Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Act as a clinical expert in their area of practice.

• Work as an autonomous nurse practitioner, performing nurse led clinics (RACPC/PAC), including taking patient history and physical examination.

• Order appropriate pathology testing, ECGs, X-rays and echocardiography.

• Demonstrate evidence based physical assessment and clinical evaluation skills.

• Take part in the elective DC Cardioversion rota.

• Be responsible for the management of the RACPCs and the CDC team.

• Assess and manage patients within the RACPC using NICE guidance.

• Act as an expert resource to assess patients with cardiac conditions; develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care. Identify risk factors and advise on care and management following referral by agreed protocol. Implement local and national guidance (e.g. NICE).

• Work as an Independent Nurse Prescriber within the Scope of Practice for the role to reduce the impact of symptoms through achieving effective medical therapy.

• Be responsible for assessing, monitoring and managing risk in this patient group, working within the Clinical Governance Framework to improve service quality.

• Obtain informed consent for patients undergoing elective cardiac procedure.

• Further develop nurse-led clinics for this patient group in consultation with the Consultant Cardiologists and evaluate this service.

• Provide patients and their families appropriate and evidence based advice regarding lifestyle modification, cardiac event and recovery.

• Accurate and legible documentation should be completed to record cardiac assessments/interventions.

• Contribute to a patient’s seamless care between secondary and primary care by providing good written communication to the patients GP and patient regarding individual assessments and behaviour changes/goals agreed.

• Signposting and referring where appropriate patients to other health professionals or supportive services e.g. smoking cessation, dietetic team, psychology services.

• Act as a role model promoting and demonstrating the standards of care expected and challenging poor practice.

• Promote the development, implementation and review of standards policies, procedures and clinical guidelines.

• Assist in effectively leading and motivating staff in the provision of care and future service development.

• Promote evidence based clinical practice in performance improvement within the department.

• Promote and deliver effective leadership within the clinical area.

• Demonstrate up to date knowledge and understanding of current issues and priorities that effect National, Trust and Divisional wide healthcare, to facilitate clear leadership and direction.

• Be integral in the organisational and strategic development of the clinical area.

• Work closely with the Matron, Divisional Director of Nursing, Assistant General manager (AGM) and Clinical Lead in implementing the Trust Clinical Governance and Nursing Strategy.

• Attend Senior Sister/Charge Nurse meetings and other relevant Trust-wide meetings.

• Ensure monthly 1-1s are maintained with Matron and Divisional Director of Nursing to ensure accuracy of information.

• Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings as directed Matron and Divisional Director of Nursing

• The Senior Sister/Charge Nurse will ensure that audit and research is integral to their role.

• Assist in leading and developing clinical audit and research to promote evidence based practice.

• Assist in the collection and evaluation of data to demonstrate outcomes from nurse led initiatives.

• Participate in initiating changes identified at clinical audit.

• Listen and respond appropriately to consumer feedback in conjunction with Patient Advice Liaison Services (PALS).

• Participate in effectively managing complaints as per Trust policy.