Clinical Nurse Specialist, Haematology

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

To act as a Key worker providing specialist advice, support and education to patients and their carers from initial diagnosis through treatment and follow-up care.

To be seen as a clinical expert and act as a resource to all members of the multi professional teams working within the Trust

Identify and assess complex clinical and non-clinical issues, implementing resolutions and monitoring/auditing outcomes.

Use of well-developed communication skills enabling maintenance of high quality service and ensuring timely management and resolution of unexpected events and situations.

Contribute to specialist forums and National initiatives.

To promote and demonstrate evidence-based practice and identify areas for nursing research.

Regularly manage expected and unexpected clinical events relating to the speciality requiring high but unpredictable levels of physical effort according to patient dependency/clinical need.

Support patients, carers and staff during difficult situations arising in the clinical area, e.g. breaking bad news or following an unexpected event.

General Duties:

Clinical / Professional:

To act as a point of contact for patients, their families and carers, by attending outpatient clinics, daycase units 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 area.

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

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.

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 assist in auditing of 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 ahigh standard of patient care

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

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

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

Contribute to the learning environment ensuring specialist training is appropriate for both pre and post registration learners and participate in the development of appropriate programmes

Assist in the development and delivery of a patient focused education and information giving strategy within the specialty

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 standards

Contribute to the monitoring and instigation of change to continuously provide a high quality service.

To assist in the analysis and implementation of results of audit to promote changes in practice on a local and regional basis.

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

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

Leadership / Management:

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.

Provide cover for the other team members as appropriate.

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

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

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

• Relevant experience at Band 5/6.
• Relevant specialty experience.
• Evidence of teaching experience.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable

• Experience of providing a specialist clinical service to haematology patients.
• Undertaken service development initiative.
• Undertaken practice based research / audit.

Qualifications

Essential

• First Level Registration
• Degree / working towards
• Post registration experience / qualification in Haematology / administration of chemotherapy
• Evidence of management experience/training

Desirable

• Post registration qualification in education/teaching
• Advanced communication skills training

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.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of specialist field and general knowledge of other medicines actions and usage.
• Able to interpret national guidelines, Trust policies, procedures and guidelines related to specialist area including clinical governance and risk management.
• Able to assist in development of policies and practice in response to need.
• Skills for teaching and supervising other health care professionals.
• Use of electronic systems required in providing patient care and documentation.
• Understanding of both the current and longer term issues facing Haematology services within the NHS.

Desirable

• 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).