Job responsibilities
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
1. Assesses the needs of patients/families and carers; plans, delivers and evaluates high standards of evidenced based nursing care. Demonstrates concise, accurate, timely record keeping, including both written and electronic records. Displays excellent analytical ability and sound decision making in changing clinical situations.
2. Practices in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives and Trust policies, protocols and guidelines. Is accountable for own practice and for appropriate delegation of care he/she gives to colleagues, nursing support workers and students.
3. Recognises deterioration in the physical or mental condition of the patient and takes timely action, appropriately referring to others or working with other agencies as required.
4. Recognises, responds to and appropriately manages emergency situations.
5. Develops competences and practices relevant clinical skills required to deliver care to the patient/client group e.g. venepuncture, cannulation, male catheterization.
Managerial
1. Manages own workload, co-ordinating and prioritising the care he/she delivers. Recognises his/her limitations and escalates to more senior staff if needed.
2. Works as an effective team member. Actively promote excellent team and interdisciplinary relationships.
3. Demonstrates excellent communication skills, including written, verbal and non verbal. Establish and maintain effective communication with individuals/groups about difficult or complex issues. Demonstrate appropriate assertiveness and ability to challenge others when the rights of patients and others may be infringed.
4. Works with team to maintain high standards of cleanliness in the clinical area and an optimum, well maintained Ward/Department environment.
5. Actively promotes diversity, including race diversity, both in the delivery of the Care groups services and in management and development of staff within the clinical area. Assists the Ward/Department Manager to sustain relationships that promote dignity, rights and responsibilities. Identify and take action to address discrimination and oppression.
6. Ensure own practice complies with Data Protection/Confidentiality/Caldicott principles.
7. Take responsibility for safeguarding and compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Teaching and Training
1. Assists in the effective induction, mentorship, teaching, support and development of new staff, students and colleagues.
2. Assists in the promotion/development and maintenance of a culture within the clinical environment, which challenges and questions practice and promotes the quality of thinking amongst practitioners.
3. Contribute to educational and nursing audits and the subsequent implementation of action plans.
4. Provides patients, families and carers with relevant teaching and health promotion.
Role responsibilities
1. Acts with integrity to uphold the reputation of the nursing profession and the Trust. Deliver care with compassion, sensitivity and empathy.
2. Participates in Clinical Governance to maintain and improve standards of patient care. Work as a role model in placing the patients experience at the core of service delivery. Assist in the monitoring and auditing of the quality of care through a range of strategies, including risk management, incident reporting, complaints, research and effectiveness monitoring and clinical audit. Ensure own actions promote quality and alert others to quality issues. Contributes to the development of the service.
3. Demonstrates commitment to the vision and objectives of the clinical area and the Trust. Work with Ward Sister/Charge Nurse to effectively manage the allocated financial and human resources within allocated budget. Demonstrate understanding of the importance of ensuring effective skill-mix and appropriate caseload management at all times.
4. Assists in the monitoring and maintenance of the health, safety and security of self and others in work area. Assists in the identification and assessment risks in work activities. Help to develop strategies to manage these effectively. Work within risk management/Occupational Health legislation and Trust procedures and ensure that colleague for whom the post-holder is responsible works within the same.
Personal development
1. Takes responsibility for attending statutory and mandatory training in accordance with the Trusts training needs analysis and mandatory training matrix. Makes effective use of e-learning opportunities to achieve compliance with mandatory training.
2. Works in partnership with manager to develop and deliver on Specific, Measurable, Achievable and Time framed (SMART) objectives at annual appraisal and personal development planning.
3. Takes responsibility for own continuing professional development and performance, maintaining own portfolio in accordance with re-registration requirements. Is able to identify own development needs in relation to current practice and future plans, setting personal development objectives.
4. Develops own clinical, technical and interpersonal skills, and critical thinking ability to become a competent practitioner. Completes competencies appropriate to grade.
Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.