Staff Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1. Providing and delivering a high standard of nursing care by initiating and co-ordinating the assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating of individual patients needs based on evidence. This includes all aspects of care from admission to discharge.

2. Reporting and documenting all relevant nursing/patient needs, communicating changes with other health care professionals in the multi-disciplinary team with ongoing responsibility for patient care as they occur.

3. Engaging and interacting with carers and family, encouraging them to be actively involved in patients care planning as outlined in ward / unit philosophy.

4. Promoting and delivering health education within the clinical area and advise patients family and/or significant others in health promotion issues.

5. Demonstrating and undertaking evidence-based practice playing an active part in the introduction of this evidence to improve patient centred care.

6. Assisting other clinical areas within the trust if the clinical situation or staffing levels demand.

7. Supervising and directing Health Care Assistants with their daily workload.

8. Communicating with patients, relatives and outside agencies as appropriate, within the confines of the Data Protection Act and Patient Confidentiality.

9. Implementing and sharing good infection control practice.

10. Undertaking manual handling assessments and ensuring identified actions are met.

11. Initiating the reporting of an untoward incident such as complaints, clinical emergencies, and injury or drug administration errors and taking immediate actions as appropriate.

12. Demonstrating an awareness of and compliance with Health and Safety regulations / Procedures that apply to staff, patients and visitors within the trust premises, reporting any deficiencies in equipment, furnishings or matters of hygiene.

13. Contributing towards maintaining the set standard of clinical practice. Participating in Audit and quality monitoring.

14. Managing the Clinical risk relating to individuals or a group of patients care, reporting issues to appropriate senior staff.

15. Efficient and effective use of available resources.

16. Following Preceptorship period, mentor Health Care Assistants and other learners.

17. Attending Ward, Directorate and Trust meetings as appropriate.

18. In exceptional circumstances take charge of the ward in the absence of more senior staff.

19. Maintain active NMC registration.

20. Maintaining and developing your clinical competence in care of patients and specifically those within your area of specialist practice.

21. Development of knowledge to be able to provide clinical advice when requested and as appropriate.

COMMUNICATIONS

1. Maintain good relationships between all members of staff, thus developing professionalism through the unit.

2. Ensure good communication both verbally and via formal documentation with all members of the nursing and multidisciplinary team.

3. Work in partnership with the patient and family and other health care professionals in care planning.

4. Accept responsibility; be aware and able to locate all policies relating to good working practice within the clinical area and able to adhere to both by self and colleagues, and to challenge staff about their location.

5. Ensure carers/family and visitors are aware of policies, standards/guidelines relevant to the patients care or clinical area.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

1. Patients and their support network.

2. Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses and all ward based nursing staff

3. Modern Matron

4. Educational staff

5. Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Consultants, Nurse Practitioners, Infection control nurses.

6. Directorate Manager

7. Consultants and medical teams in area of responsibility.

8. Housekeeping and domestic staff

9. Multidisciplinary team.

10. Portering staff

11. Bank/Agency Nurses and Healthcare Assistants

OTHER

1. Newly qualified nurses will undergo a period of six months Preceptorship, to include six weeks of supernumerary status.

All Job Holders are required to

• Work to the Trust values - Put patients first, Take ownership, Respect others, Be positive, Listen, learn and improve.

• Adhere to Trust policies and procedures, e.g. Health and Safety at Work, Equal Opportunities etc.

• Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training.

• Attend statutory, essential and mandatory training.

• Respect the confidentiality of all matters relating to their employment and other members of staff. All members of staff are required to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

• Comply with the Corporate Governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Trust.

• Comply with the codes of professional conduct set out by the professional body of which registration is required for the post.

• Ensure they are familiar with the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures and safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all necessary actions to reduce risk.

• Ensure the welfare and safety of children within their care. This includes staff who come into contact with children and families in the course of their work as well as those staff who have a specific role with children and families.

• Ensure they attend Child Protection training at the appropriate level within the specified time frame.

• Staff must comply with Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in order to promote safeguarding and prevent abuse to vulnerable people using Trust services.

• Maintain the prevention and control of infection and fully comply with all current Trust Infection Control policies and procedures.

• Take responsibility for any records that they create or use in the course of their duties, in line with the Public Records Act and be aware that any records created by an employee of the NHS are public records and may be subject to both legal and professional obligations.

All Managers are responsible for

Assessing risks and implementing the necessary actions to minimise these risks within their sphere of responsibility. They must also enable staff to attend the relevant statutory and essential training.

Managing attendance in accordance with the Trusts Attendance Management Policy.

All Heads of Departments are responsible for

• Ensuring all necessary risk assessments are carried out within their division, Service Line or department in liaison with relevant sources of specialist support and expertise within the Trust. They must also ensure that the risk management process is completed appropriately.

Note

This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive and is not intended to be totally comprehensive. It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust policies, procedures & guidelines.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registration
• Degree or Diploma in Health Related Subject

Desirable

• Basic Computer Skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Registered Nurse Training Completed

Desirable

• Completed Preceptorship
• Experience of an acute hospital setting

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

• Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Attention to detail
• Time management skills
• Organisiational skills
• Numerate

Desirable

• Ability and experience of directing and supervising others
• Teaching and mentoring skills

Attitudes

Essential

• Works in a calm and organised manner and develops a team approach

Desirable

• Ability to employ stress management strategies to help themselves and others

Other

Essential

• Flexible shift pattern
• May be expected to participate in research and audit

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Honeyford Ward

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)