Job overview
Advanced practitioner with highly developed knowledge, skills and clinical expertise in diagnosis, management and treatment of Urological Cancer such as Haematuria, Bladder and Prostate. Providing support to hospital based clinical staff, and nursing colleagues, working collaboratively to improve the quality of care and health outcomes for all patients using the Uro-Oncology Service. Acting in a sensitive and compassionate way provide clinical advice and professional support to patients, carers and colleagues. Maintain and provide clinical excellence through the use of evidenced based practice, and participation in clinical audit and research.
This is a senior nursing role that leads the drive to improve the quality of patient care across the Uro-Oncology service. In conjunction with the Matron, Clinical Lead, Unit Manager and Service Manager, the post holder will work across organisational boundaries to ensure appropriate services are in place and to deliver national and local strategic and operational service objective’s and quality standards.
They will be responsible for managing their own case load of patients ensuring a high quality, effective, safe and efficient service.
Scope & Range of Duties
* To work at an advanced level, practising autonomously and independently (as well as within a multi-disciplinary team), to deliver a Nurse-Led Assessment and Diagnostic service for Urological Cancers
* To act as facilitator, educator and role-model in delivering a comprehensive Urological Cancer service
* To work collaboratively with clinical and nursing colleagues, community teams and designated health and social care organisation in delivering appropriate patient centric treatment and care
* Working at an advanced level draw from a diverse range of experience and knowledge in making decisions around required interventions and treatment, including prescribing medication
* Promote a high standard of advanced specialist nursing by initiating and co-ordinating the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of the holistic needs of patients/ families through evidence-based practice following agreed policies, protocols and guidelines
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wavea national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.
This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.
We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.
Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.
Main Duties and responsibilities
* Work clinically to optimise health and wellbeing, demonstrating autonomous decision making
* Initiate and contribute towards a multi-disciplinary/ professional approach in the management of Haematuria, Bladder and Prostate Cancer
* To provide up-to-date information, support and advice to patients and their carers who have a diagnosis of Haematuria, Bladder and Prostate Cancer
* Sensitively handle difficult situations that may arise, involving patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
* Act as the patient’s key worker by forging close links across both primary and secondary pathways, co-ordinating seamless care delivery
* Utilise evidence-based information through a variety of communication media.
* Maintain adequate patient documentation to NMC requirements for all patients seen and advice given in any practice setting and contribute to clinical activity/data collection as required
* Work collaboratively with Consultant Urologists within the multidisciplinary team, and take the lead where appropriate, in identifying innovative ways to improve the service and patient care.
* Cross-cover with the existing urology nurse teams during periods of annual leave or sickness
* Act as the patient’s advocate where required
* Appropriately define boundaries in practice.
* Work autonomously to provide evidence-based, comprehensive, advanced assessment, treatments and management of patients with highly complex needs, and to be able to instigate care pathways
* Work autonomously in undertaking relevant diagnostic procedures such as Cystoscopy and Prostate Biopsy, organising relevant radiological investigations and blood screening
* Providing specialist care and exercising professional and clinical leadership skills to promote best practice
* Work collegiately with the lead nurse and service manager to ensure the efficient and safe provision of care within the 2ww and cancer patient pathways.
* To provide reports on service delivery, patient outcomes and key performance indicators on a regular basis to the Surgical Triumvirate
* To work with and refer appropriately to other agencies to enable identified patients to be managed in a pro-active way, with the aim of improving the overall patient and care experience.
* To foster a culture that encourages continuous learning and develop skills in quality improvement
* To be a champion for the Haematuria, Bladder and Prostate Cancer service, and empower team members to enhance patient care delivery.
* Critically analyse research related to practice, and use findings to influence and change practice where applicable
* To use expert knowledge, advanced clinical skills and autonomous decision-making skills, in the assessment and treatment of patients with Haematuria, Bladder and Prostate Cancer
* To educate and empower patients and carers to identify early signs of changes in conditions, and provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to gain independence and make informed choices to safely manage their conditions
* To participate in working groups relevant to the service within and external to the Trust and to represent the Trust at relevant stakeholder meetings/ committees
* Participate in identified management meetings in conjunction with the lead nurse
* Participate in MDT meetings, as agreed by the service and lead nurse to ensure smooth transitions of care and treatment where required.
* Participates and consults on the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/ guidelines/ protocols relevant to specialist area
* Participates and consult upon the clinical governance process, including harm reviews, adverse incident reporting/ investigation and management of complaints, relevant to their area of practice and expertise
* Provide leadership and support for the nursing teams within the diagnostic and cancer pathways.
* Actively collaborate with clinical leads, lead nurse, service managers and the senior urology team to provide strategic development and vision for the future Urology services
* Active participation in change management at local and Network level, initiating innovative nursing directions for bladder and prostate cancer issues in general.
* To demonstrate robust clinical decision making, with an ability to set, monitor and improve standards of care
* Able to participate in Human resources management activities as requested for investigations, recruitment and staff management.
* In conjunction with the lead clinician, lead nurse and service manager, embrace national recommendations and standards for urological cancers, constantly striving to achieve these through updating Trust policies, trend analysis and new developments
* Act as patient advocate, ensuring ethical and legal issues are adhered to in all clinical practice
* In collaboration with other members of the MDT, develop and implement documentation that reflects the service standards of care and national cancer guidelines and standards
* Support the integration of theory and practice through formal and informal methods, including clinical educational opportunities
* Assess and identify the educational needs of patients and their carers, and through appropriate advanced communication skills, aim to meet these needs
* Uses their professional judgement in managing complex and unpredictable care events and captures the learning from these experiences to improve patient care and service delivery.
* Provides expert professional input to appropriate health improvement programmes to meet the local agenda in line with the national framework
* To take a lead in promoting and managing change to improve practice, co-ordinating existing resources and developing links, locally and nationally.
* To act as a role model, to promote consistently high standards of professional practice
* To share expert knowledge, to advise, and provide support to less experienced nurses
* Identifies own development needs in line with service requirements within personal development plan and proactively develops and improves own competence.
* Frequently critically appraises and synthesises the outcomes of relevant research and evaluations, and applies them to improve practice.
* Build a culture of audit and research in practice, in line with national research agendas and priorities.