Job responsibilities
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
A
qualified cardiac sonographer with extensive experience of all aspects of
congenital heart disease related to the fetus, neonate, child and adult. The
post-holder will perform, analyse and interpret a wide range of highly
specialist and complex cardiac ultrasound investigations and generate factual
reports that are documented in patient clinical notes and/or on relevant
databases and directly used to influence patient management. These sources
are then used to aid audit and compilation of statistical information. He/she
will have a highly developed level of sensory skills and good hand to eye
co-ordination in order to immediately analyse and respond to complex
life-threatening physiological signs. A high level of manual dexterity, with
enhanced precision and timing skills, is required in to ensure the accurate
application of a range of diagnostic tools. Following interpretation of the
ultrasound findings the post-holder will use judgemental skills to make
instantaneous decisions about further patient care.
The
post-holder should be able to:
demonstrate specialist in-depth
knowledge and theory in the field of cardiac ultrasound.
prioritise and organise a clinical
caseload.
demonstrate commitment to
self-development and improving clinical practice and patient outcomes.
provide leadership and supervision
to sonographers and more junior grades in difficult situations such as very
busy periods and with patients requiring multiple examinations.
use knowledge and skills attained
through experience, training and CPD be actively involved in the training and
development of more junior members of staff.
to account for own professional
actions and work independently
decide if a referral for another
type of ultrasound examination (TOE, Stress, contrast study) is required to
support ultrasound findings.
use skills, based on experience, to
assess a patients condition and decide on an appropriate method to obtain an
ultrasound scan from a range of options.
plan and prioritise own patient
workload and that of junior sonographers when required.
assess and be involved in the
development and implement ultrasound procedures.
work within a team and autonomously
using his/her discretion to re-adjust plans as the clinical situation/needs
of the patient change.
use excellent communication skills,
both written and verbal to inform patients and relatives/carers including
children and those with learning and/or physical disabilities about
specialist cardiac investigations.
exercise initiative as an
autonomous practitioner, using his/her own discretion to re-adjust plans as
the clinical situation/need of the patient changes.
take responsibility and act in a
supervisory capacity.
demonstrate evidence of continuing
professional development
The
post holder will:
perform cardiac ultrasound
examinations unsupervised.
work as part of a team to ensure
effective communication and delivery of care.
lead a team in their speciality
field fully involving team members in achieving team goals.
prioritise workload depending on
the severity of a patient condition and the direct impact on their management
and organise sonographer cover appropriately.
motivate and develop others by
instilling confidence using encouragement and helpful, constructive feedback.
coach and provides advice to others
adopting a positive and encouraging style.
provide support and guidance to
other team members.
listen to, communicate with, value
and acknowledge contributions from others.
accept the need for change and will
be open to new ideas and approaches, initiating strategies in response to
change.
make logical sound, reasoned
decisions using relevant information.
promote the importance of service
quality and continuously look for ways of improving service quality.
commit to learning, seizing
opportunities to further personal development and orchestrate appropriate
development opportunities.
seek and welcome feedback from
others and actively learn from positive and negative experiences.
Clinical
be professionally and legally
accountable for all aspect of own work, including the management of patients
in your care.
take delegated responsibility from
the consultant sonographer, as required.
undertake a comprehensive cardiac
ultrasound assessment of patients, including complex studies and provide an
accurate, factual report of the findings following analysis and
interpretation of physiological data.
evaluate, prioritise and manage
clinical risk within own patient case load.
provide a diagnostic report on all
scans performed to the referring clinician to assist in patient management.
Consultation with peers, referring Consultants and Consultant Sonographer may
be necessary in some difficult cases.
supervise less experienced
sonographers when help and advice are required.
refer patients directly to a
cardiologist if acute pathology is detected at the time of scanning.
liaise with fellow healthcare
workers and referring clinicians to provide a high-quality imaging service to
patients.
maintain accurate patient records
by input of accurate information to reflect the service provided and meet
professional standards.
participate in the Ultrasound QA
program
ensure involvement in peer review
liaise with A+C staff in the
allocation of ultrasound appointments and emergency bookings.
be actively involved in audit and
any research projects.
be actively involved in the
training and assessment of Student Sonographers on clinical placement, always
providing direct supervision.
perform/facilitate ultrasound
investigations on a region-wide range patients including, acutely ill
paediatric patients, and those with a range of physical and learning
disabilities.
give highly specialist advice
during complex situations to all other members of the multi-disciplinary team
including physicians.
respect and empathise with patients
and relatives regarding highly sensitive information e.g. fetal abnormality.
carry out all aspects of clinical
work as approved by their line manager.
use own discretion in order to
initiate and implement change based on own experience and evidence-based
practice.
work as an autonomous practitioner
within established departmental policies and those recognised by
international organisations (e.g. BSe)
seek advice from more experienced
staff members when working outside own speciality when/if required.
communicate effectively, using a
range of verbal and non-verbal tools, with all members of the
multidisciplinary team to ensure the best possible care for patients
communicate information about
routine and complex cardiac investigations to patients and relatives/carers
including children and those with learning and/or physical disabilities.
report equipment faults in
accordance with departmental policy.
demonstrate personal duty of care
for safe and competent use of expensive and highly complex equipment and be
responsible for ensuring that others are fully trained in the safe use of
such equipment within their specialist area.
supervise junior and student staff.
Additional
duties
Sonographer
led transthoracic echocardiogram bubble studies with agitated saline
contrast.
(Those congenital sonographers
(unregistered practitioner URP) who have completed the appropriate training,
competency assessment and have been signed off as competent) to perform
peripheral venous cannulation, preparation and administration of agitated saline
(contrast) during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) bubble studies.
Further
information in the attached job description
