Overview
Nottingham therapeutic apheresis service is a rapidly growing service within clinical haematology at Nottingham City Hospital. It provides procedures such as stem cell harvesting, T‑Cell collection, plasma exchange, red‑blood‑cell exchange and therapeutic photopheresis for patients from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Staffordshire. The service works closely with our Haematology Daycase unit delivering chemotherapy, immunotherapy and blood product transfusions.
Responsibilities
* Complete managerial duties such as return to work discussions, sickness monitoring and rota completion.
* Support the implementation of both clinical and non‑clinical governance through audits and change management projects.
* Ensure high‑quality, evidence‑based care is offered to patients and, in collaboration with the ward manager, identify common issues affecting quality of care and devise clear action plans.
* Improve and maintain standards of essential nursing care using tools such as clinical audits.
* Provide all aspects of clinical care for patients and stem cell donors, acting as a source of clinical expertise.
* Be trained to perform a wide range of apheresis procedures including stem cell collections, red cell exchanges, plasma exchanges and extracorporeal photopheresis.
* Participate in our 24‑hour on‑call service in addition to contracted hours.
Clinical Responsibilities
* Take responsibility for the care of a caseload of patients requiring specialist apheresis procedures under the guidance of the Apheresis Lead Nurse.
* Be a highly competent, knowledgeable and visible practitioner in the speciality, ensuring provision of excellent, evidence‑based nursing care for patients and families.
* Take direct referrals in accordance with service guidelines, assess, treat and refer patients to other members of the clinical team as required.
* Work alongside all team members to identify new ways of working that ensure high quality of care.
* Act as a visible point of contact for patients, visitors, relatives and staff, providing information and support.
* Ensure pre‑collection patient/donor evaluation is complete for autologous and allogeneic stem cell collections.
* Develop skill in central venous catheter care, venepuncture, cannulation, intravenous drug administration, chemotherapy, venesection, apheresis and blood product administration in line with hospital guidelines.
* In conjunction with the MDT, ensure that patient care plans are regularly reviewed and evaluated, and that nursing records and documentation are maintained and current.
* Support patients and carers during the delivery of bad news, care of terminally ill patients and death.
Managerial Responsibilities
* Take charge and lead the apheresis unit in the absence of the Apheresis Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist.
* Take an active role in influencing service development through specific research and audit projects.
* Support the Apheresis Lead Nurse in maintaining JACIE and Human Tissue Authority accreditation for the apheresis department.
* Ensure compliance with pre‑established specifications/standards (JACIE/HTA) in collaboration with the transplant programme director and senior nurses.
* Maintain and update SOPs for all aspects of apheresis with the Haematology Quality Manager.
* Assist with the establishment, motivation and development of the team.
* Contribute to a positive team and working environment, promote flexible working, encourage initiative, and minimise interpersonal conflicts.
* Manage sickness and absence in collaboration with the unit manager.
* Maintain accurate incident reporting, investigate and resolve incident reports with appropriate action plans.
* Apply the Directorate and Trust clinical governance strategies to the clinical area.
* Support the Apheresis Lead Nurse with an annual audit plan to develop and implement new processes.
* Plan the apheresis rota, including on‑call rota, in conjunction with the unit manager.
* Improve nursing care standards using benchmarking and audit.
On‑call Service
You will be responsible for working autonomously and being accountable for prescribing emergency nursing care during out‑of‑hours/on‑call. This includes emergency apheresis procedures such as plasma exchange, red blood exchange and out‑of‑hours stem cell harvesting.
Audit and Research
As a member of the quality management team, review current standards of care delivery through audit projects, undertake audit and research projects where required, and encourage team members to be involved. Facilitate evidence‑based practice in all aspects of care delivery.
Professional Development
Take an active role in self‑development, review performance, identify personal development needs and take appropriate action to meet them. Lead the development of apheresis team objectives. Create a positive learning environment, encourage individual and shared learning, attend relevant training or apheresis study days, and support the apheresis manager in implementing change in response to clinical, organisational and national demands.
Working Conditions
* Work within unpleasant clinical conditions (e.g., exposure to body fluids).
* Concentrate in an intense and sometimes noisy environment.
* Coping with potentially violent and threatening situations.
* Fulfil Trust health and safety policies and procedures when performing risk‑associated procedures, including dealing with hazardous substances.
* Physically able to push an apheresis machine around the hospital when lone working on call.
EEO Statement
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.
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