Acute Oncology Nurse Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

The post holder will provide a specialist clinical role in facilitating high quality care for acutely ill oncology and haematology patients.

The post holder will share the management of the Trust-wide Acute Oncology Service (AOS) with the other AOS Nurse Practitioners in the team with individual key responsibilities on a rotational basis.

When clinically appropriate the post holder will undertake assessment and review of acute oncology / haematology patients within the Acute Trust.

The post holder will be expected to provide cover for the acute oncology service (nursing) on the Alexandra and Worcester Royal Hospital sites.

Co-ordinating and facilitating seamless delivery of care for acute oncology and haematology patients.

The post holder will share the coordination of AOS training to colleagues including the emergency departments/emergency medical teams ensuring compliance with quality surveillance measure.

The post holder will share the coordination of mentorship to the band 6 nurses providing the out of hours acute oncology service and signing off competencies.

Education and training of staff to ensure robust pathways of care.

As a member of the AOS team maintain compliance with the quality surveillance measures relevant to the service

Practice and service development encompassing audit, research, innovation and evaluation.

To work collaboratively, using specialist knowledge and skills, to help develop and deliver services across organisational, professional and geographical boundaries.

To work with the acute oncology team in developing referral criteria, pathways of care, protocols and guidelines to support the development of the service.

To support cancer of unknown primary (CUP) patients being admitted to the trust in an emergency.

Act as an advocate for the patient at all times, ensuring a person-centred approach in overseeing the patients treatment and investigation pathway, ensuring that it is seamless and well communicated to all parties, including the patients.

To act as an expert practitioner to provide direct, specialised care including interventions and advice to patients within the acute oncology service and multi-disciplinary speciality teams demonstrating advanced clinical skills and knowledge in the assessment of individual patients

Undertake telephone and face to face emergency assessment and instigate appropriate management of patients presenting acutely unwell to the Trust.

Responsible for escalating appropriate and timely consultation and / or referral when beyond the level of the post holder expertise / knowledge.

To make an autonomous assessment surrounding complex health concerns or situations to enable the initiation of nursing care and interventions to support the patients healthcare needs.

To utilise high level, advanced communication skills.

To use highly specialist nursing skills to assess the patients physical, emotional and social needs.

Consider the safeguarding needs of vulnerable patients e.g. those with cognitive impairment or disability.

To act as a patients advocate, ensuring the patient and carer are fully informed and understand the proposed care pathway and interventions therefore enabling patients to make informed decisions.

Ensuring that consent to treatment is established prior to any interventions when appropriate.

To act as an expert practitioner/coordinator for suspected Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression patients.

To provide a resource for staff, advising on national, local and Trust policy and procedures/guidelines, ensuring that clinical governance is embedded in practice.

As an Independent Nurse Prescriber commence medications where clinically appropriate within

scope of expertise based on a robust assessment of patients condition.

Monitor and evaluate the patients response to treatment and advise nursing and other healthcare professionals on the revised care strategies to improve effectiveness of care.

Manage caseload independently, prioritising appropriately and ensuring resources are used cost effectively.

To ensure all information given and interventions recommended are evidence based and up to date.

To refer to appropriate social or health care agencies as required.

To have contact with patients and their relatives, who may be highly distressed and anxious, and to use advanced communication skills to provide supportive listening and assess psychological needs, providing practical and emotional support.

Liaise with the nursing and allied health professionals in clinical departments as they move between care settings along the patient pathway e.g. during treatment or admission.

Ensure the maintenance of professional contemporaneous records at all times, document all actions and interventions in a clear and honest and timely manner in line with Trust policy.

Deal with concerns raised by patients and visitors in a proactive manner, review patient feedback results and update the units patient experience improvement plans, as needed.

Ensure next of kin are informed of patients treatment and admission in line with Trust Information Governance requirements and assist with the arrangements for relatives to see medical staff and others as required.

Demonstrate expert knowledge by being visible and accessible in the Clinical area and using clinical skills as required

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registration
• 5 years qualification

Desirable

• Qualified in phlebotomy, cannulation and chemotherapy SACT administration

Experience

Essential

• Advanced communication skills training
• Post basic Acute Oncology education

Desirable

• Health assessment qualification
• Non-medical prescribing

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)