Job summary
Pre-Operative Assessment Nurse, Band 5
An opportunity has arisen for a enthusiastic and dynamic Band 5 Nurse to join our Nurse Led Pre-operative Assessment team.
You will be flexible, committed to maintaining and improving high standards of patient care and experience. We assess elective patients from multiple specialties to ensure that they are safe and fully optimised for General anaesthetic.
Main duties of the job
The purpose of this role is to provide comprehensive preoperative clinical assessment, as well as detailed advice and counselling for surgical patients and their carers.The post holder will act as a junior team member, supported by senior colleagues whilst developing skills specific to the preoperative care environment.
The post holder will be:
- Responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation and delivery of care packages for patients undergoing POA for elective surgery
- Responsible for a defined caseload of patients
Key working relation relationships
The post holder will work closely and collaboratively as part of the Preoperative Assessment Team (POA) and with all health care professionals involved in the care pathway of the elective and urgent surgical patient, including:
- Preoperative assessment team on a day to day basis
- All Clinical and administrative staff that support the surgical patient journey
- Admissions and scheduling staff across all surgical directorates
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals,Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.
We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people.Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's,in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We're one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for -our staff says they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as 'Good' in all five of the main domains of safe,effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of 'Good'. We've also been awarded an'Outstanding' rating for 'use of resources' by an NHS Improvement inspection.
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing significant Capital year on year in our estate.We have recently completed a £30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminsterand are planning an ambitious £60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Manage and deliver care in the POA setting for a variety of patients undergoing surgical procedures with reference to senior colleagues.
- Develop skills in interviewing so as to elicit an accurate patient history suitable to form the basis of a comprehensive preparation for surgery
- Undertake clinical interventions, request appropriate investigations and communicate findings as relevant to other members of the MDT with reference to senior colleagues
- Review results of investigations in a timely manner to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays which may jeopardise the agreed date for surgery
- Develop ability to confidently discuss risks and benefits of surgery and anaesthesia with patients, providing a high standard of patient information and further information sources when required
- With the support of senior colleagues, develop expertise in active listening and counselling skills, with the aim of becoming an effective advocate for patients.
- Maintain a high standard of professionalism in behaviour and appearance at all times
- Develop an expert understanding of the surgical patient pathway and the role of POA within it
- Promote effective communication between interested groups
- Ensure due and equal regard is given to the customs, values, religious and spiritual beliefs of all patients and colleagues.
- Safeguard and maintain all patient documentation in accordance with the NMC guidelines on documentation
- Take responsibility for a patient caseload as appropriate for developing level of competence
- Communicate with patients and relatives in a sensitive manner appropriate to the situation providing information and reassurance
- Protect patient confidentiality and act according to the Data Protection Act
- Understand that the needs of the service requires that team members are flexible with annual leave, study leave and off duty requests, and that a minimum level of cover is required at all times
- Undertake any reasonable and relevant clinical or non-clinical functions commensurate with banding as required by POA Lead Nurse
- Practice in accordance with the Trusts Nursing & Midwifery strategy.
- Act in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and guide others to do the same
PLEASE SEE JD/PS FOR FULL JOB DUTIES
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Manage and deliver care in the POA setting for a variety of patients undergoing surgical procedures with reference to senior colleagues.
- Develop skills in interviewing so as to elicit an accurate patient history suitable to form the basis of a comprehensive preparation for surgery
- Undertake clinical interventions, request appropriate investigations and communicate findings as relevant to other members of the MDT with reference to senior colleagues
- Review results of investigations in a timely manner to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays which may jeopardise the agreed date for surgery
- Develop ability to confidently discuss risks and benefits of surgery and anaesthesia with patients, providing a high standard of patient information and further information sources when required
- With the support of senior colleagues, develop expertise in active listening and counselling skills, with the aim of becoming an effective advocate for patients.
- Maintain a high standard of professionalism in behaviour and appearance at all times
- Develop an expert understanding of the surgical patient pathway and the role of POA within it
- Promote effective communication between interested groups
- Ensure due and equal regard is given to the customs, values, religious and spiritual beliefs of all patients and colleagues.
- Safeguard and maintain all patient documentation in accordance with the NMC guidelines on documentation
- Take responsibility for a patient caseload as appropriate for developing level of competence
- Communicate with patients and relatives in a sensitive manner appropriate to the situation providing information and reassurance
- Protect patient confidentiality and act according to the Data Protection Act
- Understand that the needs of the service requires that team members are flexible with annual leave, study leave and off duty requests, and that a minimum level of cover is required at all times
- Undertake any reasonable and relevant clinical or non-clinical functions commensurate with banding as required by POA Lead Nurse
- Practice in accordance with the Trusts Nursing & Midwifery strategy.
- Act in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and guide others to do the same
PLEASE SEE JD/PS FOR FULL JOB DUTIES
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse Level 1
- Evidence of post registration study
Desirable
- Competence in additional technical skills, diploma or degree education
Experience
Essential
- Post registration experience in perioperative care with good understanding of the surgical pathway
- Experience of taking a clinical history from patients
- Experience of handling a caseload of patients
Desirable
- Previous experience in POA ,anaesthesia or theatres
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of POA and current nursing and NHS issues
- Ability to identify significant aspects of a clinical history
- Time management and prioritisation skills ,good communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work under pressure and flexibility as part of a team ,competent user of hospital IT systems
- Ability to work unsupervised whilst maintaining expected standards
- Ability to make decisions about a plan of care
Desirable
- Ability to supervise others
- Teaching and assessing skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse Level 1
- Evidence of post registration study
Desirable
- Competence in additional technical skills, diploma or degree education
Experience
Essential
- Post registration experience in perioperative care with good understanding of the surgical pathway
- Experience of taking a clinical history from patients
- Experience of handling a caseload of patients
Desirable
- Previous experience in POA ,anaesthesia or theatres
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of POA and current nursing and NHS issues
- Ability to identify significant aspects of a clinical history
- Time management and prioritisation skills ,good communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work under pressure and flexibility as part of a team ,competent user of hospital IT systems
- Ability to work unsupervised whilst maintaining expected standards
- Ability to make decisions about a plan of care
Desirable
- Ability to supervise others
- Teaching and assessing 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).
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).