Respiratory Nurse Specialist RCAS Respiratory Virtual Ward

Job summary

As a respiratory specialist nurse, the post holder is responsible for ensuring the effective running of the department in the absence of the Senior Respiratory Nurse Specialist.

The post holder will take part in the provision of the Respiratory Clinical Assessment Service (RCAS) and consultant led Respiratory Infection Virtual Ward/Hospital at Home and other services within the department, such as face-to-face/telephone outpatient clinics/MDTs.

Main duties of the job

Virtual wards should be available as an option for registered professionals to refer adults who have a primary diagnosis of suspected/confirmed respiratory infection and, are stable or have an improving clinical trajectory but require ongoing monitoring.

The service is intended for patients who require acute level care and would otherwise be in hospital. The virtual ward supports both an admission alternative to hospital and early supported discharge from hospital.

The specialist nurse will assist in patient identification, assessment, treatment and evaluation following a local framework/pathway to ensure effective hospital discharge/appropriate length of stay follow up and onward referral for a specific group of patients plus admission avoidance.

They will provide acute clinical care delivered by a multidisciplinary team, led by a named consultant and nurse with clear lines of clinical responsibility and governance. Having a clearly defined criteria to admit and reside, supported by daily clinical review, by an MDT, to provide a safe and robust service. Pathways will support early recognition of deterioration and appropriate escalation processes in place to maintain patient safety.

The successful candidate will provide informal/formal teaching/education to patients, their relevant others and the wider multidisciplinary team in primary and secondary care.

About us

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust strongly encourages new starters to have the Covid-19 vaccine. However, it is not a mandatory requirement to work for us.

HUTH has two main sites: Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital with an annual budget of approximately £500 million. The Trust employs around 11,000 staff and serves an extended population of 1.25 million, delivering a number of outpatient services from locations across the area.

The Trust's secondary care service portfolio is comprehensive, covering the major medical and surgical specialties, routine and specialist diagnostic services and other clinical support services. These services are provided primarily to a catchment population of approximately 600,000 in the Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire area.

HUTH provides specialist and tertiary services to a population of 1.25 million extending from Scarborough in North Yorkshire to Grimsby and Scunthorpe in North East and North Lincolnshire respectively.