Staff Nurse (XR05)

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

To provide and be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised programmes of care.

To deliver care without supervision.

To take charge of the ward or department as necessary in the absence of the Sister or Charge Nurse.

To participate in the in-service training, preceptor ship and mentorship of junior staff, post basic learners and students.

To take responsibility as the prime care provider for a group of patients.

To promote confidence in our commitment to provide excellent compassionate patient care.

To maintain personal development.

The jobholder will work within an environment caring for adult patients.

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.

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.

COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

- Matron

- All grades of nursing staff

- Allied Health Professionals

- Medical staff

- Facilities staff

- Patients, families and Carers

- Social Care

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

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).

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.

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.

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.

Experience

Essential

• Current issues in health care
• 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 preceptor ship.
• 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.

Desirable

• Awareness of speciality

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Caring, compassionate and motivated.
• Reliable and trustworthy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to act professionally at all times.
• Effective communication skills.
• Effective numeracy skills e.g. accurate drug calculations.
• Ability to organise self and others.
• Teaching and assessing skills.
• Team player.
• Effective time management skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Committed to working with people.
• Demonstrates a commitment to personal development.
• Compassionate, enthusiastic and motivated.
• Flexible and adaptable. Professional and patient focussed. Courageous.

Desirable

• Capable of lateral thinking

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Good written and verbal skills
• Literate and numerate.
• Able to provide and be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised programmes of care
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload
• Understanding of skills and knowledge required to develop team members
• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post
• Ability to travel in between Trust premises and patient homes for posts that involve community visits
• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Adult Nurse Level 1 or 2
• Has current registration on the appropriate part of the NMC register
• Willing to undergo training as necessary
• Ability to demonstrate and explain skills to other staff

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).