Dermatology Nurse Associate / Assistant Practitioner

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Support Tumour clinics to run smoothly and efficiently

• Collecting patients for procedures

• Checking PPID

• Explaining the procedure for Minor operations and ensuring the patient understands what is happening

• Ensure that the patient is assisted into the procedure suite and made comfortable, helping to alleviate anxiety

• Check the WHO checklist and assist the surgeon with the minor operation

• Assist the surgeon by ensuring equipment is available to the surgeon and biopsy samples are managed correctly

• Maintain patient comfort and dignity throughout procedure

• This may involve administration of analgesia or appropriate prescribed medications, depending on the qualifications of the successful candidate.

• Following completion of the procedure, application of a dressing to the surgical site

• Give wound care advice and post-procedure instructions, ensuring that patient understands what they need to do to care for their wound and that they have appropriate follow-up in place.

• Effectively communicate with relatives/carers as necessary/appropriate regarding relevant information

• Undertake skin prick testing which is an essential part of the allergy clinics.
• To monitor patients and manage any signs of anaphylaxis thereby contributing significantly to patient safety.
• Participate in Audits that are undertaken within the department
• supporting clinics to run smoothly and efficiently
• working within nurse-led clinics., such as Patch Testing, Allergy and Nurse Treatment clinic
• Supporting both medical and nursing students who may be on placement/education days in the department
• Depending upon the qualifications of the successful candidate tasks may include administration of topical/oral medications to patients in the department, this may include explanations and giving advice regarding these medications and ensuring the patient understands how to apply them to the skin.
• Ensure that patients have the correct investigations undertaken when needed in the department and signpost them to the appropriate departments if external to dermatology.

We work in a friendly team orientated environment and have good working relationships with multidisciplinary team members. Working hours will be 37.5 hours per week (full time) with no weekends, bank holidays or night duty, although occasionally there may be the opportunity to undertake weekend work as the service need arises. Shift patterns will be agreed upon start of appointment in order to meet service needs.

Values & Behaviours

Essential

• Able to demonstrate the ability to put patients at the heart of what you do and recognising different needs by encouraging a spirit of support, integrity, respect and teamwork.
• Shows pride in the quality of care they provide for patients and learning from successes and setbacks.
• Evidence of commitment to the Oxford University Hospitals vision and values

Education, training & qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse Associate on the NMC register and with evidence of the Nurse Associate qualification OR has a Foundation Degree in Health & Social Care (or relevant equivalent or higher qualification)
• Understand requirements for NMC revalidation and shows evidence of ongoing professional development through maintenance of NMC revalidation OR Able to identify own learning needs and ensure own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice development
• Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert support and guidance
• Willing to undertake self-development activities to improve clinical effectiveness.
• The Care Certificate
• Committed to professional development of self and others.
• Engage in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities

Clinical Practice

Essential

• Has up-to-date knowledge of essential nursing skills and significant experience of working as a Nursing Assistant.
• Evidence of working in multi-disciplinary teams and demonstrates awareness of the importance of effective teamwork.
• Able to deliver a high standard of care for patients and always striving to improve on what you do through change and innovation.
• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and well-being (Making Every Contact Count).
• Able to communicate effectively with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Appreciates and accepts individual team members bring a range of different skills and experience
• Able to work within a team and make a positive contribution being supportive and non-judgemental of others
• Deliver high quality compassionate care under the direction of a registered nurse or relevant healthcare professional with a focus on health and independence
• Able to undertake specific procedures involving physical skills commensurate with practice area.
• Is able to demonstrate understanding of evidence based practice and has accountability for own Practice.

Desirable

• Experience of working as a Nurse Associate OR an Assistant Practitioner.
• Proficient IT skills

Planning & Organisation

Essential

• Ability to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact.
• Evidence of time management skills and is able to prioritise and organise own workload in order to achieve a delegated task
• Demonstrates ability to maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with team leaders/ward manager/unit co-ordinator.
• Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information.
• Acts as a role model and are able to lead by example to ensure the Trust's values and behaviours are reinforced throughout their area of practice.
• Able to effectively and appropriately escalate concerns to reduce risk and promote patient safety.
• Appreciates the need for changes in the organisation or job requirements and makes a positive contribution to change management.
• Able to use initiative within the boundaries of the role
• Excellent communication skills.
• Adapts personal approach and operatives effectively within a variety of situations

Desirable

• Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other healthcare learners and new starters as required within the clinical setting

Improving Quality & Developing Practice

Essential

• Understands the importance of a systematic and thorough process of positive communication
• Demonstrates ability to keep up to date with professional issues that influence nursing practice relating to the area of clinical practice.
• Demonstrates understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the team and the organisation and how the role may contribute to service development OR Understands and adheres to professional codes that affect the AP role.
• Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within the code.
• Able to contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/protocols/guidelines relevant to area of practice.
• Demonstrates ability to question and challenge nursing practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.
• Promote health and safety maintaining best practice in health, safety and security

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrates energy, motivation and enthusiasm for work
• Courteous, respectful and helpful at all times.
• Being self-aware and able to accept constructive criticism and has insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate.
• Demonstrates a positive approach to problem solving and ability to use own initiate
• Resilient under pressure
• Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues
• Is sensitive to the impact and implications of decisions and activities on other professionals and the organisation

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).