Sister/Charge Nurse, A&E AGH

Job responsibilities

Key Duties

Professional/Clinical Leadership

Establish and maintain communication with patients and Relatives communicating sensitive, complex information where there may be a barrier to understanding, At times communicating in a highly emotive atmosphere, often in crisis situations. Dealing with anxious relatives and suddenly bereaved relatives.

Assess, develop, implement and evaluate programme of care. To actively participate in team nursing and the development of nursing responsibilities for individual patients. To be responsible for the organisation of nursing care within the department.To discuss with the Matron regarding development and changes both nursing and medical, which affect patients directly and indirectly.

Assess the health and wellbeing of people whose needs are frequently complex and where the ability to make judgements using highly specialist skills within a diverse caseload.

Initially assessing and instigating care for potentially unstable or critically ill patients without instruction from a medical practitioner.

Plan, deliver and evaluate programmes to address peoples health and wellbeing needs which are relatively stable and consistent with others in the caseload.

To take appropriate action to ensure the safety of patients, including the delegation of patient care to nurses with the appropriate level of skill at all times. To report any accidents/incidents to the Matron.

To actively participate in the nursing process in the best interest of the patient. To manage appropriate admissions and ensure a safe discharge.

To ensure that acceptable standards of patient care are maintained and, where necessary, instigate changes in agreement with Matron.

Lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practice, contribute to policies and procedures leading to implementation within the department.

Staff Development

Develop own knowledge and skills and contribute to the development of others.

Supervise the training of qualified and unqualified staff in accordance to their level of competence, and assist junior staff to develop clinical and managerial skills.

To Act as a mentor for junior staff, to participate in teaching for all learners in accordance with their objectives, working closely with the Clinical Facilitators. To provide support and supervision of learner nurses. To participate in teaching programmes.

Maintain a wide knowledge of current practice an issues within the speciality by reading relevant journals and attending study days where appropriate. Promoting the implementation and teaching of research based practice.

To attend mandatory training days

To organise and provide training programmes in accordance with the identified needs for the department.

Clinical Governance

Promote best practice in health, safety and security.

Contribute to quality improvement.

Promote peoples equality, diversity and rights.

Participate in personal and departmental clinical audit.

To ensure that nursing procedures are implemented and maintained in accordance with the policies of the Trust.

Management

Promote effective communication with ward/departmental staff and multidisciplinary teams.

To frequently manage the department without direct supervision in the absence of the senior person.

To allocate and re-allocate staff to provide effective, well balanced cover to meet the fluctuating and unpredictable requirements of the department and to ensure the presence of a suitably qualified nurse in all areas.

Contribute to the implementation of services.

Plan, allocate, assess and provide feedback to team members.

Maintain and support the efficient use of physical and/or financial resources.

To collect information for and participate in studies to determine patient dependency and quality assurance.

To take all measures to ensure safety and report all accidents/incidents to the Matron and to monitor the safe and effective use of all equipment including expensive and highly complex equipment.

Maintain accurate records at all times, ensuring appropriate reporting mechanisms are used.

Be conversant with Trust and other policies, procedures and mechanisms in place

To work in accordance with government initiatives to ensure targets set are achieved.

Professional

To maintain a professional attitude at all times developing the role of the nurse in the best interest of the patient and profession in accordance with Nursing & Midwifery Council.

To be aware of personal and professional development. To attend courses and conferences as recommended and approved by the Matron.

To be conversant and comply with the Trust policies and regulations and attend mandatory lectures as instructed.

Participate in research projects where appropriate, report findings within a multidisciplinary framework.

Implement research where appropriate.

Personnel

To participate in the recruitment and retention of nursing staff within the department.

Participate in devising induction programmes for newly appointed staff.

To assist the Matron in monitoring staff performance.

Participate in staff appraisal and writing of reports.

To assist in the maintenance of day-to-day discipline within the department.

To inform the Matron of staff failing to meet the required standard of performance, and taking appropriate action where required.

To counsel staff in relation to personnel and professional matters. To support staff after exposure to traumatic and stressful situations/circumstances.

Local Ward/Department Variation to Core Job Descriptions

The post holder will be designated to take charge of the shift in the absence of the Senior Sister/ Charge Nurse or Matron.

The post holder uses all the A&E Skills.

The post holder requests Xrays.

The post holder is responsible for training on issues surrounding consent and confidentiality.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse on sub part 1 or 2 of the professional register.
• First degree or willingness to undertake
• Evidence of continuing education
• NMC recognised Mentorship qualification.
• Specific speciality related qualification/equivalent experience

Desirable

• Teaching and Assessing
• Qualification
• Nurse prescribing or willingness to undertake
• Higher Degree

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 2 years experience of Emergency Department experience as a band 5.
• Can demonstrate a specific interest in area of work
• Experience of managing and supervising staff

Desirable

• Proven knowledge base/experience in speciality
• Experience of appraising staff

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Able to work in a team.
• Ability to think clearly under pressure
• Ability to provide leadership and support to junior members of the team.
• Able to deal with the emotional aspects of the post e.g. terminal illness, trauma, chronic/critical illness
• Able to deal with exposure to bereavement and challenging behaviour
• Enthusiastic & assertive.
• Demonstrates attention to detail.
• Motivated.
• Able to work under own initiative within boundaries of role

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

• Good organisational/time management skills
• Ability to record and deal with accurate facts, figures and information
• Able to interpret and adhere to Trust and departmental policies protocols, procedures and guidelines
• Effective communicator both written and verbal
• Ability to problem solve
• Ability to prioritise work
• Flexible to change in demands of service
• Willing to learn new skills
• Ability to identify personal development needs.
• Computer literate
• Ability to support unregistered staff/students
• Ability to identify and manage risk
• Competent to administer intravenous medication.
• NMC Code ,its application to practice and requirements of it for own practice and behaviour
• Knowledge of person centred care.
• Understands actions necessary to promote peoples equality, diversity & rights.
• To ensure actions contribute to quality.
• Knowledge of the ageing process and related mental & physical health problems.
• Understanding of Clinical Governance
• Knowledge of the individuals responsibility towards Health & Safety.
• Understanding of the organisations values and Nursing Strategy.

Desirable

• Understanding and experience of Quality Improvement projects.

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).