Job summary
Title: Acute Coronary Syndrome Specialist Nurse
Grade: Band 7 (1 WTE)
Reports to:Matron
Accountable to: Cardiology Matron/Clinical Lead in Cardiology Clinical Director
An exciting opportunity for a registered nurse with a specialist interest in Acute Coronary Syndrome to join our team. The successful applicant will have experience of working with patients with acute coronary syndrome and have a good understanding of their needs. They will be expected to provide outpatient clinics, assessment of patients in ED and on going support for patients with ACS. Help deliver support groups for our patient groups. See full Job Description for more details.
Main duties of the job
The applicant will initially be employed as a band 6 and may progress to a band 7 on completion of band 7 essential competencies, being able to work autonomously, and on obtaining the non medical prescribing qualification
On a daily basis being responsible for assessing patients with cardiac symptoms as they present acutely to the hospital or reviewing those who are already in patients who develop cardiac conditions. Autonomously work to formulate and facilitate safe effective evidence based care dependant on the patient's requirement. Liaising with colleagues and the wider cardiology team to ensure patients are admitted to the right area at the right time to ensure safe, timely and appropriate care.
The role is to provide leadership and clinical support to all levels of medical and nursing staff. The base is predominantly at CRH but cross site working is expected if the clinical need arises.
The role encompasses aspects of education, audit and research but primarily is direct patient care.
About us
We employ more than 6,500 staffwho deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals,Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, healthcentres and in patients' homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.
We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children's and young people's services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.
We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation.Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS- yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boardslisten to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members - patients, staff andthe local community.
Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See full job description.
Main Tasks
- Assessment and triage of patients with an acute cardiac problem facilitating seamless up to date care, and admission to the most appropriate ward area. Ensure practice is in accordance with current N.I.C.E /ESC guidance.
- Work autonomously to offer a diagnosis, plan and treat, which may include prescribing medications and referring for procedures.
- Effective communication, providing information to patients and their relatives about the plan of care while in hospital and liaising with the wider cardiology team.
- Identify patients which are suitable for coronary angiogram and list accordingly. Effective communication with senior cardiology doctors. Also, support the angiogram team by ensuring patients are in the necessary clinical area so assisting the smooth running of the angiogram list, highlighting any clinical urgency or potential contraindications for those referred
- To advise, and if necessary transfer patients who require emergency transfer to Leeds for pPCI/acute cardiac care, including life threatening arrhythmias. Offering support to staff members and reassurance for patients and their families.
- Provide an In reach cardiology service for both CRH and HRI
- Having an active role in the allocation of cardiology beds at CRH. This will include managing gender breaches within CCU, formulating effective plans to step patients down to the cardiology wards, ensuring bed availability in a timely nature to accommodate out patients requiring intervention i.e. pace-maker or elective angiogram, as well as those from HRI and LGI, and inter ward transfers. Working in partnership with the established bed team.
- Prescribe any medications as part of the acute assessment and treatment of the patient, so ensuring treatment is timely and safe, as well as up-titrating medications within the post MI nurse led clinic
- Write TTOs for those admitted with an acute cardiac problem but who do not have complex comorbities/polypharmacy.
- Run independent Post MI nurse led out-patient clinics
- To act as a role model within both cardiology and the wider hospital. Provide support and education for members of the nursing and medical team. Offer assistance and support to nursing and medical staff in acute care conditions whereby a patient may present or become suddenly unwell. Offer sensitive and constructive feedback to staff to aid development and improve knowledge base and standards of care.
- To collect audit data and maintain a number of databases to support the work of the cardiac nurses, to provide feedback on the service and care delivered to cardiac patients. Participate in the national audit (MINAP).
- Participate in multi professional formal and informal teaching to update medical and nursing staff with the evidence based practice within cardiology
- To work within the NMC Code of Professional Practice, and within policies, procedures and guidelines of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See full job description.
Main Tasks
- Assessment and triage of patients with an acute cardiac problem facilitating seamless up to date care, and admission to the most appropriate ward area. Ensure practice is in accordance with current N.I.C.E /ESC guidance.
- Work autonomously to offer a diagnosis, plan and treat, which may include prescribing medications and referring for procedures.
- Effective communication, providing information to patients and their relatives about the plan of care while in hospital and liaising with the wider cardiology team.
