NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• To provide a specialist nurse led service working autonomously in providing care for IBD patients and their families according to agreed protocols or as specified by the Consultant Gastroenterologists.
• To clinically assess patients attending for routine follow-up of IBD, to monitor and evaluate disease activity, ordering and interpreting specific haematological, endoscopic investigations or imaging as indicated.

• To recommend treatment, alter drug dosages according to management guidelines.
• To encourage adherence with recommended management plans.
• To promote a better understanding of IBD for patients and their carers through education, providing support and counselling where necessary in order to empower patients to take a greater part in self managing their disease.

• To follow-up and monitor patients taking Azathioprine and other immunosuppressive agents.

• To request and act on blood results to avoid complications and improve safety.
• To co-ordinate requests for biological therapy with Consultants, pharmacy and Community partners.

• To counsel IBD patients pre biological therapy and perform immunity screening and improve safety with biological therapy.

• To check and prepare patients for biological therapy according to NICE and local guidelines and take consent for patients undergoing this therapy.

• To offer rapid access to specialist advice and disease management through telephone support and flare up appointments in the nurse clinic.

• To maintain a comprehensive functional database of IBD patients for clinical, audit and research purposes.

• To attend the Multidisciplinary Gastroenterology Team Meetings, document recommendations and refer to other medical or surgical specialities as appropriate.

• To act as the patient advocate at all times.

Education, Training and Development

• To plan, implement and evaluate teaching sessions for ward staff involved in caring for IBD patients.

• To act as a resource for pre and post registration nurses.
• To provide opportunities to shadow the IBD CNS, e.g. student nurses, newly qualified nurses, nurses on induction, dieticians, medical students.

• To demonstrate expert knowledge of the literature regarding IBD by regularly reviewing the literature and applying to practice.

• To undertake responsibility for own professional development, undertake appropriate activities, attend relevant conferences to update clinical knowledge and skills and apply to practice.

• To recognise own limitations whilst working within the Scope of Professional Practice.

Research and Audit

• To actively participate in clinical audits and monitor clinical effectiveness of the role.
• To use audit results to promote and drive change as appropriate.
• To actively disseminate good practice.
• To participate in research projects and submit papers for publication.

Managerial Responsibilities

• To maintain accurate records to ensure patient care is appropriate and that audit can be undertaken.

• Work across boundaries with medical and surgical teams to ensure the best care for IBD patients

• To work with On Call teams to arrange medical admissions for urgent patients to avoid A&E delays.

• To deal with and record incidents/complaints involving staff, patients, visitors etc when such issues are witnessed by or involve the nurse specialist.

• To attend and actively contribute to meetings
• To help manage the IBD database and any future upgrades.
• Professional and Legal responsibilities
• Lead on developments and innovations in nursing practice throughout the Trust and primary care.
• Provide a leadership role model, developing and demonstrating expert knowledge and high standards of clinical practice.
• Act as a role model and mentor to staff, providing formal and informal education and support for them in their provision of care for the IBD patients.
• Maintain own professional development through annual/bi-annual appraisal of clinical performance and the production of a professional development plan.
• Assess own educational needs and take steps to keeps up to date with clinical and nursing developments, in line with requirements by the NMC.

COMMUNICATION

• Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.
• Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.
• These duties are not exhaustive and will be reviewed with the post holder, allowing for amendments within the broad scope and band level of the role.
• All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.
• Appointment to this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and the post holder is required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service Check (DBS).