
Demonstrate a higher level of practice through the provision of specialist nursing knowledge and expertise in the delivery of diagnostic pathways, including Upper GI suspected cancer but escalating as appropriate for supervision of complex caseloads
Provide a link between patients and health care professionals across primary, secondary and Tertiary care.
Facilitate, participate and monitor quality initiatives in line with local and national requirements or guidelines. To undertake local and national clinical audit.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Undertake Nurse-led, Consultant-supervised protocol driven triage of Direct to Test Upper Endoscopy Referrals e.g. for patients with symptoms of dysphagia, dyspepsia and iron deficiency anaemia.
Take a clear and concise history from patients, assessing their health and well-being.
Assess patients fitness and appropriateness for investigations e.g. Upper endoscopy, CT scan.
Assess and articulate risk vs benefit of investigations, communicate this in a way that is understandable to patients and carers
Using advanced patient assessment skills, autonomous and specialist knowledge create a plan of care that is appropriate for each individual patient. Be confident in decision making and be able to articulate decisions to other members of the MDT, if required.
Support the Trust in achieving compliance with Urgent Suspected Cancer (USC) and Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting time targets.
To use highly advanced communication skills in supporting patients throughout the diagnostic pathway; using advanced clinical assessment skills to ensure all relevant clinical information is available to the multi-disciplinary team.
To use specialist nursing knowledge to review and interpret all clinical investigatory results and determine next pathway stage, including further necessary diagnostic procedures, staging investigations discharge and referral back to GP, or referral to specialist services as dictated by treatment pathway and patients performance status
Present and advocate for patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, with a confident understanding of pathology, performance status etc. Actively contribute to discussion and planning of future patient care.
Demonstrate a higher level of practice through the provision of specialist nursing knowledge and expertise in the delivery of diagnostic pathways, including Upper GI suspected cancer but escalating as appropriate for supervision of complex caseloads
Provide a link between patients and health care professionals across primary, secondary and Tertiary care.
Facilitate, participate and monitor quality initiatives in line with local and national requirements or guidelines. To undertake local and national clinical audit.
Person Specification
Required criteria
Essential
- First Level Registered Nurse
- At least one years' experience at Band 6 within relevant speciality
Desirable
- Post Registration Qualification within speciality or equivalent and ability to link theory
Required
Essential
- Recognised Adult Health Assessment qualification or working towards
Desirable
- Experience of teaching and assessing in clinical area.
Required
Essential
- Experience within upper GI patient care or IDA
Desirable
- Knowledge of national and local issues in the field of Gastroenterology
Person Specification
Required criteria
Essential
- First Level Registered Nurse
- At least one years' experience at Band 6 within relevant speciality
Desirable
- Post Registration Qualification within speciality or equivalent and ability to link theory
Required
Essential
- Recognised Adult Health Assessment qualification or working towards
Desirable
- Experience of teaching and assessing in clinical area.
Required
Essential
- Experience within upper GI patient care or IDA
Desirable
- Knowledge of national and local issues in the field of Gastroenterology
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
