Junior Sister / Charge Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Managerial/Organisational

To contribute to the overall effective management of the department and to maintain a clean and safe working environment, eg, tidy working area, clean up spillages, liaise with zone co-ordinator and shift leader etc.

To undertake shifts in all areas of the department.

To manage a group of patients effectively and reporting to others as required on a shift basis.

To contribute to the effective use of resources and monitor the safe and economical use of all supplies and equipment, identifying problems and reporting to the A&E Shift Leader or be able to escalate to the appropriate service , eg, use appropriate equipment for purpose and minimise wastage.

To assess and report practical hazards and take any immediate and appropriate action.

To ensure that any incident, complaint or other undue occurrence is managed in accordance with departmental and Trust policy, eg complete DATIX form, statements in timely manner.

Demonstrate basic understanding of clinical governance and risk management and its application to work.

Triage and movement of patients to appropriate clinical areas.

Collaborate in the achievement of Government and Trust targets alongside local PFIS initiatives. Participate department meetings and quality improvement projects

Communication

To ensure all communication is timely, accurate, honest and effective and is managed with discretion.

Responsible for protecting all confidential information concerning patients obtained in the course of professional practice.

To report clearly and concisely, written, verbal and computer-entered relevant information regarding the care and well being of patients.

To establish and maintain effective communications with all members of the public, including challenging behaviour, learning disability and bereavement. Establish and maintain effective communication and collaborative working with the multi-disciplinary team including but not limited to the clinical site team, integrated discharge team and acute floor pharmacists.

To provide patients and carers with relevant written and verbal care advice.

To co-operate with all staff in the care, treatment and discharge of patients providing professional nursing advice to other members of the care team.

Leadership

Participate in the mentorship/practice assessing of students and new staff members.

Solely coordinate majors, being responsible for the team working within that area, maintaining high standards of care.

As required to shift lead in the Emergency Department

Solely coordinate resus , be accountable for own professional judgements, actions and omissions, ensuring safe transfer of patients arriving and leaving the clinical area.

Clinical

To ensure optimum standards of care for all patients attending the A&E Department.

Undertake assessment of individual patients through a system of prioritisation of need and continuous assessment

Undertake planning, implementation, evaluation and re-evaluation of individual programmes of care, taking into account the patients dignity, religious and cultural needs under supervision.

To develop into expanded roles of plastering, wound closure, suturing, venepuncture and ultrasound guided access, defibrillation and maintain competency in these roles

To ensure that the delivery of all nursing care complies with departmental, NMC and Trust policies, protocols, procedures and guidelines.

Be accountable for own professional judgements, actions and omissions.

Regularly handle heavy patients/objects adhering to Trust Moving and Handling Policy.

Ensure appropriate standards are met when being exposed to hazardous/biological substances.

Maintaining provider status in extended resus courses such as TILS, ALS, NIV.

Research

To promote and collaborate in the provision of an environment where patients, visitors and staff feel valued and supported.

To ensure that own nursing practice is based on current research findings and an informed professional knowledge base.

To contribute in the review of clinical standards and practices in the department. Initiating changes and improvements in collaboration with departmental Managers, colleagues and clinical audit.

Participate in accurate data collection and audit relating to current Government targets.

Participate in department trials.

Education

To contribute to an effective learning environment for the training and professional development of self and other staff and students.

To undertake specific training in all emergency procedure including major incident, cardiac arrest calls, medical emergency calls and fire emergencies so they are competent to carry out these roles.

Responsible for maintaining, updating and improving own skills, knowledge and competencies, identifying education needs with Team Leader through appraisal, ensuring that those needs are addressed and completed. Takes ownership for completion of level 2 ECA competencies.

Act as a practice assessor to help support and provide clinical education of Student Nurses and Health Care Assistants.

To have an understanding of appropriate health promotion and education for patients, carers and visitors. Being able to appropriately counsel patients when discharged on new medications.

Participate in in-house forums/training relating to emergency care

Ensure that own mandatory training is attended and updated as required.

Participate in staff appraisals as directed by the senior team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registered
• Post graduate degree or equivalent

Desirable

• Minor Injuries module / A&E Course

Training

Essential

• Immediate Life Support
• ECA competencies completed (or near completion within the next 3 months)
• Triage competent
• Practice Assessor or mentorship module completion

Desirable

• TILS
• ALS
• Edward Jenner Leadership award

Experience

Essential

• Significant emergency, acute or critical care experience

Desirable

• Evidence of link roles, involvement in a quality improvement project

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE

Employer's website

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