Job overview
Ready to take the next step in your nursing career? Join our multi-disciplinary team on Ward A701 – Short Stay Surgery, part of the Division of Surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
A701 is a fast-paced, 20-bed ward caring for acute surgical patients across ENT, Maxillofacial, GI, Hepatobiliary, Thoracic, and minor Orthopaedics. We manage both elective and emergency admissions, offering experience in pre/post-operative care, infection management, complex medical conditions, and end-of-life care.
We’re a diverse, supportive team committed to high-quality care. Whether you’re newly qualified or experienced, we offer tailored development:
* Newly Qualified Nurses : Benefit from our structured Preceptorship and clinical skills training.
* Experienced Nurses : Access learning opportunities to grow in leadership, discharge planning, and shift coordination.
You’ll be supported by our Practice Educator Facilitator team and have the chance to mentor students and apprentices.
This role is not suitable for international nurses requiring OSCE support
Main duties of the job
* Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to develop and evaluate patient care plans from admission to discharge.
* Take clinical responsibility for a defined group of patients, prioritising care based on changing needs over a 24-hour period.
* Delegate tasks appropriately to team members, including when acting as shift coordinator or link nurse.
* Escalate concerns to senior staff using recognised protocols.
* Deliver safe and effective pre- and post-operative care.
* Maintain accurate, timely documentation in line with Trust and NMC standards.
* Educate patients and carers, supporting informed decision-making and healthy lifestyle choices.
* Advocate for patients unable to express their wishes.
* Adhere to and promote Trust policies, procedures, and standards.
* Ensure a safe, clean environment and support infection prevention.
* Administer medications safely in accordance with Trust guidelines.
* Respond promptly to patient/carer concerns, using complaints procedures and PALs where appropriate.
* Record and report incidents/complaints, assisting in investigations as needed.
* Support staff and student education, contributing to a positive learning environment.
* Help set and maintain high standards of care, aligned with clinical governance priorities.
* Assist with general ward duties to support smooth operations.
Working for our organisation
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience of caring for sick patients in a variety of settings – this could be as a student
* Extensive post qualification Acute Experience within a hospital setting
Desirable criteria
* Interest in the clinical care
* Experience of taking charge
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* Good basic level of English language demonstrated through effective written and verbal communication skills
* Ability to solve problems and use initiative
* Ability to develop own clinical skills and a willingness to participate in continuing professional development
* Competency in medication administration including IV drug administration or willingness to undergo training
* Basic IT skills (e.g. Microsoft packages)
* Ability to take the lead, initiate and ensure appropriate action in response to the deteriorating patient
* Interpersonal skills – Calm - Supportive - Motivated - Professional
* Willingness to develop teaching skills
* Able to prioritise and meet deadlines
* Able to manage difficult situations
* Awareness of audit & research
* Self-motivated
* A team player
* Recognition of own limits
* Flexible working practices for 24 hour service
* General good health, Able to work on feet for long periods. Aware that the role can be stressful and emotional at times
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
* Current NMC Registration
Desirable criteria
* Training Qualification or equivalent experience
* Relevant post registration course
Aptitudes
Essential criteria
* Supportive
* Respectful
* Innovative
* Collaborative
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
· As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
· The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
· UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
· To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
· If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
· The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
· By applying for this post, you are agreeing to University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
· Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
IMPORTANT:
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.
When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.