Nursing Associate

Job summary

Nursing Associate is a new role being introduced into the health and care workforce in England from 2019. It is a generic (not defined by a field of nursing) but within the discipline of nursing. Nursing associates are intended to bridge a gap between health and care assistants, and registered nurses. Nursing Associates are a new profession, accountable for their practice.

Nursing Associates are expected to act in the best interests of people, putting them first and providing nursing care that is person-cantered, safe and compassionate at all time adhering to Trust values and policies. Nursing Associates are expected to apply their six NMC proficiencies in all day to day activities.

Nursing Associates are integral part of stroke multidisciplinary team and are expected to provide highest standard of holistic nursing care to stroke patients and support the team in attaining key performance indicators of stroke care quality standards.

Main duties of the job

• Apply appropriate elements of nursing care process and be able to assist the RN in on-going assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care.
• Perform and record clinical observations including;
  • Accurately measure weight/height, calculate BMI, recognise healthy ranges and clinically significant out of range readings.
  • Use devices to measure, record and interpret vital signs, identify parameters of concerns and report appropriately.
  • Recognise and escalate signs of safe-guarding concerns, self-harm, suicidal ideation or other mental health problems.
  • Assess patients who are vulnerable using Enhanced Observation criteria given by the Trust and escalate for concerns.
  • Assist in NG tube insertion, take care of parenteral nutrition, accurately chart intake-output levels.
  • Apply VTE prevention devices appropriately and monitor health and safety of patients.
  • Carry out oral medication task safely following Trust protocol once competency is achieved.
  • Position patients safely and follow MH guidance or any other instructions given by the therapists.
  • Assess patient's Falls Risk and input appropriate strategies recommended within the Trust policy.
• Carry out delegated tasks within own competency and recognise own limitations for clinical procedures.
• Work in an effective and organised manner demonstrating excellent time management and organisational skills to effectively deliver person-centred care to allocated patients.

About us

In East Kent Stroke service, we are currently undertaking significant improvement works, supported by a Kent and Medway Stroke Service reconfigurations, with agreed commissioning in place to build new HASU / ASUs site by 2026 and Mechanical Thrombectomy centre by 2024.

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity of Nursing Associate roles within our nursing team. You will be based at Kington ASU with a flexibility to rotate between HASU. Kingston is a 26 bedded inpatient stroke unit with strong ethos of rehabilitation. If you are an already qualified NA, this role will provide you with specialist experience and skills of stroke speciality. But if you are ready to take on a challenge of training and progress to qualify as NA, we are happy to support you.

We offer a full package of benefits, including a car lease scheme; on-site childcare; generous annual leave in line with NHS terms and conditions; high street and public transport discounts; a 24/7 staff support service - and the little things that make life easier, like on-site Amazon lockers and fresh fruit and veg stalls

"Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability."