Haematology Nurse Practitioner

Job responsibilities

General Duties:

Clinical / Professional:

To act as a point of contact for patients, their families and carers, by attending outpatient clinics the day case unit and inpatients on the ward providing follow up in the community as necessary

Accountable for own actions in accordance with Code of Professional Conduct. Will contribute towards corporate objectives, acting within local, Trust and statutory guidelines and policies at all times.

Act as a role model, demonstrating high standards of care and providing clinical leadership in the specialist areas.

To provide information, support, advice and specialist knowledge to patients, their families and carers at all stages of the patients care pathway as part of the development of individual patient care

To act as the patients advocate, especially when discussing treatment options and possible involvement in clinical trials and attendance at the MDT is required, so that patients can make an informed choice.

To establish and maintain effective communication with patients, their families and carers, and all members of the multi-disciplinary team including those from primary care and other outside agencies to ensure continuity of patient care.

Undertake holistic needs assessments and act on results of this accordingly, making specialist referrals where necessary

Utilise advanced knowledge and skills relating to haematology to provide specialist advice to other members of the MDT on the basis of patient assessment.

Receive referrals via a variety of sources and manage own caseload and clinical priorities according to agreed protocols and working practices

Within scope of practice and clinical competence request and / or undertake diagnostic procedures and clinical investigations related to plans of care

To provide follow-up support for patients within the community by facilitating an appropriate referral to primary care teams if required and ensuring patients are aware of services available.

Develop and utilise interventions deemed beneficial to patient care e.g. Telephone clinics, face to face nurse led clinics, aimed at improving the experience of haematological cancer, for patients and families.

To be aware of current trials being conducted within own specialty area and be able to inform patients about these. To be aware of new trials coming on line and the impact these trials will have on the Trust service provision.

To regularly audit the service so patient care is continuously improved and to ensure documentation and record keeping is comprehensively maintained

Undertake training to further develop clinical practice roles required by the service in order to provide a high standard of patient care

Provide and maintain expert knowledge and practice in procedures e.g. venepuncture, cannulation, central venous devices, relevant chemotherapy drugs and biological therapies

Undertake highly specialised technical and/or practical skills to ensure optimum patient management including; complex patient monitoring; chemotherapy reviews and assessments; equipment management and defined expanded clinical roles e.g. PICC line placement and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Educational:

Act as an expert educational resource for clinical staff, patients and carers by providing formal and informal education; promote and develop a positive learning environment

Lead and actively participate in the delivery of educational programmes for all grades of nursing, medical and allied health professional staff

Ensure that the learning environment and specialist training is appropriate for both pre and post registration learners and participate in the development of appropriate programmes

Work closely with the Sister/Charge Nurse, and Practice Development Teams within the area, ensuring that relevant clinical based teaching programmes are in place for all staff

Co-ordinate the development and delivery of a patient focused education and information giving strategy within the specialty

Develop the partnership between the Trust and academic staff at local Universities involved in pre-registration and post-registration nursing and medical programmes.

Assess own educational needs and take steps to keep up to date with clinical and nursing developments in line with requirements of the Nursing & Midwifery Council.

Clinical Governance:

To maintain and promote evidence based practice by participating in and disseminating research.

To ensure national and local policies, initiatives and standards are adhered to within the service.

Ensure that high standards of documentation are maintained with accurate, complete and up to date information regarding patient care are kept in accordance with Trust standardsBy utilising service improvement and a variety of other techniques to monitor and instigate change to continuously provide a high quality service.

To co-ordinate, analyse and implement results of audit to lead changes in practice on a local and regional basis.

To co-ordinate in the development, implementation and review of policies within the service and on a wider trust basis as appropriate.

To participate in investigations pertaining to untoward serious incidents/complaints.

Patient / Carer Support / Involvement:

Provide a seamless, high quality service for patients and carers from referral through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and review.

To ensure that patients and carers are aware a specialist contact is available for patients 24 hours a day to meet their needs whilst undergoing treatment.

To actively seek patients feedback on the service provided using a variety of techniques and to utilise this information to instigate change in service provision.

Elicit, interpret and implement local and national patient/user information and involvement initiatives.

Strategic / Service Development:

Develop the role and service according to changing patients needs, service requirements and evidence based practice.

To attend and contribute to relevant meetings internally and externally with primary groups representing Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, ensuring the Trusts views, influences developments and the local health economy views are represented.

Maintain working knowledge of local and national professional policy and strategy

To develop policies, guidelines and protocols to support the on-going development of the service in line with local and national developments.

Leadership / Management:

Provide highly visible and accessible professional leadership and demonstrate expert knowledge and standards of clinical practice

Lead and actively participate in service / developmental projects, quality initiatives and statutory accreditation processes

Develop the role according to patients changing needs and research findings, within the resources available.

Organise own work and manage own caseload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.

Demonstrate effective leadership skills in service development and lead on implementation of any changes to the service.

Provide cover for the other team members as appropriate.

Develop policies, protocols and clinical guidelines in support of the specialist service.

To act as a positive role model for colleagues within the area.

To provide professional leadership for the nurses within the service.

To demonstrate ability to review, negotiate and manage available resources to enhance practice.

Personal / Professional Responsibilities:

To maintain personal and professional development by attending appropriate training / educational opportunities

Practice in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and applicable legislation.

Maintain an accurate overview of current advances in knowledge and practice.

To work in accordance with local and national policies and procedures.

To maintain accurate records and record statistical information as required demonstrating service development.

To demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development in line with NMC revalidation requirements to maintain evidence base of current developments within the NHS.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience at Band 6 or above that includes:
• Evidence of advanced knowledge and understanding of Haematology/
• Chemotherapy.
• Experience of successfully supervising and contributing to the training of own professional team
• Formulation and monitoring of policies / guidelines
• Change management
• Project Management
• Evidence of teaching experience

Desirable

• Practicing prescriber
• Experience of providing a specialist clinical service to haematology patients
• undertaken service development initiative
• Undertaken practice-based research
• Published in professional journal or presented at conference/equivalent

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Capable of analysing highly complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• Able to work with initiative, independence and innovation.
• Able to triage, set priorities, meet deadlines and manage time effectively.
• Demonstrates team work and acts as a role model at all times
• Able to motivate and support junior members of the team
• Able to communicate information where there are barriers to understanding.
• Willingness to learn and progress personal and service development
• Maintains professional composure in the face of unpredictable workload and a potentially stressful environment

Qualifications

Essential

• First Level Registration
• Postgraduate clinical specialist knowledge / qualification in oncology / haematology
• Post registration experience / qualification in Haematology / administration of chemotherapy
• Evidence of management experience/training.

Desirable

• Registered Prescriber with the NMC or currently completing Independent Prescribing
• Post registration qualification in education/teaching
• Advanced communication skills training

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Able to demonstrate evidence of autonomous practice in the management of haematology patients.
• Able to interpret national guidelines within specialist area, and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines related to specialist area including clinical governance and risk management.
• Able to develop policies and practice in response to need
• Skills for teaching and supervising other health care professionals.
• Skills for using Microsoft Office to produce word-processed documents e.g. SOPs for specialist areas, patient care plans (MS Word), record research and audit data (MS Excel) and prepare and deliver training (MS PowerPoint).
• Up to date knowledge of specialist field and general knowledge of other medicines actions and usage.
• Understanding of both the current and longer term issues facing Haematology services within the NHS.

Desirable

• Competency in specific advanced clinical procedures such as bone marrow aspirates / PICC line placement
• Use of electronic systems, particularly prescribing systems within oncology / haematology

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).