Specialist Stroke Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assess, deliver and evaluate nursing care to patients with a suspected Stroke immediately following arrival within the trust. Although the focus of this post is on the hyper acute and acute phase of the stroke patient pathway the post holder may be asked to rotate to other areas.

To assess deliver and evaluate nursing care to patients referred to the TIA pathway.

To be a point of initial contact for patients accessing the specialist stroke and TIA service.

To support other clinical areas to develop systems to ensure people with strokes and TIAs are identified early within the patient pathway and are supported to access appropriate services promptly, including thrombolysis and urgent carotid surgery.

To identify patients for recruitment into clinical trials supported by the Yorkshire Stroke Research Network

Contribute to the education and development of other members of the stroke specialist team and other clinical teams as appropriate.

Raise awareness of the needs of stroke patients with other clinical teams

Liaise with external agencies in Calderdale and Huddersfield e.g. primary care, WYMAS and with other clinical colleagues within Calderdale and Huddersfield to develop and promote evidence based quality care.

To support the development and collection of robust data to inform patient care and service development.

Respond immediately to calls from YAS / A&E triage when an acute stroke or TIA patient is identified.

In the case of suspected stroke:-

Confirm the triage diagnosis / identify stroke mimics (15% - 30% cases)

Identify presence of inclusion / exclusion criteria for hyper-acute interventions e.g. thrombolysis,

Arrange immediate pathology investigations

Arrange urgent cranial CT scan

When appropriate mobilise acute stroke medical team

Rapidly identify appropriate bed on ASU

Provide or coordinate nursing input for interventions e.g. thrombolysis

Provide 1:1 care / observation as needed

Have responsibility for transfer from A&E to ASU

Lead and support the delivery of patient care within the hyper-acute stoke unit.

Support care delivery within the stoke unit and through to discharge home.

In the case of suspected TIA

Confirm triage diagnosis / identify TIA mimics

Assess using ABCD2 risk stratification

To contribute to stroke specialist nursing care throughout the stroke and TIA pathway.

To achieve engagement of all providers across the health and social care communities in order to promote a fully integrated stroke pathway.

To identify patients who might be suitable for inclusion in clinical trials supported by the Yorkshire Stroke Research Network.

To contribute to the patient discharge planning process.

To maintain professional registration and up to date skills and knowledge in stroke and TIA nursing care.

To work within the NMC code of conduct and relevant local, regional and national guidance and policy.

The post-holder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback. This post holder will also be expected to contribute to the development and implementation audits and investigations and their action plans to improve patient care.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING

Essential

• Level 1 Registered Nurse with NMC
• Significant clinical experience in the assessment of the acutely Ill patent/stroke patient
• Willingness to complete STARS advanced competencies and NIHSS within first month of employment
• ANTT training

Desirable

• Professional Qualification in a relevant speciality
• Stroke training and resources ( STARS ) CORE and advanced competencies
• NIHSS National Institute of Health Stroke Scale
• Care of the Acutely Ill Patient

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Essential

• Provide highly developed clinical skills
• The ability to recognise and act on a change in a patients condition
• Knowledge of National and local stroke strategy and stroke assurance framework
• Experience of translating evidence into practice and/or research/audit skills

Desirable

• Critical care experience of Patient Pathways and Case Management
• Experience of supervising and/or managing staff
• Experience of working within a self-managed team
• Experience of managing admission routes to a service.
• Experience of managing change
• Understanding of clinical trials/research trials
• Involvement in the audit cycle
• Involvement in the collection and use of patient feedback
• Proven competence in extended roles such as cannulation, ECG and venepuncture

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)

Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Experience of team working skills and team group facilitation
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Experience of providing supervision/mentoring of staff using leadership skills that promote independent thinking and action
• Ability to work collaboratively with team colleagues

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).

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

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Calderdale Royal Hospital

Halifax

HX3 0PW

Employer's website

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