NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Non-clinical responsibilities

• Assist with the admission, orientation and discharge of babies and their families in accordance with local policy and guidance.
• Ensure that all clinical documentation is accurately, collected, updated, stored and filed in accordance with local information governance and record keeping policy and guidance.
• Work closely with administrative staff to provide additional support to this service as required.
• Participate in tracking, obtaining and filing clinical records as required, under instruction and in line with local policy and guidance.
• Provide administrative support to the neonatal team.
• Manage own time effectively whilst prioritising care needs for babies and their families under the direction of the nurse.
• Act reliably; relaying messages to the appropriate person in an effective and timely manner, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality.
• Convey an approachable and professional attitude to all babies and their families.
• Communicate effectively with families in all settings, with particular attention to providing updates on any delays or changes to their babies care.
• Ensure that knowledge of local safeguarding policy and procedure is maintained.
• Ensure the working order of equipment, reporting any concerns, faults or breakages to the appropriate person in a timely manner.
• Report any incidents or concerns using the local risk management reporting system and escalate such concerns or incidents appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Identify own training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/education as required.
• Be aware of own professional limitations and develop practice through reflection, mentorship and appraisal.
• Attend all statutory and mandatory training as and when required.
• Participate in annual individual performance review process, whereby objectives will be agreed, performance monitored and personal development needs discussed.
• Be conversant with the local infection control policy, whilst ensuring mandates are adhered to at all times.
• Act responsibly in respect of colleague’s health, safety and welfare following safety at work practices, whilst working in compliance with local health and safety policy and guidance.
• Participate in the audit of standards within the unit if appropriate.

Clinical responsibilities

• Responsibly receive details of daily duties from the nurse, and use own discretion when prioritising care, under direction and supervision.
• Support babies during clinical procedures, including attending to any personal hygiene needs as necessary.
• Supporting families in their choice of infant feeding and have awareness of the options available.
• Provide evidence-based support, assistance and advice to mothers who are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed.
• Support and assist families with artificial feeding in line with local and national policy and guidance.
• Recognise and report any abnormal events or emergencies to the multidisciplinary team through the appropriate means, in a timely manner
• Assist with the transportation of blood products if asked to do so following completion of the appropriate training and competencies and have an awareness of the storage requirements.
• Assist in neonatal hygiene needswith disposal of equipment following infection control policy and to document accurately the fluid balance.
• Undertake routine neonatal observations under direct and indirect supervision and escalate any deviations from the normal range appropriately, and in a timely manner, following the completion of competency practical and theoretical training.
• Observe the overall wellbeing of the newborn and escalate any concerns to named nurse or multi-professional team in a timely manner.
• Provide practical support to new parents when caring for their newborn, whilst promoting safety in both the hospital and home setting.
• Escort babies and their families between clinical areas as required.
• Undertake newborn blood spot screening, following successful completion of the appropriate competency, as directed by the nurse.  Ensure the nurse has gained consent for the newborn blood spot screening to be taken, and that consent is also gained from the mother by yourself prior to undertaking the procedure.
• To complete the relevant documentation for screening test performed in the neonatal records.
• To assist or perform capillary blood sampling tests, including blood glucose sampling, following successful completion of appropriate competency as directed by the nurse.
• Assist with the removal of dressings or cannula under direction of the nurse.
• Assist in the nutrition and hydration needs of babies including oral feeding and Nasogastric tube feeding.
• Assist the nurse in the delivery of the babies care, including the promotion of public health information. Sign posting to families to the local and national services available.
• Provide discharge preparation support to families including teaching of practical skills relating to newborn care and health education.
• Ensure the cleanliness of equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas and assist the nurse in appropriately preparing for an neonatal admissions..
• Ensure adequate stock levels are maintained in all clinical settings, and equipment is available; escalate any depletion of stock or resources in a timely manner.
• To give regular handover of care to the named midwife all areas of care completed in practice.
• To recognise any deterioration in mental and emotional wellbeing of families and respond appropriately, escalating to named nurse.
• To be aware of Child Protection issues and refer issues of concern to registered nurse.
• To be aware of the current policy and service frameworks for mental health (e.g. Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental Health Act); the impact they have on interventions including rights of people using services or giving formal or informal support and the role of advocacy.
• To be aware of perinatal mental health issues and the appropriate referral pathway and to escalate to multi-disciplinary team and concerns noted within home or hospital setting.