Job summary
Do you have a background in palliative nursing care?
Do you want to develop your nursing skills into a specialist role and be part of a pro-active multi-disciplinary and professional team, who put excellent patient care as their priority?
Do you have a passion for working collaboratively in an environment of thriving on positive change and making a difference to those with palliative and end of life care needs?
Are you passionate about supporting and empowering patients to live well until their very last moment in their life?
- Through holistic needs assessment
- Providing individually planned care informed by patient wishes
- Supporting patients and their families/carers to have open and honest conversations about their wishes for end of life care
If so, then the role of Registered General Nurse at Pilgrims may be just the job for you!
We are seeking well-motivated and forward thinking professionals to join our multi-disciplinary team, in supporting patients across east Kent.
Main duties of the job
- Providing a high standard of palliative nursing care which reflects evidence based practice, encompasses patient choice and makes best use of valuable resources
- Assessing, planning and implementing individualised and effective patient care and evaluating the outcome
- Communicate with members of the internal and external multi-disciplinary team to ensure the best care for patients whilst on the ward and on discharge
- Providing advice and guidance related to symptom management
- Recognising and appropriately responding to changes in patients conditions
- Acting as an independent prescriber
- Actively contributing to service development
- Being involved in the supervision and education of other health professionals
- Undertaking evidence based projects and audit
- Making recommendations for the development of and changes to working practices and processes as required
About us
As an award-winning employer, Pilgrims provides end of life care services to patients and their families across east Kent.
Our commitment is to provide open, compassionate care and expertise for patients and their families both in the community and in-patient units.
Our Vision
Of a community where people with a terminal illness, and their family and friends, are supported and empowered to live well in mind and body until the very last moment of their life.
Other Benefits
As an Employer of Choice, our commitment to supporting our employees and volunteers is a key priority.
Our hospices offer:
- Modern, friendly and highly professional working environments
- Opportunities for professional development through a range of extensive learning
- Alignment with NHS pay rates and continuity in membership of the NHS pension scheme
- A sense of achievement in supporting a worthwhile cause
- A sense of wellbeing
- A good work-life balance
- Locations across well-populated areas of east Kent all providing very good road and rail links
- NHS and financial discounts i.e. Blue Light Card
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for providing a high standard of palliative nursing care which reflects evidence based practice, encompasses patient choice and makes best use of valuable resources. This includes assessing, planning and implementing individualised and effective patient care and evaluating the outcome.
This role involves delivering nursing care in a variety of settings including the in-patient wards, out-patient clinics, day services and patients homes.
Clinical Responsibilities
- Maintain a high level of nursing care through direct delivery of personal, emotional and psychological care for patients.
- Undertake patient care as directed in the patients care plan in order to meet each patients care needs whilst maintaining independence as much as possible and maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
- Successfully manage clinical emergencies specifically related to palliative care through swift recognition, instigating and carrying out any immediate actions and reporting and sharing information quickly.
- Whilst responsible to the Senior Nurse Manager, the post holder will work competently and confidently without direct supervision to complete delegated work load, including maintaining skill mix and staff planning.
- Facilitate successful discharge, where appropriate, according to patients needs and preferences.
- Maintain safe and effective drug administration by administering all medications and setting up and maintaining subcutaneous syringe drivers according the Pilgrims Hospices and the Nursing and Midwifery Councils codes and guidelines.
Audit/Clinical Audit/Research
- Takes part in audit projects to inform standards of practice and undertakes research in line with own clinical development.
Education/Training/Teaching
- Ensures own knowledge is up to date, undertaking mandatory training and attending workshops and training courses for the benefit of continued personal development, to learn new skills and increase knowledge.
- Takes responsibility for ensuring that new staff receive support and education during induction and acts as a positive role model.
- Promotes the work of the Hospice through collaborative working with clinical and allied professionals, participating in a multi-professional team working approach to support patients, families and carers irrespective of setting.
Administration
- Assess report and manage risks in line with Hospice policies, the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code and other statutory bodies.
- Contributes to the organization and running of the Hospice settings by undertaking administrative tasks as requested (e.g. ward staff rota, patient bookings)
- Maintain adequate levels of drugs, dressings and general stores by ordering according to Hospice practice.
- Promote a high level of consistent nursing care by participating in the development and implementation of clinical policies and protocols.
- Ensure all patient information is electronically recorded in a safe, accurate and contemporaneous manner through familiarity with and daily use of the Infoflex Patient management system and adherence to Hospice IT protocols.
Communication
- Provide sensitive and empathetic emotional and psychological support for patients and carers during the delivery of bad news, discussions relating to terminal care and during and after the event of death.
- Meet with patients carers to address and advise on nursing care, clinical practice, and patient related enquiries. Ensure patients and carers are informed with regard to patient choice, treatment and progress, whilst maintaining respect for the privacy and dignity of the patient.
