Job overview
To work with the multi-disciplinary teams, Oncology Consultants, and site specific Clinical Nurse Specialists to provide a seamless service for patients with cancer, their relatives and carers.
To provide a high standard of care to patients who attend the chemotherapy unit for treatment and other supportive therapies.
To ensure that cytotoxic drugs, blood transfusions and other treatments are administered in a safe manner in a nurse-led setting. It is expected that the post holder will be responsible for their own decisions regarding care, with the support of senior nurses.
To ensure patients and their carers receive ongoing support throughout their treatment.
The post holder will be expected to work closely with the Clinical Nurse Specialists, the multi-disciplinary teams, Consultant Oncologists, and other appropriate professionals involved in the patient’s care pathway.
Main duties of the job
To ensure the effective and efficient care and management of cancer patients.
To facilitate the smooth running of the treatment administration clinics on a daily basis.
To assist with the implementation of standard setting, measuring outcomes and taking an active part in clinical audit.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults: All employees and volunteers working within the Trust have a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
Undertake telephone triage for chemotherapy patients and their carers, to ensure that potential treatment toxicities are treated appropriately and swiftly.
To work within a nurse-led environment, taking responsibility for assessment of the patient’s clinical condition and consequent clinical decision–making. Analysing problems, evaluating and implementing solutions.
To work as an independent non-medical prescriber within areas of work as required, taking responsibility for the clinical assessment of the patient, establishing a diagnosis and the clinical management, as well as responsibility for prescribing where necessary and the appropriateness of any prescription used. Independent prescribers will be responsible for prescribing a range of drugs within their competence in accordance with trust protocols.
Recognition of poor response/deteriorating performance status thereby arranging early medical review and / or hospital admission
To ensure the patient’s physical, social, and psychological needs are met and refer to appropriate services when necessary.
To ensure that nursing is of a high standard and in accordance with Trust policies, procedures and contracts. As a qualified chemotherapy nurse, the post holder is responsible for their own practice and that of the Unit, hence must be willing to comment on and contribute to any changes of Unit work procedures.
To ensure that cytotoxic drugs, blood transfusions and other supportive treatments are administered in a safe manner. Be aware of the safety implications of cytotoxic drugs and be able to work safely with an unpredictable workload.
To perform phlebotomy and cannulation; administration of cytotoxic drugs, blood transfusions and other supportive treatments. Liaise with hospital and community staff for follow-up care, providing those staff with specialist advice where necessary.
To recognise own limitations and know when it is appropriate and desirable to ask for assistance.
To provide evidence based clinical advice to patients and their carers. This includes telephone advice and deciding on whether patients need further medical advice in the community or admission to the hospital.
To support patients, their carers and staff as they cope with their diagnosis, recognising when there is a need to refer on for more specialist input. Provide a high level of interpersonal skills. To include cytotoxic, biological and investigational and new drug treatments
Ensure accurate doses have been prescribed
Order relevant investigations as per protocol.
Undertake phlebotomy as required
Insertion of peripheral vascular access devices
Maintenance of peripherally inserted / tunnelled central catheters
Ensure that all supportive pre-medication, hydration and medications have been prescribed, and are administered
Check that cumulative doses of drugs with maximum lifetime doses have not been exceeded
Ensure that the patient is monitored for hypersensitivity/allergic reactions and in that instance the appropriate action is instigated immediately.
Ensure the patient understands how and when to take oral cytotoxic agents and other supportive medication.
MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To manage the treatment clinics on a daily basis, ensuring effective use of all resources. This involves planning the patient’s care package appropriately, adjusting work plan according to the needs of unwell patients and ensuring data entry of clinic information on the hospital computer system.
To manage the unit in the absence of the manager, ensuring adequate staff cover is maintained.
To maintain confidentiality and privacy at all times.
To act as an advocate for patients and their carers and refer on as appropriate.
To be aware of and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Luton & Dunstable Hospital.
To be responsible for managing and ordering stores/supplies within practice area whilst being aware of budget constraints.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. RGN
2. Post graduation study/Haematology/Oncology course.
3. SACT accredited course/Passport
4. Evidence degree level study
Desirable criteria
5. BSC/MSC
6. Mentorship/teaching
7. Cancer / Oncology qualification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
8. Knowledge of cancer and chemotherapy treatments. •Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times.
9. Cytotoxic treatments and management of treatment side effects
10. Current relevant research
Desirable criteria
11. Data collection service improvement
12. Team working
13. Ability to support and influence change
14. Experience of audit and research
15. Experience of audit and research
16. Experience of teaching
Communication
Essential criteria
17. Advanced communication skills training
18. Handling distressed patients and their carers
19. Managing difficult conversations
20. Highly effective communication
Desirable criteria
21. Counselling course
22. Presentation skills
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.