Job responsibilities
Professional
Leadership/Management
· To act as a highly
specialist, clinical expert in palliative nursing, taking a lead role in
advancing the development of clinical practice within the inpatient unit.
· To act as an
autonomous, registered practitioner who is legally and professionally
accountable for unsupervised actions in accordance with organisation
guidelines and protocols and the NMC Code of Professional Practice for
Nurse/Midwives and Health Visitors
· To act as a resource
for the nursing team within the inpatient unit.
· To act as a
professional role model.
· To participate in the
development of inpatient palliative care in line with current legislation, national
and local palliative guidelines and policy directives.
· To actively develop
and audit relevant clinical and organisational standards of care, in order to
evaluate the effectiveness of service provision.
· To ensure that service
policies, procedures or protocols are developed and monitored for use in the
inpatient unit.
· Demonstrate leadership
by means of:
-
Effecting change within own sphere of practice when and
where indicated
-
Making recommendations to improve services and act as a
specialist resource for other professionals
-
Influencing, motivating, supporting and enabling others to
participate in the delivery of high quality and effective inpatient
palliative care.
Clinical Practice
· Work autonomously and
collaboratively with other members of the MDT to ensure the provision of high-quality
palliative care.
· Demonstrate and
utilise highly developed palliative nursing knowledge and skills in the
delivery of patient care.
· Accurately assess
patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems, by obtaining a
comprehensive clinical history and undertaking a thorough clinical
examination.
· Using decision making
and problem-solving skills formulate a differential diagnosis.
· As necessary, order,
perform and interpret relevant and appropriate screening and diagnostic
investigations.
· Following diagnosis,
both autonomously and in conjunction with medical and nursing staff, monitor
and manage the ongoing clinical and nursing care needs of palliative care
patients within the inpatient unit.
· Prioritise complex
palliative care issues and intervene appropriately, including the rapid
assessment of acutely symptomatic and unstable patients and the initiation of
effective care.
· Effectively
communicate sensitive information to patients and relatives
· Prescribe medication
within the boundaries of professional competence and evaluate therapeutic
effectiveness of chosen treatment, reviewing as necessary
· Advise patients
regarding drug regimes, side effects and interactions
· Integrate appropriate non-drug-based
treatment methods into patient management plans.
· Evaluate results of
interventions, revise plans accordingly and consult or refer when needed.
· When appropriate,
liaise with other nursing and medical, colleagues, administrative staff and in-patient
co-ordinators to optimise smooth transition of patients through the
presentation of illness with strongly identified processes to timely and
efficient discharge from inpatient care.
· Establish and maintain
effective communication between patients, carers, members of the MDT and
professionals within the wider palliative community.
· Collect, collate,
document, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patient
records.
· Act at all times
within the NMC’s Code of Conduct, working within clinical and professional
protocols, boundaries and guidelines.
Clinical Governance
· Support, initiate and
promote evidence-based practice, contribute to the development, monitoring
and evaluation of clinical guidelines, standards and protocols and adhere to
professional regulation.
· Participate in the
critical review of complaints, compliments and significant event analysis
with a view to the continual improvement of patient care.
· Identify the need and
undertake research and clinical audit in order to inform practice and improve
the effectiveness of patient care
· Analyse data and
disseminate findings through presentation to relevant and interested parties
and produce reports and action plans.
· Develop and implement
policies, procedures and guidelines related to the nurse practitioner role in
conjunction with senior nursing and medical staff.
· Promote patient and
public involvement in the development of services to improve patient care.
· Ensure that systems
are in place to identify and minimise all risks associated with the delivery
of patient care with particular reference to clinical risk management.
Education and training
· Maintain own clinical
excellence and competence, identifying learning and development needs through
regular self-evaluation, peer review and job evaluation.
· Have a senior medical
facilitator to provide mentorship and supervision for an appropriate period whilst
developing the ongoing clinical skills required.
· Act as an educational
resource for all professional groups within the organisation, delivering teaching
within and external to the organisation
· Participate or lead on
research and evaluation to enhance and develop professional practice
· Act as a mentor to pre
and post registration nursing staff.
· Engage in reflective
practice and clinical supervisor, in recognition of the high level of
emotional impact of the role.
· Ensure personal
appraisal and personal development plans are updated in order to meet
revalidation requirements.
