NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Under the direction of the Ward/ department manager the post holder is responsible for providing skilled high quality nursing care within a multidisciplinary environment, to ensure individualised and effective care  is practiced. 

Contribute to the continuity of good team spirit and high standards of nursing care. Empowering junior staff to develop the highest possible level of clinical skills and facilitates communication within all care groups

Utilising the ward/department resources to promote excellence in practice and promote and expedite quality issues relevant to the service delivery.

Professional and Clinical issues

Be accountable and responsible for maintaining own nursing practice and take every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge and professional competence.

To be responsible for the delivery of patient centered care. Maintaining own specialist knowledge and clinical skills participating in direct patient care and uphold evidence of PREP standards as required by the NMC. The post holder must be able to demonstrate extremely developed dexterous skills during clinical practice and the capability to manage periods of moderate physical effort during the shift worked.

Assist the ward staff in the provision of clinical and professional advice, expertise and support, developing practice and monitoring performance.

Keep abreast of current political issues within the NHS, and future nursing trends.

To provide leadership to all staff promoting a culture of positive and effective team work.

Assess care required, requesting medical input as necessary and devising appropriate care programmes for the patient, implementing and evaluating care during the admission and in
preparation for a safe discharge. Supported by written evidence.

To provide a high standard of nursing care based on the assessment of care needs - in consultation with the patient, their relatives and the multidisciplinary team.

To continuously evaluate the quality of care given, and regularly re-assess the needs of the patient, in consultation with the patient, other carers and the multidisciplinary team to effect change required to achieve planned goals.

Liaise with other professionals to ensure cohesive patient care.

Formulate well-planned discharges with appropriate follow-up, ensuring effective liaison with the family, Allied Health Professional’s and community services.

Ensure a patient / client-focused approach to care.

Ensure due regard is given to the customs, values and spiritual beliefs of the patient family, carers and staff.

To uphold the Trust's Diversity/Equal Opportunities Policy.

Ensure due regard is given to the safety of patients belongings.

Providing and receiving complex or sensitive information about patients, dealing with confrontation where you will be able to reassure, calm and defuse difficult situations.

Advise on issues within own scope of practice relating to health promotion & MECC.

To identify the learning needs of the patient, relatives and staff, and in consultation with the Ward/department staff will plan and implement education to meet those needs.

Facilitate and maintain patient records to ensure information is accurate and up to date for future reference and complies with the Data Protection Act, NMC Patient Record Keeping Guidelines.

Prepare care plans to ensure the delivery of effective patient care.

To be able to manage time effectively, ensuring patients are ready for planned procedures and staff receive adequate breaks during the working day and finish at the appropriate time.

Ensure the safe delivery of medicines by the prescribed route adhering to national and Trust guidelines.

Assist the Ward staff to ensure the ward area meet risk management standards, working with all health care professionals.

The ability to use and recharge intravenous drug administration pumps including the recognition of early signs of drug reaction, and the appropriate steps to be taken.

Frequent provision of patient care, which requires the use physical effort to roll, manoeuver and stand patients. The use of ward manual handling equipment / training is essential, to reduce
physical strain and maintain safety of the patient. Annual manual handling training is mandatory.

Frequent handling of waste body fluids, ensuring correct disposal.

Participate in a yearly appraisal, setting personal objectives for own professional development plan.

Completion of yearly statutory training to ensure adherence to Trust policy and current legislation.

Attend relevant in house training sessions which is pertinent to own clinical practice, to enhance knowledge and skill, maintaining competencies

Staff Management

Provide leadership for the nursing, ward clerks and housekeeper team and acts as a role model.

Act as a resource advisor for junior colleagues in the delivery of nursing care.

Ensure staff wear identity cards and adhere to uniform policy

Assist in the creation of a good working atmosphere.

Quality Management

Maintain a working environment that enhances and promotes the health and safety of patients and staff and all visitors to the area.

Responsible for the implementation of own safe manual handling activities.

To have a responsibility for ensuring commitment to maintaining a high quality service to patients by continual development in practice, in light of research evidence and standards set within
National service frame works, NICE and clinical guidance.

Act as the patient’s advocate within the clinical specialty.

Promote evidence based care through integration of relevant research into practice.

Ensure adherence to Trust policies, procedures, guidelines and current legislation particularly to health and safety procedures.

Respond to patients and relatives concerns at ward level and refer on to Ward/ Department Manager or Nurse in Charge, as appropriate.

Assist in audit / review of the quality & availability of patient information.

Communication

Ensure that communication is effective enabling that communicative issues in the sending and receiving of such information is conveyed and received in such a manner as to foster excellent relationships between clinicians, allied health care professional, patients and relatives.

Ensure that communications between all patients, and their relatives are effective and conducted in a manner that enables the patient to make informed judgments about their care.

Maintain good interpersonal relationships with patients, relatives and inside and outside agencies. Provide relevant advice on issues relating to health promotion, maintaining confidentiality and working closely with all members of the multidisciplinary team.

Ensure that the established system of continuous communication is effective for the assessment and reporting of patient care and activity over a shift.

Providing and receiving complex or sensitive information about patients, dealing will confrontation where you will be able to reassure, calm and defuse difficult situations.

Dealing with anxious relatives / staff, supporting the bereaved, liasing with appropriate support networks.

Persuading the patient to cooperate with prescribed treatments and care required.

Communication with patients with special needs where the recognition and understanding of nonverbal communication would be essential.

Act as a resource for nursing and allied health care professionals in the delivery of care.

Respond to telephone enquiries, following an analysis / interpretation of the situation you will share your clinical judgment offering appropriate advice and referring to appropriate personnel. Maintaining a recording in telephone advice book.

Resource Management

Seek ways to make best use of all resources and control expenditure.

Develop and maintain a working knowledge of P.A.S., E.P.R Bluespier and the Trust intranet.

Actively seek to ensure best use of beds, communicating verbally and electronically with colleagues both within the Trust and referring hospitals / outside agencies.

Perform any job-related duties not specifically enumerated in this job description, which may be assigned by your line manager.