Staff Nurse - In Patient Unit

Job description

Job responsibilities

To meet the above broad objectives, the post holder will have responsibilities in four main areas of work as follows:

Clinical

Managerial

Education

Personnel

Clinical

To work clinically in practice to ensure a professional and patient focused approach is evident, whilst developing and demonstrating a range of skills and knowledge related to Palliative Care Nursing.

Develop clinical practice and act as a mentor to junior members of staff, Healthcare Support Workers and Students.

Ensure relevant documentation is maintained on all patients according to identified policies and procedures, Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Monitor your own clinical practice and provide evidence-based nursing care within IPU whilst developing competence in the role.

Ensure that clinical protocols, guidelines, and procedures are adhered to and take part in ensuring that they are regularly updated.

Ensure that the clinical practice of other members of the nursing team is safe, sound and evidence based. Be responsible for raising any concerns and be able to identify remedial/supportive action to improve the clinical performance of a staff member when needed.

Act as role model for all staff on IPU, providing professional nursing care when looking after patients and families.

Continue to develop and demonstrate knowledge around pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of symptoms such as pain.

Develop an understanding and take responsibility for managing controlled drugs on IPU and ensure safe practice in line with agreed protocols.

Develop and understanding and ensure that Safeguarding and Mental Capacity Policies and Guideline are adhered to and report concerns to senior staff.

Managerial

When able to lead a shift take responsibility for prescribed staffing levels ensuring that IPU is safe and report any concerns.

Be aware of the resource needed to provide care for patients, having due regard for the skill mix available and the dependency score of patients. Report concerns to the Senior Staff Nurse, as necessary.

To take part in clinical audit working within an agreed quality assurance framework to monitor standards of care on IPU and across KHH.

Use and continuously assess the appropriateness of clinical documentation and the clinical database on IPU.

Take responsibility for reporting critical information or exception reports to the Senior Staff Nurse.

Contribute to the prompt investigation of complaints and adverse comments ensuring they are escalated in a timely manner.

Participate in Katharine House Hospice meetings as required.

Education

Take part in an annual appraisal and ensure own education and training needs are identified to achieve KHH agreed competencies.

Contribute to and maintain a learning environment for all levels of staff and visitors to the unit, including meeting University requirements as a suitable placement area for students.

Participate in the provision of formal and informal education to Katharine House Hospice staff, external staff, and visitors.

Take responsibility to ensure that mandatory training requirements are met.

Personnel

Play a part in reducing/avoiding stress within the team and being a role model for the values of KHH.

Be proactive in your own personal and professional development and that of the nursing and care team.

Attend statutory/mandatory updates.

Participate in clinical supervision according to Hospice policy.

Work within the guidelines laid down by the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code of Professional Conduct

Maintain current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Work within Health and Safety guidelines prepared by the Hospice.

Personal Development

Katharine House will support the continuous development of the post holder who is expected to be proactive in ensuring their own clinical supervision and identifying their own developmental needs.

Competencies

Can meet/work towards achieving the competencies as identified in the Katharine House Hospice competency document.

Job Revision

This job description is not exhaustive, and the employee may be asked to undertake other duties commensurate with the role. This job description is subject to periodic revision following discussions with the post holder.

Infection Prevention and Control

In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the post holder will actively participate in the prevention and control of infection within the capacity of their role. The Act requires the post holder to attend infection prevention and control training on induction and at regular updates and to take responsibility for the practical application of the training in the course of their work. Infection prevention and control must be included in any personal development plan or appraisal.

Health and Safety

All employees have a responsibility to abide by the safety practices and codes authorised by Katharine House Hospice. They have an equal responsibility with management for maintaining safe working practices.

Smoking

The hospice has a no smoking policy. All hospice premises are considered No Smoking Zones. Staff are not allowed to smoke when wearing Katharine House Hospice Uniform.

Confidentiality

Patient and/or staff information is confidential. It is a condition of Katharine House Hospice employment that you will not use or disclose any confidential information obtained in the course of your duty

Accuracy of Data

The accuracy of Service User information is paramount regardless of its format (hard copy or electronic). All staff collecting and processing sensitive client information should be suitably trained to do so. All such data should be monitored for accuracy and reconciled between the user record and data held on systems that support the provision of care, any errors or omissions should be identified and corrected. Such activity should be undertaken under the guidance of the Director of Care.

This post requires the individual to consent to an enhanced disclosure by the Disclosure and Barring Service

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse/RMN on the NMC Register
• Diploma or Degree in Nursing

Desirable

• Mentorship Module completed
• Post Registration study relevant to Palliative and end of Life Care.

Experience

Essential

• Has extensive experience in providing Palliative or End of Life care gained through clinical practice.

Desirable

• Qualified 6 months +
• Has evidence of Post Registration CPD relating to Palliative and End of Life Care

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Team player and able to delegate tasks to staff.
• Demonstrates a non-judgemental and empathic approach.
• A reflective practitioner who takes part in supervision.
• Demonstrates safe practice and can identify areas of unsafe practice and can deal with these reporting appropriately.
• Ensures that they remain competent themselves and take responsibility for the competence of junior staff.
• Use initiative to problem solve and be a solution focused member of the team.
• Acts as a mentor for all staff providing support and supervision.
• Keeps contemporaneous records in line with the NMC standards.
• Identifies topics for and initiates audit to ensure excellent standards of care can be demonstrated.

Desirable

• Demonstrates leadership and can motivate staff and act as a role model.
• Can safely and efficiently lead a shift taking responsibility for off duty and cover.
• Has obtained Advanced communication skills training and can demonstrate this skill.
• Will teach all members of the team and other colleagues within the MDT.

Knowledge

Essential

• Can assess, plan, implement and evaluate holistic care including pain and symptom control.
• Uses a range of assessment tools available to aid with assessment.

Desirable

• Can identify the deteriorating patient using quantifiable tools such as the Prognostic Indicator Guidelines, or Karnofsky score.
• Has completed advanced communication skills training and is able to deal with difficult situations such as breaking bad news within recognised boundaries,
• Has extensive knowledge of the medications used in palliative care and can administer these safely.
• Can recognise palliative emergencies and is able to manage these in a calm and considered way.
• Has a good understanding of grief and bereavement and is able to support patients and carers.

Other

Essential

• Demonstrates initiative.
• Resilience
• Flexibility
• Self-motivated
• Able to work all shifts across 7 days.
• Can use resources effectively and efficiently.
• Maintains a safe environment for staff and patients.
• Ensures infection prevention measures are maintained.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Katharine House Hospice

Address

Weston Road

Stafford

ST16 3SB

Employer's website

https://www.khhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)