- Effectively communicate with other agencies to ensure continuity of care between the Hospice, Acute Trust, community and continuing care setting.
- Adopt standards of behaviours in keeping with Pilgrims Hospice mission and core values and the NMC Professional code of conduct.
Personal/Professional Development
- Attends all training and development courses as identified through the appraisal process and takes an active role in maintaining own personal development plan.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for providing a high standard of palliative nursing care which reflects evidence based practice, encompasses patient choice and makes best use of valuable resources. This includes assessing, planning and implementing individualised and effective patient care and evaluating the outcome.
This role involves delivering nursing care in a variety of settings including the in-patient wards, out-patient clinics, day services and patients homes.
Clinical Responsibilities
- Maintain a high level of nursing care through direct delivery of personal, emotional and psychological care for patients.
- Undertake patient care as directed in the patients care plan in order to meet each patients care needs whilst maintaining independence as much as possible and maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
- Successfully manage clinical emergencies specifically related to palliative care through swift recognition, instigating and carrying out any immediate actions and reporting and sharing information quickly.
- Whilst responsible to the Senior Nurse Manager, the post holder will work competently and confidently without direct supervision to complete delegated work load, including maintaining skill mix and staff planning.
- Facilitate successful discharge, where appropriate, according to patients needs and preferences.
- Maintain safe and effective drug administration by administering all medications and setting up and maintaining subcutaneous syringe drivers according the Pilgrims Hospices and the Nursing and Midwifery Councils codes and guidelines.
Audit/Clinical Audit/Research
- Takes part in audit projects to inform standards of practice and undertakes research in line with own clinical development.
Education/Training/Teaching
- Ensures own knowledge is up to date, undertaking mandatory training and attending workshops and training courses for the benefit of continued personal development, to learn new skills and increase knowledge.
- Takes responsibility for ensuring that new staff receive support and education during induction and acts as a positive role model.
- Promotes the work of the Hospice through collaborative working with clinical and allied professionals, participating in a multi-professional team working approach to support patients, families and carers irrespective of setting.
Administration
- Assess report and manage risks in line with Hospice policies, the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code and other statutory bodies.
- Contributes to the organization and running of the Hospice settings by undertaking administrative tasks as requested (e.g. ward staff rota, patient bookings)
- Maintain adequate levels of drugs, dressings and general stores by ordering according to Hospice practice.
- Promote a high level of consistent nursing care by participating in the development and implementation of clinical policies and protocols.
- Ensure all patient information is electronically recorded in a safe, accurate and contemporaneous manner through familiarity with and daily use of the Infoflex Patient management system and adherence to Hospice IT protocols.
Communication
- Provide sensitive and empathetic emotional and psychological support for patients and carers during the delivery of bad news, discussions relating to terminal care and during and after the event of death.
- Meet with patients carers to address and advise on nursing care, clinical practice, and patient related enquiries. Ensure patients and carers are informed with regard to patient choice, treatment and progress, whilst maintaining respect for the privacy and dignity of the patient.
- Effectively communicate with other agencies to ensure continuity of care between the Hospice, Acute Trust, community and continuing care setting.
- Adopt standards of behaviours in keeping with Pilgrims Hospice mission and core values and the NMC Professional code of conduct.
Personal/Professional Development
- Attends all training and development courses as identified through the appraisal process and takes an active role in maintaining own personal development plan.
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Good communication skills
- Organisational and managerial skills
- Teaching skills
- Supervision and staff support skills
- Knowledge of IT and ability to use IT appropriately in the workplace.
- Ability to work in a multi-professional environment
- Flexible approach to working patterns and the changing needs of healthcare
Qualifications
Essential
- First Level registration
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- Post registration Nursing Course (Palliative Care Dip/Degree, ENB 931,237, or equivalent)
Experience
Essential
- Sound experience as registered nurse in specialist palliative care setting or to transfer skills from an associated environment
- Experience with mentoring student / junior nurses.
Desirable
- Mentoring and Assessing in Clinical Practice qualification or equivalent.
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Good communication skills
- Organisational and managerial skills
- Teaching skills
- Supervision and staff support skills
- Knowledge of IT and ability to use IT appropriately in the workplace.
- Ability to work in a multi-professional environment
- Flexible approach to working patterns and the changing needs of healthcare
Qualifications
Essential
- First Level registration
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- Post registration Nursing Course (Palliative Care Dip/Degree, ENB 931,237, or equivalent)
Experience
Essential
- Sound experience as registered nurse in specialist palliative care setting or to transfer skills from an associated environment
- Experience with mentoring student / junior nurses.
Desirable
- Mentoring and Assessing in Clinical Practice qualification or equivalent.
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).
Additional 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).
