Job responsibilities
3. Duties
Professional and Clinical duties include:
To practice as a professional nurse
in direct patient care, ensuring that the dignity, safety and confidentiality
of patients is always respected and that all patients receive the highest
possible standards of holistic care.
To recognise nutritional and
hydration needs of patients and liaise with catering staff to ensure the
provision of appropriate meals; acknowledging and assisting patients that
require assistance with diet and fluids.
To promote professional standards of
behaviour and ensure that junior nursing staff are aware of their personal
accountability and their responsibilities as articulated in the Code of
Professional Conduct of the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).
To be able to contribute to
policies, procedures and service development, assisting in carrying out
regular reviews and audits as appropriate.
To work closely with the multi-disciplinary
team in creating a collaborative and planned approach to patient care.
To maintain personal contact with
patients, relatives and carers ensuring that their psychological, spiritual
and social needs are met.
To maintain custody and storage of
controlled and other drugs, checking and witnessing administration procedures
and strictly adhering to the Hospices Medicines Management policy.
To assist in fostering an atmosphere
of reflective practice, where team members openly discuss the standards of
individual practice and critical incidents are a learning opportunity for
all.
To contribute to the development of
professional nursing practice, demonstrating a commitment to disseminating
information, sharing experiences and identifying opportunities for the
development of services.
To take responsibility for the
accuracy and legibility of patient care records.
To ensure the East Cheshire Hospice
Safeguarding policy is adhered to by being committed to safeguarding the
patients, staff and volunteers from harm, and uphold the responsibility as a
member of staff, to ensure that any concerns are raised and acted upon
immediately. Staff are expected to report concerns, participate in enquiries,
and where appropriate develop a protection plan, reflecting on outcomes to
develop further.
Management and Personnel duties include:
To be able to deputise in the
absence of the Sister and be responsible for all patient support services if
/ when in charge of the unit by ensuring an equal and high quality of service
for all aspects of care.
To assist with the induction,
orientation and development of new or less experienced staff and volunteers
within the team.
To ensure effective communication is
maintained within the team, through formal and informal routes.
To identify and resolve specific
managerial problems that may arise within a shift, when in charge. Reporting difficulties to the Inpatient
Unit Manager, Sister and/or Head of Clinical Services.
To accept responsibility for
specific administrative tasks as delegated by the Head of Clinical Services,
Inpatient Unit Manager or Sister e.g. monitor systems for the ordering of
clinical stores or equipment maintenance and repair.
To assist in promoting a healthy and
safe working environment by ensuring compliance with all legislation and
appropriate regulations. This includes
establishing and maintaining systems for the conducting of Health and Safety
Audits, the completion of risk and COSHH assessments and for the updating and
communication of all relevant policies.
To record and monitor all accidents,
untoward incidents etc. and report to the Sister, Inpatient Unit manager
and/or Head of Clinical Services.
Education & Auditing duties include:
To contribute to the preparation of
Care Quality Commission Annual Self-Assessments and to any inspections as
required.
To be able to demonstrate a
commitment to research-based practice and clinical excellence.
To attend/contribute to an education
programme that consists of multi-disciplinary clinical sessions, attending
conferences, educational programmes; being prepared to share any new
knowledge with colleagues, Healthcare Assistants and student nurses.
To contribute to the development of
East Cheshire Hospice as a centre of excellence, engaging with personal
development plans.
To assist in investigating, in
conjunction with the Head of Clinical Services and Unit Manager, complaints
about aspects of patient care.
To attend statutory and mandatory
training sessions at the request of the Head of Clinical Services.
Control of Infection
Prevention and management of infection is
the responsibility of all members of staff and volunteers working at East
Cheshire Hospice and forms an integral element of patient safety programmes.
Where control of infection regimes are in force they are to be complied with
at all times and staff are reminded of the importance of maintaining a high
standard of personal and environmental hygiene and to follow local protocols.
