NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Key Working Relationships

• Communicates with patients, relatives and carers sensitive clinical information in a way that takes into account the level of understanding and any barriers that may have an impact on the individual receiving and understanding the information, face to face and via the telephone on a frequent daily basis.
•  Communicate in an empathetic way giving reassurance and developing cooperation in achieving good outcomes on a frequent daily basis.
• Contact with multi-disciplinary team, Matrons, A.D.N, support service staff.
  
  Planning and Organisation
• Manage own time an plan and organise workload effectively.
• Contribute to the planning and organizing of any service improvements or developments
  
  Analytics
•  Makes judgement when dealing with enquires, to resolve problems for patients and staff.
  
  Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
• Works in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Code of Conduct at all times.
• Plans, implements, carries out and evaluates care given by self and other support nursing staff to patients and their relatives.
• Make decisions, following discussion with a senior member of the nursing or medical staff with regard to the clinical intervention required, based on the analysis and interpretation of complex clinical facts (such as blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, temperature and fluid balance)on a daily basis and in crisis situations.
• Take responsibility as an individual that the Trust policy for clinical incident reporting is followed. Support the senior Ward Sister/Matron to use the learning from incidents in a positive way to develop or change practice.
• Provide statements in response to formal complaints or resolve with patients or relatives any verbal complaints or if necessary pass on to the senior nursing staff/matron/PALS services any that cannot be resolved.
• Support the senior nursing staff to use the learning as a result of incidents and complaints and take action in a positive way to develop or change practice.
•  Respond frequently to requests for information on patient conditions, bed state, and requests from Medical staff and other enquires relating to the ward from internal and external sources, via the telephone, and assistance in emergency situations and when more junior staff requires support with clinical observations.
• Maintain and develop own clinical expertise and competence by working clinically as part of the team, undergoing training and updating by external or internal courses and by reading and keeping up to date with changes in practice.
• Responsible for infection control and cleanliness standards on a shift by shift basis by following National and Trust policy.
• As per the drug policy follow the safe ordering, storage and administration of medicines.
•  Is visible and accessible to patients, visitors and users of the service.
  
  Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility
• Use local and national research, guidelines and policies to establish a model of evidence based care, which is patient-centred and ensure discharge planning is commenced on admission by staff and that patients are discharged without unnecessary delays, according to the Trust discharge policy.
•  Maintain personal standards of hygiene and promote universal precautions to limit cross infection.
• Wear the correct uniform as agreed by the Trust.
• Read and adhere to all Trust policies including clinical
  governance/COSHH/Health and Safety/Clinical Waste/Manual Handling/PEAT.
  
  Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources
• Responsible for the repair and maintenance of ward equipment on a shift by shift basis and shared responsibility for the safe keeping of patient property.
  
  Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management
•  Responsible, on a shift by shift basis, for the supervision, performance and management of staff comprising nurses, health care assistants and other relevant staff.
  
  Information Resources & Administrative Duties
• Use the Trust computer system to update patient information and respond to emails on a daily basis.
• Maintain accurate clinical observations and records, interpret the significance of these and ask for advice on appropriate care from senior nursing and medical staff.
  
  Working Environment
• Will have exposure to death and distressed patients and relatives in emergency frequently.
• Need to have a general awareness of activities going on around, being able to respond to and clear areas in an emergency.
• Work in other areas/Wards as required according to service/patient needs when requested.
• Frequent daily contact with bodily fluids.
• Required to move patients, push hoists and trolleys exerting moderate physical effort for short periods throughout the shift.
•  To work in unpredictable demands on time, physical and mental effort.
•  Manipulation of clinical equipment, accuracy and concentration in the administration of drugs and when undertaking core clinical nursing procedures such as bathing, catheterisation, injections, wound dressings, handling of infusions and vascular access devices working within own limitations at all times.