Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for band 5 Staff Nurse within the Cardiovascular Directorate on Doulton Ward.
The Doulton ward team are dynamic and friendly, who are keen to help support and develop nurses interested in experiencing this exciting and changeable environment. If you are an enthusiastic, flexible and passionate cardiovascular surgery nurse then this would be the ideal opportunity for you.
Doulton ward takes pre and post cardiac and vascular surgery. There is strong emphasis on the development of the Enhanced Recovery (ERAS) pathway as part of the National guidelines. The ward consists of 25 inpatient beds caring for patients from Level 1 to Level 2 (ERAS).
The post holder may be required to work under pressure, be willing to learn and strive to provide exemplary care to service users and their relatives, demonstrate excellent communication skills and empower staff by being a patient advocate.
The post holder will work closely with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and be involved in local quality improvement projects .
The ward has the ability to cardiac monitor / telemetry monitor patients, and all ward staff are expected to be able to recognise and respond to emergency situations. The staff nurse will support the ward manager to motivate, develop, support and identify training needs for the ward team.
This post will involve internal rotation to night shifts.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible for assessment of care needs of patients, planning programmes of care, implementation and evaluation of these programmes without direct supervision. At times they will have management responsibility for being in-charge of the ward and supervising junior members of staff. The post holder will be a key member in relation to the development of practice on the ward. They will be working independently/autonomously and at times without direct supervision, accountable for their own professional actions. Ensuring the safety and well being of services users, and always working in a manner that promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person centred care principles.
Working for our organisation
Guys and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best known Guy’s hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and – as part of King’s Health Partners – we are one of England’s eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research’s biomedical research centres, established with King’s College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Duties
§Responsible for carrying out clinical practice within designated clinical areas, ensuring that high quality, current evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, implementation, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided from admission through to discharge.
§Will be responsible for the application of knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
§To act as advocate for patients within the area, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
§To ensure that patients’ receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
§Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and well being of the individuals.
§Will advise on the promotion of health and the prevention of illness.
§Recognise the significance of observations made, and use them to develop and initiate nursing assessments and devise a plan of care.
§Carry out those activities necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of a person’s nursing requirements.
§Will ensure that all patients will have a discharge plan that is safe and appropriate for their needs.
§Carry out nursing procedures and treatments, checking on and maintaining the highest possible standards.
§Work alongside the multi-disciplinary team to ascertain treatments and advise on nursing priorities.
§Take a clear and concise history from patients by assessing their health and well being and complete documentation ensuring that all entries are accurate and legible and that all information systems are maintained.
§Undertake prescribed physical observations for example (but not limited to): blood pressure, temperature, respiration, blood sugars, urinalysis, weight and height, and report exceptions appropriately.
§Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication including but not limited to: transfusion of blood and blood products.
Professional Responsibilities
§Is wholly accountable for his / her practice in line with the NMC code of professional conduct and takes every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve his / her knowledge and professional competence.
§Will act in accordance with Local, Hospital and Statutory Guidelines & Policies including Health and Safety initiatives.
§Will be familiar with the Health and Safety at Works Act, and be aware of its implications and ensure that local unit and departmental policies are followed.
§Will work in accordance with Corporate Objectives
§Will compile a personal & professional portfolio (in conjunction with the Performance management process and the compilation of a Personal Development Plan).
§Will maintain a high standard of care and give courteous reception to all patients and visitors.
§Will adopt a patient orientated approach to work
§Will practice in a cost effective and cost aware manner
§Will ensure that the Hospital’s policy is understood and carried out with regard to the care and custody of drugs/medications, especially with regard to those covered by the Control of Drugs Act.
§Will be familiar with the ward’s fire, manual handling and policies and ensure that all nurses in the ward are aware of the policies.
§Will be fully conversant with the trust major incident plan, and ensure that all nurses on the ward understand the procedure.
§Will establish a relationship with a clinical supervisor
§Take all possible precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of staff, service users, visitors and the public, by implementing all policies related to health, safety, security and risk.
Communication
§Will be responsible for the provision and receipt of complex, sensitive or contentious information related to patients, patient care, relatives, staff and other multidisciplinary colleagues.
§Provides highly specialised advice concerning the care or treatment of identified groups or categories of patients/clients
§Communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patient care.
§Will communicate with patients and relatives, making reports and liaising, as appropriate; with medical staff other members of the care team and management.
§Will give and receive day/night reports. Acting as team leader/member/co-coordinator as necessary.
§Report to the Doctor/Sister/Charge Nurse and members of the multidisciplinary team on patient’s conditions, both verbally and in writing as necessary.
§Liaise with inter-hospital departments/personnel
§Attend and participate in ward meetings and help promote new ideas and methods and assist in their implementation.
§Attend and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences to benefit patient care.
Education & Professional Development
§Act as a role model, giving guidance, counselling and support to unqualified staff and students.
§Actively contribute to the teaching programme within the ward.
§Act as mentor and introduce new staff members to their role within the team.
§Act as preceptor for newly qualified members of staff.
§Act as mentor/assessor to unqualified staff.
§Assist in producing written reports concerning the basic learner nurse in the clinical setting as required by the university.
§Take every opportunity to maintain and improve knowledge and competence, and take steps to keep up to date with clinical and nursing developments.
Local Area Variation to Core Job Description
§To complete competencies specific to the post
§This job description forms the basis of the roles duties. You should be aware that there might be other specific assigned tasks relevant to a particular area of work
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
1. Registered Nurse
2. Teaching qualification or relevant equivalent
3. Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
4. Specialist course relevant to area
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Previous experience as a registered nurse
6. Intravenous drug therapy trained and competent
7. Supervision of Junior staff
8. Experience of team working and working independently
Desirable criteria
9. Completion of preceptorship
10. Experience of working in the relevant speciality
11. Experience with ERAS Pathway
Skills
Essential criteria
12. IT skills and familiarity with Epic
13. Competent in basic life support
14. Demonstrates supervision of junior staff
15. Able to manage difficult situations
16. Excellent Verbal ,written and interpersonal communication skills
17. Able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care
18. Able to demonstrate effective team working
19. Demonstrates ability to prioritise workload/tasks
20. Up to date essential mandatory training
Desirable criteria
21. Immediate life support
22. CALS training
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.