Specialist Leg Ulcer Nurse
| Posting date: | 19 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,392.00 to £42,618.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £35392.00 - £42618.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 May 2024 |
| Location: | Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7DX |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | U0001-24-0001 |
Summary
The post carries responsibility for providing clinical support to the leg ulcer service, ensuring a high standard of care is given in conjunction with the leg Ulcer Specialist nurses. The post holder will ensure that a high standard of leg ulcer care is achieved and maintained. The role incorporates teaching and training responsibilities. MAIN DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: Operational Delivery Responsibility for own caseloads, providing lower Limb Assessment, diagnosis and formulation of treatment plan for leg ulcer patients following evidence based practice an inline with our pathway. Promoting shared self-care to help reduce recurrence. Working autonomously in a leg ulcer clinic, this includes providing cover in other clinics where necessary. Promote a leg ulcer service philosophy which embraces a holistic approach to patients, relatives, and carers. Act as a resource to Practice nurses and Community nurses through education to ensure continuation of appropriate leg ulcer care for patients in other environments e.g. home, hospital. Comply at all times with any regulations issued by HertsOne especially those concerning Health & Safety at Work and request/ensure that all defects, which may affect safety at work, are brought to the attention of the appropriate manager where necessary. Promote the high standards of infection control advocated by the service. Assess, report and manage any risk, clinical and non-clinical, for the benefit of self, colleagues and clients, in line with the Risk Management Policy and Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Assist the leg ulcer Specialist nurses in developing innovative programmes to promote good health and participate in public health initiatives within the community. Patient / Customer Care Use leg ulcer management skills and knowledge to undertake assessment of leg ulcer patients, including the use of Doppler ultrasound techniques and using interpretation skills to diagnose and plan specialised care delivery. Liaise with GPs regarding referrals to specialists in secondary care e.g. vascular surgeon as necessary. Deliver planned evidence-based care, including advanced compression bandage techniques and other high compression therapies as required. Provide safe care in leg ulcer clinics, working within the current commissioning guidelines. Act as a resource and support for the HCAs within the leg ulcer clinics to assist in the delivery of planned care. Empower individuals and their families to reach their full potential in health promotion and health awareness. At times act as the patients advocate, raising their concerns about services specific to HertsOne or other agencies. Strategic Management Participate in identifying the health needs of patients with actual or potential leg ulcers in South and West Hertfordshire population, assisting in developing strategies for prevention, treatment, and aftercare, having regard for local and national targets. Support the service in the promotion of links with secondary care to maintain a collaborative approach with specialities such as tissue viability, lymphoedema, vascular and dermatology. Work with the leg ulcer specialist nurses as necessary to develop innovative programmes to promote good health and participate in Public Health initiatives within the community, working collaboratively with other agencies as appropriate. Service Development and Improvement Positively participate in and promote clinical governance, thus ensuring the highest quality of practice is maintained, within the service. Demonstrate the use of evidence-based practice through active involvement in clinical audit, including monitoring and measuring outcomes e.g. healing rates and waiting times. Ensure the policies and procedures of HertsOne are implemented and adhered to at all times and that clinic staff are aware of and act upon these. Support a collaborative approach with CLCH Specialist Services such as tissue viability and lymphoedema and colleagues in Primary Care. Participate in projects as agreed with the Clinical Lead, in line with HertsOne and national strategies, and personal skills and interests. Management and Leadership Ensure that own clinical practice and that of clinic staff meets the required professional standards of nursing practice. Monitor standards of infection control within clinics, improve the working environment as necessary and promote good working practices by clinic staff. Communication and Relationship Building Maintain confidentiality and manage information sensitively, acting as a role model for colleagues. Demonstrate discretion and respect when communicating with patients, colleagues and other agencies. Assist the Leg ulcer specialist nurses in maintaining close liaison with multi-disciplinary teams within Primary Care and ICBs, promoting joint working with all other agencies. Extend this approach to involve multi-disciplinary working within the acute trust (tissue viability, vascular and dermatology), neighbouring community trusts and educational establishments. Promote a positive learning environment within the clinic setting, of benefit to patients, staff, students and visitors. Liaise with secondary care concerning patients admitted to hospital. Finance and Resource Management Ensure that resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible. Manage orders of supplies and equipment within the clinic setting. Information Management Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in line with legal, professional, and organisational requirements. Achieve and maintain a level of information technology relevant to all areas of work. Support the implementation of national and local IT initiatives, ensuring actions and timescales are delivered as required. Ensure the timely and accurate collection and provision of data and information as required, adhering to appropriate guidelines. General Maintain current registration in line with HertsOne policy and follow the code of conduct of the Nursing & Midwifery Council. Attend regularly and participate actively in clinical supervision in line with HertsOne policy. Take responsibility for own continuous professional development, maintaining a sound level of professional knowledge and competence in line with the Personal Development Plan agreed at annual appraisal. Ensure attendance at all required (mandatory) training. Develop specialist skills, sharing knowledge, skills and expertise with other members of the team, other HertsOne staff and other agencies. Undertake other duties commensurate with grade as appropriate. Be prepared to participate in the HertsOne Emergency Plan in response to a major incident as requested. EFFORT, PHYSICAL SKILLS and WORKING CONDITIONS: Physical skills Undertake clinical procedures within own scope of competency utilising a variety of clinical equipment safely and precisely. Safely travel between clinics adhering to relevant policies and guidelines, e.g. mobile phone policy, highway code. Physical effort Regularly undertake the moving and positioning of patients and equipment adhering to the HertsOne policy. Perform compression bandaging and hosiery application as required, in clinic. These tasks require assisting the patients in manoeuvring heavy swollen limbs. Mental effort Regularly treating patients on a one to one basis requires concentration in order to focus on complex treatment regimes. Emotional effort Communicate difficult or sometimes distressing information effectively as necessary. Working conditions The post holder regularly deals with materials heavily contaminated with wound exudate. This exudate often has an extremely offensive odour, making the working environment unpleasant and challenging.