Job responsibilities
2. Job Purpose
The Junior Sister will work to a
high standard and provide individualised evidence based patient care. He/she will take part in the admission and
discharge process, assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of
care and the rehabilitation process as part of a multidisciplinary team.
3. Key Areas
To participate, oversee and action a plan of care with
achievable appropriate goals for all patients following admission ensuring
that plans are regularly evaluated and assessed.
To ensure nursing records are written to a high standard
involving the patients and/or relatives if appropriate in decisions about
their care. Most patient records are now electronic with very few paper
records. The Band 6 sister/charge nurse will be required to have a good
working knowledge of the system and be able to support other staff in this.
The post holder must be able to monitor staff using the system and ensure
that all entries are validated and confirmed and that the entry is
appropriate to Your Healthcare standards.
Effective
communication with patients, their relatives/carers, multi-disciplinary team
colleagues and others is essential to the post. The post holder must be
proactive in liaising with social services, district nurses, the discharge
co-ordinator and community matrons particularly when managing the safe
discharge of a patient.
To be proficient in screening and triaging a prospective
patient to the service and liaising with the referrer ensuring that the
admission is appropriate for our service and that all the relevant
documentation is available. This includes looking at the latest blood
results and the medical and social history of the patient the post code
address of the patient and their GP address.
To act as an effective role model for junior colleagues and
to develop leadership skills encouraging CPD for all nurses. Assisting staff
with revalidation, clinical supervision and the appraisal system and
supporting the ward manager in her role.
To act as a Mentor/Facilitator for all new staff who join
the Ward. This includes inductees,
junior members of nursing staff and all student nurses. All student nurses
are allocated a mentor prior to them commencing their placement but it is
considered part of the band 6 role to oversee this and support both mentors
and student nurses.
To maintain an effective and conducive learning environment
within the team ensuring that all team members are included in decision
making and managing change.
To attend Your Healthcare mandatory training as required.
Much of this is now e-learning with some classroom sessions. The band 6
sister/charge nurse is expected to ensure and encourage junior staff to
complete all mandatory training and assist the ward manager in maintaining
records of this.
To continuously update own professional practice and seek
opportunities for CPD and to continually seek development in own clinical
skills.
There is a new Your Healthcare Appraisal system in process
the post holder is expected to participate in this and support the ward
manager with the appraisals of all staff.
The post holder is expected to assist lead nurses and ward
managers in the planning and implementation of clinical supervision for all
staff.
To participate and assist ward managers and clinical lead
nurses in audits as required.
To manage own time effectively by prioritising work.
To act for the Ward Managers in their absence ensuring that
operational and clinical standards are maintained ensuring that all staff are
aware that the ward manager and junior sister/charge nurse have the same
values and expectations at all times.
To represent the ward at various meetings, Link Groups etc
as directed by Ward Manager.
To ensure that incidents, accidents, drug errors and near
miss events are reported according to Your Healthcare policy.
To be prepared to assist clinical lead nurses and ward
managers in the process of managing the investigation of complaints if they
occur.
To assist in the management and organisation of the staff
and ward routine and ensure a suitable skill mix is maintained.
To abide by the NMC Code of Conduct and other standards at
all times.
To undertake any other duties as designated by the Ward
Manager/Clinical Lead Nurses within sphere of skills and experience
Communications
and Working Relationships
Ward Manager
Senior Nurses
Medical Staff
Therapy Staff
Human Resources
Leadership Team
Patients/Carers/relatives
Faculty of HealthCare Sciences
Decision Making
The post holder is expected to use
his/her own initiative to make decisions depending on level of knowledge and
experience, but should refer to the Ward Manager/Clinical Lead for support and
guidance.
