Job overview
Working as a staff nurse on a children’s day unit involves providing high-quality nursing care to infants, children, and young people who attend hospital for investigations, treatments, or minor procedures without requiring an overnight stay. The role combines clinical skills with compassion, communication, and teamwork to ensure children and their families feel safe, supported, and informed throughout their visit.
A staff nurse is responsible for assessing patients, monitoring observations, administering medications, assisting with procedures, and supporting recovery and discharge planning. Nurses work closely with doctors, play specialists, healthcare assistants, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe and effective care tailored to each child’s individual needs. Building trusting relationships with children and their families is an essential part of the role, helping to reduce anxiety and encourage cooperation during treatment.
The environment is fast-paced and varied, requiring excellent organisational skills, adaptability, and the ability to prioritise care effectively. Staff nurses must also maintain accurate documentation, follow safeguarding procedures, and promote infection prevention standards. Overall, the role is rewarding and fulfilling, offering the opportunity to make a positive difference to children’s healthcare experiences and outcomes every day.
Main duties of the job
1. Monitor and record vital signs, observations, and patient progress accurately.
2. Administer medications, intravenous therapies, and treatments safely in line with hospital policies.
3. Prepare children and families for procedures, investigations, and discharge.
4. Provide emotional support and reassurance to children, parents, and carers throughout their visit.
5. Work collaboratively with doctors, healthcare assistants, play specialists, and multidisciplinary teams.
6. Maintain accurate patient documentation and electronic health records.
7. Recognise and respond promptly to any deterioration in a child’s condition.
8. Follow safeguarding, infection prevention, and health and safety procedures at all times.
9. Promote a child-centred approach to care while ensuring dignity, privacy, and wellbeing are maintained.
Working for our organisation
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Person specification
Skills, Abilites & Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. Good verbal and written communication skills and ability to negotiate
11. Ability to manage and prioritise own caseload with supervision
12. Ability to solve problems and use initiative
13. Ability to develop clinical skills
14. Willingness to undergo training (e.g. medications)
15. Basic IT skills
16. Flexible and approachable
17. Diplomatic approach with professionalism
18. Knowledge of the NMC code of conduct
19. Ability to maintain a safe clinical environment conducive to patient care
20. Ability to work rotating shifts
Desirable criteria
21. Willingness to develop teaching skill
22. Awareness of the NHSE guidance of clinical governance in order to continuously improve quality of care e.g. quality, safety and ward audit standards
23. Knowledge of care planning, preceptorship, reflection and clinical supervision
Experience
Essential criteria
24. Ability to understand the role of a registered nurse
25. Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
26. Awareness of current professional nursing issues
27. Demonstrates understanding of the importance of audit/quality
Desirable criteria
28. Post registration experience working in an acute hospital setting
Education, Qualification & Training
Essential criteria
29. Registered Nurse/Awaiting NMC PIN
Desirable criteria
30. Evidence of further continued professional development
31. Post qualification experience in relevant speciality
32. Hold / be working towards an NMC approved mentoring qualification
Special Circumstances
Desirable criteria
33. Maybe required to work in other departments if requested to do so
PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.
COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.
Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.
Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.
Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.
Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.
Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.
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