Registered Nurse Associate

Job responsibilities

Job Description

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Registered Nurse Associate

Band: 4

Location: Searle House, Exeter EX2 5JJ

Team/Directorate: Rapid Response Team

Responsible To: Exeter Community Team Leader

Responsible For: N/A

Accountable to: Head of Community and Supportive Care Services

2. JOB PURPOSE

To work within the multi-disciplinary team and alongside experienced registered nursing staff to contribute to the ongoing assessment of patients, and to the provision and monitoring of care.

To provide holistic and person-centred care and support for patients, working independently across the full range of nursing activities under the leadership of senior nursing staff.

To promote dignity, encompassing a person centred approach, to positively enhance the lives of patients with complex life limiting illnesses.

3. KEY RESULT AREAS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Main Responsibilities

Provide compassionate, safe and effective care and support to patients and those close to them, to ensure a seamless transition of care across all Hospiscare settings.

Assist in monitoring patients conditions on a continuous basis, in partnership with the patients and those close to them, to ensure appropriate escalation to a more senior nurse when required.

Perform delegated activities in line with professional standards, under the direction of senior registered nurses, in order to provide effective evidence-based care for patients.

Assist with the ongoing assessment of patients and work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team in order to ensure a high standard of nursing care at all times.

Assist in supporting patients to improve and maintain their mental, physical and behavioural health and wellbeing, identifying and reporting changes in a patients condition to a senior registered nurse, to ensure a holistic approach.

Prioritise and manage own workload, recognising where elements of care can safely be delegated to other colleagues, carers and family members, to ensure effective care is delivered for all patients.

Communicate effectively with all patients, relatives, colleagues and others, considering potential barriers to understanding, to ensure dignity and respect are observed.

Adhere to Hospiscare s clinical recordkeeping policy when providing and sharing verbal, digital or written information and instructions, to ensure patient confidentiality is observed at all times.

Undertake safe and effective administration and optimisation of medicines, monitoring the condition and health of patients following administration of medication, in order to comply with Hospiscare policy and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards of proficiency for Nursing Associates.

Infection Prevention and Control

Maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees is everyones responsibility. All staff are required to adhere to Hospiscares Infection Prevention and Control Policy and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control at all times. This includes ensuring personal and team compliance with all relevant policies and procedures, and acting upon or reporting any identified risks.

Disclosure and Barring Service

This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced level check with Adults and Children Barred Lists.

3.2 Key Contacts

Internal:

Exeter Community Team Leader

Community teams

Clinical Co-ordination Centre (CCC)

Head of Community and Supportive Care Services

Inpatient Unit team

Medical team Reception and Front of House team

Supportive Care team

Clinical Administration

Volunteers

Student Nurses and trainees

External:

Patients and those close to them

NHS Community Services

General Practitioners

Residential and Nursing Homes

Social and Domiciliary Care Workers

Providers of out-of-hours services

3.3 Health & Safety

Ensure that Health and Safety guidelines and fire regulations are strictly adhered to

Comply with safe working practices as defined by Hospiscare

Complete online training as and when required

Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by acts or omissions at work

Report any accidents, incidents or near misses as soon as reasonably practicable

Manage own work life balance and general wellbeing, including any relevant pressures in respect of lone working, travel, difficult environments and challenging situations

3.4 General

Be aware of and adhere to Hospiscare policies and procedures at all times

Take part in progress/performance reviews throughout the year

Cooperate with other Hospiscare departments

Attend training courses and complete online training modules as required to meet the requirements of the post

Take responsibility for own personal development, seeking out opportunities to learn new skills

Undertake any other duties as requested by management which are reasonably deemed to be within the scope of the role

3.5 Other

Apply the Hospiscare values and behaviours to every aspect of the role at all times

Promote and maintain the brand standards of Hospiscare

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of the scope of the Nursing Associate role within the multi-disciplinary team and of how the role may contribute to service development
• Understanding and evidence of application of the NMC and other professional codes of conduct, including revalidation requirements
• Understanding of the complexities of working with individuals at times of distress and conflict

Desirable

• Awareness of theoretical nursing models and understanding of their impact on delivery of care
• Awareness of key issues relating to End of Life care including policy developments

Skills

Essential

• Developed time management skills, including the ability to prioritise own delegated workload, and to work as part of a team
• Developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Developed IT skills

Personal attributes

Essential

• Ability to work autonomously and act on own initiative, seeking advice/escalating issues when appropriate
• Flexible and adaptable with the ability to respond positively in a rapidly changing environment.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Ability to evaluate own strengths and development needs
• Ability and willingness to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities, supporting and acting as a role model to students and more junior team members
• Awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all areas of work

Additional requirements

Essential

• Able to participate in the 7 day/week rota
• Able to travel throughout the area covered by Hospiscare
• Capable of fulfilling the physical and manual handling demands of the role, including administering of basic life support

Desirable

• Able and willing to work at different Hospiscare locations on occasion
• Car owner and driver

Qualifications

Essential

• Foundation degree
• Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Desirable

• Palliative care course/qualification
• Qualified equipment prescriber
• Willing to work towards Diploma/higher degree level qualification
• Verification of Death

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of of working under appropriate supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Demonstrable experience of assessing, planning and evaluating treatment and nursing care plans
• Demonstrable experience of management of syringe drivers

Desirable

• Experience of working within specialist palliative care
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Experience of providing and receiving complex sensitive information

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).