Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

·      The post-holder will ensure that in all areas of practice they adhere to all current NMC guidance, and must maintain accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous records in accordance with Trust and NMC guidelines, ensuring that confidentiality is maintained at all times

·      Take responsibility for a group of patients and deliver hands on care within own level of  competence.

·       To give skilled nursing care, based on principles of best practice and clinical evidence. and ensure that nursing care is patient focused and patient dignity and privacy are maintained at all times.

·       Undertake comprehensive assessment of the physical, psychological and social care needs of patients and provide person centred care plans that facilitate the patient’s own choices, promoting independence and self care, as appropriate.

·       To ensure the safe handling of body fluids and contaminated sharps.

·       Be alert to the needs of vulnerable adults including risk assessment and taking appropriate action when required.

·       Safely administer prescribed medications and to monitor their effects.

·       Use reflective practice as a method of ensuring that appropriate effective nursing care is delivered to each patient.

·       Ensure competency and safe maintenance of all medical devices within the sphere of responsibility.

·       Work with nursing and other healthcare professions, patients and their relatives/carers to assist in the timely discharge from the clinical area through appropriate discharge planning in conjunction with the Discharge Co-ordinators.

Communication

·       Establish and maintain effective relationships with patients, carers and the multi- disciplinary team in order to facilitate patient choice and independence.

·       To effectively communicate complex and sensitive patient information to colleagues within the nursing service and to multi-disciplinary team members involved with patient care.

·      To maintain positive and effective communication and working relationships with patients, their families, and all other professionals to enhance a dignified and high standard of care provision.

·       At all times have an awareness of potential barriers to communication and an understanding of how to overcome these barriers to ensure effective communication occurs. Ensure due regard is given to the customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients and colleagues and that equal opportunities are practised at all times.

·       Communicate effectively through IT systems such as data input and web based information.

Professional Leadership and Management

·       Supervise and support unregistered members of staff and all new members of the team.

·       To organise and prioritise own work without direct supervision, reporting any issues, untoward clinical incidents or personal limitations, in the appropriate manner to the senior nurse on duty completing necessary documentation to level of responsibility.

·       Attend and participate in all types of ward/departmental meetings as required including being the patient’s representative at multi-disciplinary meetings.

·       Support the ward manager and junior sister/charge nurse in managing the resources required in the provision of care, with an awareness of the financial implications of all actions.

·       Assist untrained staff with all clerical and housekeeping duties including use of Inpatient and clinical management systems

·       Check results and file appropriately after review by doctor where appropriate

·       Patient notes management.

·       Take appropriate action in regard to any accident or incident to patient, staff or visitor within the scope of the post holder’s responsibility and in line with Trust guidelines.

·       To be responsible for the care and safe keeping of equipment issued for personal and team use and to report any defect or loss.

·       To participate in service development activities, identifying areas for improvement as appropriate.

Quality and Performance

·       Contribute to the implementation, monitoring and reporting of performance outcome measures, alerting managers of any shortfall

·       Provide care within the clinical governance framework.

·       To participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis with a designated person.

·       Maintain appropriate and up to date knowledge and skills and undertake continuing education in accordance with personal and service needs and the Knowledge and Skills Framework.

·       Work and adhere to the needs of the service continuously striving to improve the quality of service provision

Education, Training and Development

·       Maintain own mandatory training requirements.

·       In accordance with the NMC Scope of Professional Practice continue to develop and expand your role to embrace generic and specialty specific skills.

·       Participate in self-appraisal and performance review, maintaining an up-to-date Personal Development Plan that reflects the Trust’s values and behaviours.

·       Take every opportunity to develop skills and competence to carry out the role effectively and efficiently.

·       Be aware of own limitations and the need for continuing education and personal development. Communicate these needs to the ward sister or mentor as they arise.

·       Participate in Student Nurse Education and assessment in accordance with the university requirements.

·       Participate in Clinical Supervision to enhance own practice through learning from others.

·       Maintain personal records of continuing professional development in order to maintain NMC practice registration.

·       Participate in clinical audit and where necessary, research projects, to ensure the development of effective and innovative practice and maintenance of standards.

Professional

·       Be aware of, and act in accordance with, the Trust’s Organisational and Clinical Guidelines and Policies.

·       To be aware of, and act in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and other professional Guidelines.

·       Maintain appropriate and up-to-date knowledge and skills by undertaking continuing education in accordance with personal and service needs.

·       Promote a professional image at all times and to be accountable for own clinical practice.

·       To be responsible for own professional development through active learning and reflective practice.

·       Apply a problem solving approach to practice, seeking resolution to problems with an awareness of own personal limitations of knowledge and practice.

·       Maintain high professional standards acting as a positive role model for the profession and service.