Aortic Valve Nurse Specialist (Research and Service Development)
Go back East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 04 February 2026
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Cardiac Nurse Specialist, or an experienced cardiac nurse with a strong interest in valve disease and research, to join our Cardiology Care Division in a newly established Aortic Valve Nurse Specialist role.
This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in a nationally significant, externally funded research and service‑development project, evaluating the clinical and operational impact of a dedicated valve nurse across non‑surgical cardiac centres. The post holder will work closely with multidisciplinary teams across East Kent Trust and regional cardiac networks, acting as a key clinical coordinator for patients with aortic valve disease while contributing to research, pathway optimisation and service transformation.
We are looking for a nurse who is clinically credible, highly organised, and passionate about improving outcomes for patients with valve disease, and who is motivated by the opportunity to combine advanced clinical practice with research, audit and innovation. You will be supported by an experienced cardiology leadership team and will have the opportunity to help shape future models of care for valve patients within East Kent and beyond.
Main duties of the job
You will be an experienced Registered Nurse (NMC Registered) with substantial post‑registration experience in cardiology or acute cardiac care with excellent interpersonal communication skills and proven competence in enhanced or advanced assessment and research.
The post holder will be required to travel between Trust sites (William Harvey Hospital, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, and Kent & Canterbury Hospital) to meet the needs of the service. Appropriate travel arrangements or reasonable adjustments will be supported in line with Trust policy.
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day‑to‑day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.
Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for eligible Band 5 roles and above.
Job responsibilities
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in 'supporting documents'.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
* RGN with Current NMC registration.
* Significant post‑registration experience in cardiology or acute cardiac care.
* Evidence of continuing professional development within Cardiology.
* Excellent communication and decision‑making skills.
* Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
* Experience working within MDTs and coordinating complex pathways.
* Postgraduate qualification in cardiac nursing or advanced clinical assessment.
* Experience in leading nurse‑led clinics.
* Experience in audit, research or service evaluation.
Knowledge, skills and experience
* Proven experience and competence in cardiology nursing, including the assessment and management of patients with valvular issues.
* Competent IT skills, including use of electronic patient records and audit databases.
* Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team and coordinating care across acute and outpatient settings.
* Experience of assessing patients and developing specialised programmes of care.
* Experience interpreting advanced cardiac investigations (e.g. echocardiography, CTCA, cardiac stress testing, Cardiac MRI).
* Experience in education, teaching, or mentorship of students or junior staff.
Governance, Personal and Professional attributes
* Understanding of clinical governance, patient safety, and risk management frameworks.
* Experience of writing reports and presenting to teams or small groups.
* Commitment to maintaining accurate, timely and high‑quality documentation in line with NMC and Trust standards.
* Demonstrates critical thinking, clinical judgement and prioritisation under pressure.
* Involvement in research, data collection, or participation in audits.
* Evidence of involvement in staff wellbeing, inclusion, or patient‑experience initiatives.
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.
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
#J-18808-Ljbffr