- Identify patients which are suitable for coronary angiogram and list accordingly. Effective communication with senior cardiology doctors. Also, support the angiogram team by ensuring patients are in the necessary clinical area so assisting the smooth running of the angiogram list, highlighting any clinical urgency or potential contraindications for those referred
- To advise, and if necessary transfer patients who require emergency transfer to Leeds for pPCI/acute cardiac care, including life threatening arrhythmias. Offering support to staff members and reassurance for patients and their families.
- Provide an In reach cardiology service for both CRH and HRI
- Having an active role in the allocation of cardiology beds at CRH. This will include managing gender breaches within CCU, formulating effective plans to step patients down to the cardiology wards, ensuring bed availability in a timely nature to accommodate out patients requiring intervention i.e. pace-maker or elective angiogram, as well as those from HRI and LGI, and inter ward transfers. Working in partnership with the established bed team.
- Prescribe any medications as part of the acute assessment and treatment of the patient, so ensuring treatment is timely and safe, as well as up-titrating medications within the post MI nurse led clinic
- Write TTOs for those admitted with an acute cardiac problem but who do not have complex comorbities/polypharmacy.
- Run independent Post MI nurse led out-patient clinics
- To act as a role model within both cardiology and the wider hospital. Provide support and education for members of the nursing and medical team. Offer assistance and support to nursing and medical staff in acute care conditions whereby a patient may present or become suddenly unwell. Offer sensitive and constructive feedback to staff to aid development and improve knowledge base and standards of care.
- To collect audit data and maintain a number of databases to support the work of the cardiac nurses, to provide feedback on the service and care delivered to cardiac patients. Participate in the national audit (MINAP).
- Participate in multi professional formal and informal teaching to update medical and nursing staff with the evidence based practice within cardiology
- To work within the NMC Code of Professional Practice, and within policies, procedures and guidelines of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- First or Second level registration.
- Nursing degree
- Post registration certificate to support either cardiology/acutely ill patients
- Supporting learning in practice (teaching/assessing) qualification.
- ALS
- Independent prescribing
Desirable
- willingness to undertake non medical prescribing
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Have sound clinical knowledge of current cardiology conditions management and treatment.
- Have recent and relevant acute cardiology experience
- Understand how bed availability can affect patient care within cardiology and the wider influence
- Have experience of working in an acute cardiology area
- Evidence of working across multidisciplinary/organisational boundaries
Desirable
- Experience of patient flow and bed management.
TRAINING
Essential
- Venepuncture
- Cannulation
- Advanced ECG recording and interpretation
- Echo report interpretation
Desirable
- Demonstrate a willingness to develop self to fulfil the requirements of the role
- Chest auscultation
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE / EXPERTISE
Essential
- Sound knowledge of IHD and guidelines which affect/influence patient care.
- Post registration cardiology study
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Non-medical prescriber
PRACTICAL / INTELLECTUAL SKILLS.
Essential
- Demonstrate how to motivate self and others.
- Ability to communicate with senior members of the cardiology team.
- Have the ability to formulate independent decisions safely with regard to patient care provision.
Desirable
- Awareness of Trust and National Guidelines for patients with ACS.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- First or Second level registration.
- Nursing degree
- Post registration certificate to support either cardiology/acutely ill patients
- Supporting learning in practice (teaching/assessing) qualification.
- ALS
- Independent prescribing
Desirable
- willingness to undertake non medical prescribing
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Have sound clinical knowledge of current cardiology conditions management and treatment.
- Have recent and relevant acute cardiology experience
- Understand how bed availability can affect patient care within cardiology and the wider influence
- Have experience of working in an acute cardiology area
- Evidence of working across multidisciplinary/organisational boundaries
Desirable
- Experience of patient flow and bed management.
TRAINING
Essential
- Venepuncture
- Cannulation
- Advanced ECG recording and interpretation
- Echo report interpretation
Desirable
- Demonstrate a willingness to develop self to fulfil the requirements of the role
- Chest auscultation
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE / EXPERTISE
Essential
- Sound knowledge of IHD and guidelines which affect/influence patient care.
- Post registration cardiology study
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Non-medical prescriber
PRACTICAL / INTELLECTUAL SKILLS.
Essential
- Demonstrate how to motivate self and others.
- Ability to communicate with senior members of the cardiology team.
- Have the ability to formulate independent decisions safely with regard to patient care provision.
Desirable
- Awareness of Trust and National Guidelines for patients with ACS.
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).
