Osteoporosis Specialist Nurse
The closing date is 07 October 2025
We have an exciting opportunity within our team.
The Osteoporosis Service is part of the Rheumatology department. The service is primarily nurse led, with oversight from two Rheumatology consultants and supported by secretarial staff.
Main duties of the job
* To provide diagnostic and management clinics for patients being referred to the Osteoporosis service
* To provide education, advice and support to patients and health professionals in the management of bone health.
* To assess bone density by use of a bone density scanner (DXA scan).
About us
Our Specialist Nurses carry out Osteoporosis Management clinics at Torbay Hospital and Paignton HWBC both in person and on the telephone. We have regular MDT meetings for discussion of complex patients.
DXA scans are also carried out at Paignton HWBC by Specialist Nurses who have been trained in this role.
Job responsibilities
* To work within the multidisciplinary Osteoporosis Team.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills to ensure that correspondence is of a high standard.
* Maintain effective communication with a range of people across all levels, both within and outside the organisation.
* To liaise and work collaboratively with colleagues within the department.
* Deliver information to patients in an appropriate format at a level understood by the patient.
* Ability to take a medical history and decide with the patient on the most appropriate course of action/treatment for their bone health in a clinic situation.
* Recognise when a condition is outside of the scope of the role/knowledge/experience and seek appropriate advice.
* To ensure DXA scans are acquired to a high standard to allow appropriate diagnostic reporting of bone density results.
* To analyse bone density examinations using manufacturer specific software or in-house analysis techniques according to departmental protocols or as instructed.
* Undertake independent Osteoporosis Management Clinics.
* Prioritise and adapt approach to situations as they arise.
* Undertake unsupervised and be accountable for, bone density scans of patients and maintain the highest possible standard of radiography.
* Able to exercise initiative and act with autonomy when dealing with issues within own specialist areas of competence.
* Be able to travel between Torbay Hospital and Paignton Health and Wellbeing Centre
* Assist patients onto and off the scanner bed.
* Regular need to move and position patients when performing bone density scans as a single operator.
Person Specification
* Registered Nurse Level 1
* Current NMC registration
* Non-medical prescriber (or willingness to undertake course)
* Ability to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively.
* Autonomous working.
* Excellent communication skills with patients, relatives and colleagues.
* Practical experience of DXA scanning or willing to undertake learning.
* Non-Medical Prescriber
* National Training Scheme for Bone Densitometry Certificate
* Understanding of Osteoporosis and treatments
* Experience in Osteoporosis Management or musculoskeletal related specialty.
* Experience of assessing patients in a clinic environment
* Knowledge of IRMER regulations
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.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
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