Sister / Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Professional

1. At all times work in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct (2018) maintaining clinical competence.

2. Maintain the highest standard of patient care at all times, ensuring all care is in accordance with national and local Trust policies and procedures. Report discrepancies immediately as they are discovered.

3. Will utilise a variety of strategies to communicate effectively with patients and those involved in their care including unpredictable, difficult, aggressive and demanding individuals. The post holder must also communicate effectively with staff in the Trust, in other organisations and with the general public.

4. Respect patient confidentiality and in particular the confidentiality of electronically stored personal/manual data in line with the requirements of GDPR (general data protection regulations) 2018 and any future updates.

5. Adhere to the Local rules in relation to radiation protection to ensure safety of patients, self and others due to exposure of radiation in the working environment.

6. Ensure that all members of the team receive adequate support when working under pressure and when dealing with difficult or stressful situations.

7. Complete any necessary training for extended nursing practice, work towards performing cannulation and administration of first dose IV drugs.

8. Operate in a clinical environment with exposure to human body fluids, blood and tissues on a daily basis.

9. Ensure the implementation of safe working practices in accordance with the Trust policy, reporting discrepancies using the Adverse Incident reporting system DATIX, ensuring the Lead Nurse is informed in a timely manner.

10. Be aware of individual responsibilities and maintain a safe environment in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act. Identify and report immediately any untoward accidents, incident or potential hazard.

11. Provide leadership and support to all junior colleagues by ensuring the Trusts policies, protocols and procedures are followed.

12. Have the knowledge and understanding to assess a patients suitability for the intended imaging procedure e.g. blood results, anticoagulant therapy, allergies, consent etc.

13. Participate in the emergency, out of hours interventional radiology on call service.

14. Will be expected to contribute to a personal appraisal on an annual basis.

15. Maintain accurate nursing records and other written and electronic documentation in accordance with current practice and NMC guidelines.

16. Act as a clinical resource, providing clinical expertise, advice, support and training of techniques, skills and knowledge to members of the multi-disciplinary team.

17. Conform to Trust policies. Investigate, document and report any discrepancies immediately and take appropriate action.

18. To carry out any other duties appropriate to the band as may be delegated.

Managerial

1. Take charge of the department in the absence of the Lead Nurse/Sister.

2. Contribute to the efficient and cost effective use of equipment and supplies, ensuring stock levels are safe and reporting any deficits to the Lead Nurse/Sister.

3. Assist the Lead Nurse/Sister in organising and ensuring the most cost effective use of resources, including the deployment of staff.

4. Have an awareness of the Trusts business planning processes with appropriate involvement in operational and strategic planning issues.

5. Ensure regular attendance at departmental meetings.

6. Provide opportunities for patients and relatives to comment on the provision of service and report any issues to the nurse in charge.

7. Cooperate with the investigation process of complaints and adverse incidents. Assist the Lead Nurse/Sister in dealing with adverse/critical incidents within the nursing service and provide responses to complaints in their absence.

8. Participate and encourage others to participate in the Trust Quality Improvement Programmes.

9. Assist the Lead Nurse in monitoring the safe storage and administration of drugs according to the Trust policy.

10. Participate in clinical audit to monitor standards of care.

11. Contribute ideas for improving the planning of unit activities.

Education

1. Undertake and complete a competency based training package specific to the specialism of interventional radiology nursing.

2. Assist in the education and training of all students and contribute towards the assessment of their progress. Undertake the role of practice supervisor/assessor for students on placement.

3. Pursue personal study of professional developments and clinical nursing matters.

4. Maintain all annual mandatory training including SET, fire, immediate life support and moving and handling etc.

5. Contribute to the induction of newly appointed junior staff.

6. Develop IT skills as required in line with Trust developments.

7. Participate in patient education.

8. Maintain an interest in current trends and developments in nursing at a national and local level.

9. Be willing to embrace change and learn new techniques outside of current scope of practice that may be required for future service developments within given protocol and after appropriate training and assessment.

Departmental Specialist Responsibilities

1. Complete and maintain competency of the necessary Clinical Skills Training Packages relevant to the role as agreed by your Line Manager (e.g. Hysterosalpingograms/Vascular Sheath Removal/PICC Line Insertion/Hickman Line Insertion/Midline Insertion/Ultrasound Guided Drain Insertion for Abdominal Ascites).

2. Act as a resource to ward based teams on issues relating to interventional radiology and vascular access procedures.

3. Act as a role model in demonstrating advanced clinical competence and knowledge in all aspects of Interventional Radiology practice.

4. Support the nurse-led service in response to clinician referrals for patients requiring the insertion of complex IV access (PICC line/Midline/Hickman line) and/or Ultrasound guided drain Insertion/aspiration for Abdominal Ascites.

5. Contribute to the development of policies and evidence based practice in relation to extended roles at a local level.

6. Carry out regular audits and reviews of the nurse-led service and contribute to the production of outcomes in an annual report.

7. Contribute to an evidence based service through regular review of relevant literature and application of new evidence to practice as agreed by the multi-disciplinary team.

8. Have the knowledge and skills to closely monitor a patients condition pre/peri and post procedure. This includes ECG, pulse oximetry, external and internal arterial blood pressure and capillary blood glucose measurements.

9. Be highly competent in the role of scrub nurse (first assistant) to effectively assist the Radiologist/practitioner during procedures. Have an extensive knowledge of the procedures, the use of specialist equipment and techniques to compliment this role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience at senior staff nurse level and evidence of ward / department management experience
• Minimum of 3 years' experience as a Registered nurse in an acute NHS hospital environment.
• Proven experience in an interventional radiology or cardiology environment or other comparable acute setting.
• Expert knowledge about procedures and specialist equipment, along with skills required in Interventional Radiology.

Desirable

• Previous experience at band 6
• Evidence of personal development i.e. Link nurse role, area of special interest.
• Evidence of research based practice

Qualifications

Essential

• Adult Nurse/RGN with current NMC registration
• Able to demonstrate professional development post registration

Desirable

• Evidence of study at degree level
• Competent in clinical skills i.e. IV drug administration, venepuncture, cannulation, catheterisation, ECG
• Competent in advance practice skills i.e. PICC/midline insertion

Interpersonal Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate a caring manner with an understanding disposition.
• Ability to deal with clients who have barriers to communication (language, deafness, learning difficulties)
• Demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills with multi-disciplinary team/client/relatives

Desirable

• Demonstrate knowledge of dealing with conflict by supporting staff through mechanisms such as clinical supervision, appraisals

organisational Skills

Essential

• Ability to manage conflicting demands and to prioritise effectively
• Able to accommodate the demands of the post as required with good attendance, punctuality and the ability to work flexibly to support the service as required
• Able to commit to being part on an out of hours on call rota

Desirable

• Staff / roster management experience
• Evidence of change management and involvement in service development

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS FT

Address

Doncaster Royal Infirmary

Armthorpe Road

Doncaster

DN2 5LT

Employer's website

https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)