Aortopathy Nurse Specialist
| Posting date: | 16 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £47,810.00 to £54,710.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £47810.00 - £54710.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 02 February 2026 |
| Location: | Brighton, BN2 5BE |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9279-26-0073 |
Summary
Communication Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and healthcare professionals, including consultants and clinical nurse specialists working in this field. Share knowledge and experience through networking. Communicate life-changing issues such as a new diagnosis or medical complications to patients and provide support to patients and their families. Refer patients with complex issues and challenging behaviour for psychological care after obtaining the patients consent. Provide information on national support groups and charities. Acts as a patients advocate in issues concerning their care. Provide written and verbal reports to GPs and other members of the multidisciplinary team regarding treatment changes and recommended management of care. Communicate results of tests to patients and GPs. Support verbal communication by providing written educational material to patients, carers and healthcare professional to ensure understanding of complex issues. Explore different formats and media. Utilise the interpreting service for patients with a language barrier. Maintain accurate records regarding all patient contacts, including telephone consultations. Ensure close liaison with all members of the MDT including medical and nursing staff and referring centres. Ensure that confidentiality and adherence to the Data Protection Act in relation to own practice is maintained. Attend relevant internal and external meetings as required to communicate the performance of the service. Present data and nursing related information at both national and international level. Seek opportunities to publicise and promote the service. Service delivery and improvement Share responsibility for the development and management of this service. Identify areas for service improvement and lead on this. Ensure efficient use of outpatient slots, ensuring patients have had the necessary tests in a timely manner. Collaborate with secondary care and primary care teams across Sussex to enhance patient care and avoid unnecessary delay to referral and treatment. Contribute towards meeting the targets achieving UHSussex objectives regarding clinical governance. Inform their manager of any untoward incident or accident and ensure that appropriate investigation, corrective action and documentation takes place. Complete the DATIX procedure, in accordance with the Trust Policy. Lead on the implementation of Trust policies relevant to their specialist field. Maintain the required data collection for the Aortopathy caseload and deliver an annual audit of this workload. Maintain a knowledge base that reflects contemporary issues and therefore be able to autonomously select and apply the most appropriate treatment regime. Maintain, develop and implement professional policies, standards and practices for Aortopathy across the Trust. In collaboration with UHSussex cardiac research department, develop, participate in and encourage research pertaining to area of specialism, and assist in changing practice related to evidence based research findings. In agreement with the specialist team, identify areas for and actively participate in audit, including evaluation of Quality of Life and impact of the service. Develop mechanisms for patient feedback about the service and the quality of their care, and act on findings. Critically analyse methodology and results of research and apply to future clinical practice where appropriate. Utilize information provided by the Trust library services and critically appraise research papers obtained from a literature search. People management and development Responsible for carrying out duties in line with the Trusts e-rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning. Provide specialist education and training to staff and students. Ensure that education delivered has a structured curriculum that is theory-driven, evidence-based and resource-effective, has supporting materials, and is documented. Establish links with educational providers (e.g. University and School of Nursing and Midwifery) and Primary care providers in line with UHSussex regulations, providing maximum learning opportunities in this field. Provide training and education for GPs as required. Keep up to date with current research and evidence-based practice by attending relevant meetings, courses and seminars. Responsible for sharing knowledge with other professionals and team to influence better care and outcomes for patients. Patient care delivery Be the co-lead for Aortopathy nursing, acting as a role model. Deliver autonomous specialist practice to this group of patients, including independently requesting imaging at an appropriate timeframe (following IRMER guidelines) and interpretation of the results. Run a bi-weekly nurse-led Aortopathy clinic seeing patients with a diagnosis of thoracic aortic dilation / aneurysm or patients who have had a surgical repair to a thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection. This will facilitate close surveillance and timely surgery where indicated. Identify patients that achieve the criteria for genetic testing, counselling the patient accordingly and facilitating the test and actioning results. Take a family history related to Aortopathy for new patients and advise about screening of family members. Facilitate the alternate week Aortopathy MDT, presenting patients and arranging onward investigations, along with communication to clinicians and to the patient. Maintain a database of Aortopathy patients to support their management. Act as a liaison between the clinical team, the patient and their partner/family/carers throughout their care. Provide age-specific information, education and support to individual patients at these clinics by explaining the diagnosis and management plan. Provide age-appropriate information and lifestyle advice to ensure they are fully competent to manage their own condition and healthcare. Provide specialist advice on contraception and pre-pregnancy counselling specific to the individual patient. Provide information on gaining reimbursement for travel expenses and access to social care benefits and support. Provide a telephone advice line for patients, carers and other health care professionals in order to influence better care and outcomes for patients. Ensure full and accurate records of relevant information are documented in the patients' medical notes. Make clinical judgements about patients and adjust treatment plans accordingly in order to achieve treatment targets. Participate in the expansion of nursing practice using protocols or Independent Nurse Prescribing, as required of the role. Work closely and network with other nurse specialists to share practice and provide a uniformly high standard of care. Refer patients with complex medical and social needs to community adult support services as their condition requires. Support the development of an individualised end of life plan, including an advanced care plan, in consultation with the patient and their family/partner/carers Learning and development Attend mandatory training updates as required. Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process. Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales. Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager Participate in the Trusts appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.