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Job summary

Main area
Critical Care
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
164-8096191
Employer
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Cross site
Town
Nottingham
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 Pro Rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust logo

Critical Care Staff Nurse

Band 5

Job overview

We are looking for exceptional and committed Band 5 nurses to provide outstanding care for our complex patients. If you are eager to learn and develop new skills, have good communication and assessment skills and would relish a challenging opportunity in Critical Care this is the post you have been waiting for.

Adult Critical Care comprises of  three main units:

Adult Intensive Care (AICU – QMC),  a 29-bedded Intensive Care Unit which facilitates the treatment of seriously ill patients with failure of one or more organ systems.

High Dependency Unit (HDU/E12 – QMC) has 20 beds and is an area which facilitates the care of patients who require high dependency nursing.

Specialties for both units include neurosurgery, neurology, gastroenterology, major trauma, hepatobiliary, vascular, spinal, ENT and maxillo-facial surgery.

Critical Care Department (CCD – City Campus) is a17 bedded purpose built unit comprised of intensive care and high dependency beds. Specialities catered for include: thoracics, burns, haematology, oncology, gastroenterology, renal, upper GI surgery, respiratory, general medical and surgical patients.

It is mandatory that you rotate to all of the critical care units and that you work both days and night shifts.

Please note this advert may close early if demand is high. You will also be expected to attend the interview face to face.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for providing care for patients who are Critically ill.  The patients may have failure of one or more organs and require varying amounts of support.  They may be mechanically ventilated and sedated or be on high amounts of oxygen.  They may have invasive lines, needing inotropic infusions and will be closely monitored.  Some patient may require additional support such as hemofiltration.

You will be responsible for assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating nursing care in a timely manner.  You will work closely with your team.

After a settling in period you will be expected to mentor students and will be encouraged to join a link team or be involved with projects.

Working for our organisation

With over 20,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.

Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:-

Accountability for the safe, effective delivery of high clinical standards of care and patient satisfaction

Assess the care needs of patients and develop a programme of care which is evaluated and amended as appropriate

Embrace and promote trust values and behaviours required to deliver an excellent patient and staff  experience, ensuring patient satisfaction and staff retention.

Share knowledge and learning with peers and students using skills in mentorship and clinical supervision to ensure competencies are maintained.

Using effective communication with patients and relatives to maximise productivity as well as maintain high standards of patient led care.

Ensuring that your Professional Revalidation demonstrates new knowledge, innovations and evidence based practice

You will be required to work variable hours including nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. 

Please also see attached Job description and person specifications.

Person specification

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust values and behavioural framework

Training &Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NMC Registered Adult Nurse
  • Diploma in health/nursing-related studies
  • Enhanced CRB clearance.
  • Completion of the Critical Care National Lead Nurses (CC3N) Steps Competencies Level 1, or willing to work towards.
Desirable criteria
  • Degree in health related studies or equivalent academic standard
  • Formal Teaching or Mentoring qualification.
  • An accredited postgraduate Critical Care Nursing course at either Level 6 or 7.
  • Completion of the Critical Care National Lead Nurses (CC3N) Steps competencies, Levels 2 and 3.
  • Completion of the Critical Care National Lead Nurses (CC3N) Bolt-on competencies in either Burns, Neuro, or Maternity.

Communication and Relationship skills

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills
  • Demonstrate clear communication in high-pressure situations, such as medical emergencies.
  • Recognition of own level of competence and limitations and able to communicate these to senior staff and seek help when needed.
Desirable criteria
  • Demonstration of team working and ability to work within a team
  • Aware of human factors in clinical practice and how these can affect clinical outcomes.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to identify own learning needs and proactively work to address these in line with the local or national competency frameworks
  • Demonstrate an ability to assess, plan, deliver, prioritise and evaluate complex patient care
  • Ability to analyse a large amount of complex clinical data and make sound clinical decisions when needed, and seek support from senior staff.
  • Ability to apply a wide range of evidence-based critical or acute care skills in patient care.
  • Ability to study at the degree and master's level to achieve necessary post-graduate qualifications
  • Ability to work within a highly simulated environment while maintaining focus.
Desirable criteria
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of current issues related to Critical Care Services with the NHS.
  • Awareness of change management within the NHS and personal roles and responsibilities in support of such programmes.

Physical skills

Essential criteria
  • Dexterity and accuracy in undertaking complex clinical skills in confined spaces.
  • Ability to work within a highly simulated environment while maintaining focus.
  • Competent use of a wide range of complex medical equipment.
  • Able to undertake patient manual handling manoeuvres and non-patient manual handling manoeuvres. Including complex techniques such as proning, management of patients with unstable spinal injuries and transfer of complex critically ill patients from the unit to receive care or treatment
  • Ability to undertake such moving and handling procedures regularly throughout a shift.
  • Demonstrate ability to use a wide range of IT software, including Office 365 and electronic patient record software

Experience

Essential criteria
  • 6 months of experience caring for acutely unwell, unstable adult patients in an acute hospital setting, undertaken within the last 12 months.
  • Experience using electronic patient record systems and EPMA systems
  • Experience using a wide range of medical devices and technology.
  • Experience working in a large team, ensuring high-quality nursing care.
  • Experience in managing medical emergencies, ensuring effective teamwork.
  • Experience learning and education through both high and low fidelity simulation programmes
Desirable criteria
  • 18 months post-registration critical care experience, caring for both Level 2 and 3 patients.
  • Experience in delivering complex organ support, including artificial ventilation, Blood Pressure augmentation, Renal replacement therapy, etc.
  • Experience in teaching and mentoring learners within the clinical area.
  • Demonstrate an involvement in link nurse or project work

Planning and organisation skills

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrate an ability to prioritise own workload and recognise, prioritise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.
  • Demonstrate ability to support the wider MDT with the coordination of patient care within the team.
  • Demonstrate ability to manage own time to ensure achievement of role-specific training and competency achievement.
Desirable criteria
  • Formal Project or Quality Improvement training or experience.

Other requirements specific to the role (eg be able to drive or work shifts)

Essential criteria
  • Positive approach to working within other units across critical care at short notice.
  • Ability to travel between campuses at short notice 7 days a week.
  • Ability to work a wide range of shifts, including long days, Night duty, weekend and bank holidays.
  • Ability to work a minimum of 23hrs/ week
  • Ability to care for a patient in an emotionally stressful, traumatic situation, including withdrawal of life-sustaining care, and seeking support when needed.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Care Leaver CovenantNHS Rainbow badgeCareLeaver Covenantadded for NUH

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Please submit your application form as soon as possible to avoid disappointment; we reserve the right to close vacancies prior to the published closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
MELANIE ADAMS
Job title
Sister Critical Care
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07483175771