Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main responsibilities

Work autonomously to admit patients to the inpatient unit and care for them during their admission for end of life care, symptom management or respite.

Along with the rest of the medical team, nursing team and consultants, provide care for inpatients, outpatients and patients attending wellbeing or rehab appointments if needed, including initial assessment, daily reviews, planning and management.

To identify and address the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of patients and the emotional, spiritual and psychological needs of their families and friends.

As an independent prescriber, prescribes medicines for patients in accordance with local policies, national standards and formularies relating to independent prescribing.

Work closely with and support the nursing team and wider MDT, maintaining positive working relationships and close team work.

Communicate compassionately with patients and their families regarding their condition, treatment, prognosis and advanced care planning.

Participate in on-call rota (1:4 or 1:8 weekends), being on-site Saturday morning and available to attend from 9-5 Saturday and Sunday (1 day off in lieu provided following the on-call weekend).

Participate in clinical meetings as part of the MDT.

Maintain clinical records and complete administrative tasks arising from medical work discharge summaries, GP letters following outpatient appointments, referral letters etc.

Identifies and reports issues and incidents that may affect the quality of palliative care services. Works with the team to ensure the delivery of a safe and effective service.

Liaise closely with external partners such as GPs, SPCT, district nurses, specialist clinical nurses and secondary care.

Develop and maintain high professional standards within the service and promote multidisciplinary team working

To promote and participate in teaching and educational activity, teaching nurses, medical students, GP registrars, colleagues, patients and families.

To participate in clinical governance activities e.g. quality improvement activities and ensure implementation of best practice guidelines.

Promote the ethos of audit in the organisation and identify, support and participate in clinical audits and evaluation of work to improve care and service delivery.

Ensure that effective governance arrangements are implemented and maintained.

To maintain personal development through personal development reviews, monthly 1:1 meetings, clinical supervision, training and appropriate courses, which the hospice will support.

Provide supervision and mentoring to non-medical prescribers and trainee ANPs

There will be opportunities to develop a special interest or lead on programmes depending on skills and interests.

Lead the development of ideas and specialist practice within the scope of the role. Innovates through exploring ideas with others and takes action, thus contributing to different ways of working.

Develop services in conjunction with the service leads, medical and clinical directors and wider team that will improve services for users and contribute to the advancement of palliative care at local, regional and national levels.

Participates in maintaining the profile of Nightingale House Hospice through the presentation of quality improvement initiatives at local, regional and national conferences as appropriate.

Work with the senior nursing team to complete personal development reviews of the nursing team and provide support and mentoring.

Key working relationships

Medical director

Director of clinical and patient services

Palliative care consultants

Hospice doctors (speciality doctors and GPs)

Patient flow team

Ward manager and deputy ward managers

Wellbeing team

Family support team

Pharmacist

Physiotherapists

Occupational therapist

Chaplain

Complementary therapist

Ward Clerk/ clinical administrators

External key relationships

General practitioners

District nurses

Secondary care teams at local hospitals

Specialist clinical nurses

Specialist palliative care team

General Requirements

This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of employment of the Hospice as specified in the staff handbook

Competence You are responsible for limiting your actions to those that you feel competent to undertake. If you have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties, you should immediately speak to your line manager / supervisor.

Risk Management

It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Hospice that they fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards. It is a requirement that you adhere to Nightingale House Hospice Policies, Procedures, Protocols and guidelines at all times.

Health and Safety Requirements of the Hospice

All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable the Hospice to meet its own legal duties including attendance at mandatory training updates and also to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

The post holder must treat all information, whether corporate, staff or patient information, in a discreet, secure and confidential manner in accordance with the provisions of the current data protection legislation and organisational policy. Any breach of such confidentiality is considered a serious disciplinary offence, which is liable to dismissal and / or prosecution under statutory legislation and the hospices disciplinary policy. This duty of confidence continues after the post holder leaves the organisation.

Records Management

As an employee of the hospice, the post holder is legally responsible for all records that they gather, create or use as part of their work within the organisation (including patient health, staff health or injury, financial, personal and administrative), whether paper based or on computer. The post holder should consult the IG Lead if they have any doubt as to the correct management of records with which they work.

Flexibility Statement

The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is therefore not a final list of duties and responsibilities. The Job Description is therefore intended to be flexible and is subject to review and amendment in the light of changing circumstances, following consultation with the post holder.

The post is subject to an enhanced disclosure check with the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS).

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Clinical leadership in a multi professional service
• Reasonable palliative experience in relevant and related specialties
• Partnership working across sectors
• Evidence of delivering formal and informal teaching sessions
• Previous experience of working at an advanced practice level
• Participation in research and audit including appraisal of evidence

Desirable

• Budget management
• Previously worked within a specialist palliative care setting

Qualifications

Essential

• Current NMC registration
• Advanced clinical skills qualification
• Non-medical prescribing qualification and experience
• Masters level Advanced Clinical Practice course

Desirable

• Leadership/ management course relevant to healthcare environment

Skills Knowledge and Behaviour

Essential

• Motivational skills for self and others
• Excellent and advanced communication skills, both multi professional and multi-agency
• Comprehensive physical assessment, history taking and clinical decision making skills
• IT literacy with experience of a range of software, databases and spreadsheets
• Knowledge of drugs used within a specialist palliative care setting
• Understanding of speciality specific advanced practice development at national and local levels
• Understanding of legal, ethical and professional issues of advanced practice
• Able to liaise and network effectively

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

Nightingale House Hospice

Address

Chester Road

Wrexham

Clwyd

LL11 2SJ

Employer's website

https://www.nightingalehouse.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)