Tuberculosis/Respiratory Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job description for full details

The specialist nurse will:

Continue to develop advanced knowledge and skills within specialist sphere ofpractice.

Contribute to the facilitation of the planning, delivery and evaluation of care pathwaysfor a designated group of patients.

Support the development of nursing practice within the specialist field through theuse of evidence based practice and in line with agreed national standards, andcontribute to the body of nursing knowledge.

Work as an autonomous practitioner within their sphere of practice.

Continuously improve clinical standards in line with clinical governance framework.

Exercise accountability as set out in the NMC Code.

Makes contact with all new cases whether in hospital or community.

Ensures that they understand the diagnosis.

Ensures that infectious patients are aware of their responsibilities with regard tofurther spread of infection and require isolation at start of treatment. Providessupport and supervision to all TB patients throughout their treatment.

Assesses compliance with treatment and effectiveness of treatment by clinicalobservation based on theoretical knowledge of and experience of the potentialcomplications of tuberculosis and the complications of chemotherapy.

Advises patients, relatives and their GPs of possible complications of TB therapyand of strategies to manage those which may not require significant intervention.

Monitors patients to ensure that serious side effects from treatment and/or druginteractions are recognised early, and in those situations advises stopping oftreatment and arranges urgent consultation with a specialist in infectious diseasesor respiratory medicine. TB Nurse Specialists take such decisions independentlyand the GP informed.

Assesses likelihood of non-compliance with TB treatment by looking at all aspectsof the clients situation and their support network (if any) and decides on the needfor directly observed therapy (DOTS), in accordance with NICE guidance. Clientsare likely to need this including vulnerable individuals or groups who may presentwith challenging behaviour.

Directly Observed Therapy (DOTS) may be delivered daily or three timesweekly. This will be delivered in the patients home or place of residents.

The TB Nurse Specialist will visit the client at prearranged times and places,delivers the correct dose of medicine and watches while the person swallows it.

The TB Nurse Specialist, because of the need for compliance with DOTs, has tobuild good working relationships with people with complex needs in order to gaintheir trust and to help them complete the required course of treatment for theirpersonal benefit and to minimise the risk to the public of transmission of diseaseand the development of drug resistant TB.

May be asked to administer BCG for other cohorts in nurse led clinics.

Co ordinate and manage contact tracing and outcomes.

Co ordinate and ,assist in the management of any TB outbreaks, in line with NICEGuidance and with Respiratory Consultant guidance.

Work closely with UK health security and the Home Office to ensure all asylumseekers/ refugees displaced to the area are screened for Tb according to NiceGuidance.

Contribute to training and education within specialist area.

Provide expert specialist clinical advice and support to patients and clinical staff withinthe Trust on the management and care of patients within the specialist area.

Provide direct access for patients, either face to face or telephone consultation .

Represent the service nationally.

Play a key role in ensuring that national and local standards/targets for the specialistarea are met.

Manage/lead nurse led clinics in relation to reviewing patients and play a key role inoptimising complex treatment regimes, facilitating hospital discharge and preventingavoidable hospital admissions.

Undertake research relevant to the needs of the specialist practice.

Comply with the Trusts vision, values and behavioural compact.

Qualifications

Essential

• Current 1st level NMC registration.
• Degree in nursing studies or relevant clinical degree (UK equivalent).
• Masters level study, or equivalent specialist study/experience.
• Mentorship certificate/Practice Assessor training or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Clinical skills accreditation.
• Non-medical prescribing or willingness to complete.

Desirable

• Leadership and Management Course.
• Basic knowledge of financial management.
• TB specific qualification / study.

Physical Skills

Essential

• Ability to assist patients to move as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.
• Carrying teaching equipment such as laptop, stationary, etc.
• Manual dexterity and up to date working knowledge of equipment, e.g. syringe drivers, infusion pumps, etc.
• UK driving license.

Experience

Essential

• Extensive post registration experience, some of which will be at a senior level within the required specialist area of practice.
• Experience in the management of TB patients.
• Experience of care delivery.
• Experience of leading a team.
• Evidence of leading innovation in practice.
• Evidence of leading change management.
• Evidence of practice development.
• Experience of coordinating care for a caseload of patients.

Desirable

• Budget Management.
• Participation in recruitment and selection process.
• Experience in Nurse led TB patient management.
• Project management.
• Experience in conducting research and critiquing clinical evidence.
• Experience in implementing quality frameworks.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Advanced specialist knowledge and skills within specialist sphere of practice.
• Good/intermediate IT skills.
• Effective presentation/report writing skills.
• Thorough understanding of contemporary nursing issues.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Knowledge of how to facilitate learning.
• Leadership skills.
• Knowledge of current professional and clinical governance issues.
• Knowledge of research and clinical audit
• Knowledge and experience of handling complex relationships and
• interpersonal dynamics.
• Venepuncture, cannulation and IV drug administration.
• Proven interpersonal skills.
• Practice assessor / practice assessor skills.
• Counselling and appraisal skills.
• Evidence of competency in relation to nursing practices appropriate to the post.
• Time management.
• Ability to assess, deliver, evaluate and benchmark quality care.

Desirable

• Qualification in TB.
• Resource management skills.

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).