Staff Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role is to provide and be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised programmes of care. You will deliver care without supervision and take responsibility as the prime care provider for a group of patients and at all times promote confidence in our commitment to provide excellent compassionate patient care.

The role will involve taking charge of the ward or department as necessary in the absence of the Sister or Charge Nurse.

You will participate in the in-service training, preceptorship and mentorship of junior staff, post basic learners and students as well as maintaining your personal development.

The jobholder will work within an environment caring for adult patients within the Abdominal Medicine and Surgery Clinical Service Unit.

3. ORGANISATIONAL CHART

4. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical

Acts in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Conduct.

Communicate with patients and carers to ensure they have access to appropriate information.

Maintain and deliver compassionate patient focused care in accordance with LTHT guidelines, policies, values and behaviours.

Maintain a safe working environment.

Provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care for patients, ensuring documentation standards are upheld in accordance with NMC and LTHT guidelines, whether written or computerised.

Promote and maintain positive relationships between all staff involved in the care of patients.

Promote evidence based practice.

Participate in the audit and evaluation of clinical practice in the interests of promoting and improving quality care through action on findings.

Undertake duties on other wards or departments as and when required by service demands or patient need.

Act in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults at all times. Is familiar with and adheres to, the LTHT safeguarding policies.

Education and Training

Contribute to the promotion of a positive clinical learning environment.

Keep up to date with developments, advances and research in individualised patient care.

Participate in research and or education programmes relating to professional nursing issues and practice.

Complete mandatory training annually.

Participate in annual appraisal.

Participate in preceptorship and mentorship programmes

Participate in teaching, supervising and assessing of student nurses and other supervised staff, where allocated.

Undertake continuous professional and clinical development, constantly seeking opportunities to enhance skills.

Managerial

Demonstrate effective use of resources.

In the absence of the Sister or Charge Nurse take charge of the ward or department and co-ordinate ward or department activities.

Take responsibility for the prime care provider for a group of patients

When in charge of the ward takes responsibility for reporting, investigating and responding to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events.

As delegated and directed by the Senior Sister or Charge Nurse, participate in, investigating and responding to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events.

Raise concerns with regards to risk, danger, malpractice or wrong doing by following the LTHT Whistleblowing policy and supporting processes.

5. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

Additionally, the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

An understanding of research and evidence based practice.

An understanding of the organisation and working practices of the area.

An understanding of the process and philosophy of preceptorship.

An understanding of the training and development needs of junior staff and students.

Following a preceptorship programme, or orientation, a structured appraisal will identify further development needs in line with the clinical area, personal and CSU objectives.

Development opportunities will include:

Completion of a recognised teaching and mentorship qualification (e.g. Supporting Learners in Practice (SLIP).

Revision and expansion of professional knowledge base.

Revision and expansion of knowledge base with regards to speciality.

6. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT)

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.

WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition.

7. INFECTION CONTROL

The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

8. HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system

9. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

10. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

11. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Matron

All grades of nursing staff

Allied Health Professionals

Medical staff

Facilities staff

Patients, families and Carers

Social Care

12. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:

Frequent standing, sitting, walking, kneels and crouches to attend to patient needs. Responding to changes patient condition.

Patient Care (e.g. drug administration). Shift working.

Moving & handling of patients and equipment on a daily basis:

Patients - 10-120kg (with lifting aids). Equipment - medical equipment, specialised mattresses (weight 1-20kg).

ii) MENTAL EFFORT:

Continuous mental effort/concentration required in relation to responding to and meeting patients nursing care needs (e.g. for 8-12 hour shift).

Co-ordinating Ward or Department activities in absence of a Sister or Charge Nurse.

Responding to changing circumstances (e.g. changes in patient condition, prioritisation of workload).

Dealing with complex and changing care needs of patients within an acute hospital environment (includes communication with relatives/carers). Calculating drug doses. Robust verbal and written communication skills required at all times.

iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT:

Exposure to difficult situation including death and dying, distressed patients and relatives/carers.

Dealing with complex workload.

Dealing with staffing issues and or performance issues on shift basis.

iv) WORKING CONDITIONS:

Temperature - should be controlled, but may experience hot or cold work environment.

Smells - dealing with body fluids.

Violence & Aggression - may experience violence and aggression from patients and or relatives or carers.

Infection Control - exposure to patients with infections.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (RN Adult for adult clinical areas) or pending registration.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for post

Experience

Essential

• Working with a wide range of professionals in an MDT.

Desirable

• Experience within the specialty.

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

• Caring, compassionate & motivated Reliable and trustworthy
• Excellent interpersonal & communication skills
• Ability to act professionally at all times.
• Ability to organise self and others.
• Teaching and assessing skills
• Team player.
• Effective time management skills
• Able to provide and be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised programmes of care
• Good written and verbal skills
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload

Desirable

• Capable of lateral thinking

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

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Employer's website

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