Nurse Associate - Care of the Elderly Ward 5B

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under indirect supervision and working in partnership with a Registered Nurse provide and deliver a high standard of nursing care

Maintain understanding of all elements of the nursing process and be able to assist the registered nurse in the on-going assessment, planning, management, and evaluation of care.

Support people with all aspects of individualised care including daily living, providing person-centred care and promoting health and independence through awareness raising and care navigation to other professionals as appropriate.

Provide care that recognises the individual needs of patients, ensuring reasonable adjustments are in place for patients with protected characteristics.

Manage and monitor the condition and health needs of patients within their care following administration of medicines.

Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes related to medicines management.

Perform and record clinical observations including blood pressure, temperature, respirations, pulse, and any additional requirements within the speciality.

Undertake clinical tasks including cannulation, venepuncture, venesection, ECGs as appropriate to competence and setting.

Accurately record nutritional and fluid intake

Ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of people is maintained at all times.

Act in accordance with all organisational policies and procedures and within expected values and behaviours

Actively participate in and attend ward/unit meetings.

Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate.

Report back and share information with the registered nurses on the condition, behaviour, activity and responses of people.

Recognise issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults and report any problems or raise concerns to the appropriate registered care professionals.

Assist in the assessment of and contribute to the management of risk across several areas within the environment where care is being delivered.

Assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional, and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of individuals and carers.

Assist in the delivery of complex care as prescribed by the registered nurse.

Maintain an understanding of caring for individuals with particular conditions, for example dementia, mental illness, learning disabilities.

Maintain skills in relation to coaching/teaching individuals/carers/other staff.

Assist with the implementation and monitoring of clinical standards and outcomes.

Develop a working knowledge of other providers resources and referral systems to ensure individuals needs are met, within parameters of practice.

Engage in reflective practice including management of self and reflection on own reactions, asking questions, and reflecting on answers given.

Demonstrate good understanding of principles of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained prior to undertaking nursing and care procedures.

Demonstrate good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act/Deprivation of Liberties and applies principles to everyday practice seeking advice/guidance from the registered nurse or registered care professional as required.

Communicate effectively across a wide range of channels and with a wide range of individuals, the public, health and social care professionals, maintaining the focus of communication on delivering and improving health and care services.

Demonstrate those inter-personal skills that promote clarity, compassion, empathy, respect and trust

Contribute to team success and challenge others constructively.

Communicate with individuals, carers and other visitors in a courteous and helpful manner, whilst being mindful there may be barriers to understanding.

Report to appropriate registered care professional information received from the individuals, carers and members of the team.

Ensure all patient related information is treated sensitively and always adhere to the principles of confidentiality.

Report any accidents or incidents and raise any concerns as per organisational policy.

Ensure clear, concise, accurate and legible records and all communication is maintained in relation to care delivered adhering to local and national guidance.

Ensure ability to manage electronic records system taking cognisance of need to protect access (ID, passwords, swipe cards)

Exercise personal responsibility and work independently within defined parameters of practice, taking the initiative in a variety of situations and performing a range of clinical and care skills consistent with the role, responsibilities and professional values of being a Nurse Associate

Exercise judgement in assessing patient condition, comfort and wellbeing using analysis of a range of possible factors.

Ensure that only those activities for which competence has been achieved are undertaken without supervision and the recognition is given to the impact and consequences of practising outside capability.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop skills to maintain professional standards of record keeping.

Follow all information governance guidance and policies.

Maintain confidentiality as outlined within data protection policies.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

Comply with mandatory competencies in line with Trust policy.

To actively engage in area specific competency assessments

Contribute to formulation and maintenance of own objectives and personal development plan.

Support, supervise, teach (where appropriate) and act as a role model to trainee nursing associates, student nurses, healthcare support workers and new staff members, promoting reflection and providing constructive feedback.

Contribute to the maintenance of the learning environment.

Adopt a reflective approach to own practice and with a view to continually improve.

Undertake further training as required, prior to carrying our any additional duties identified as relevant to role, to comply with Trust policies and procedures.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

Identify relevant sources of evidence to inform practice.

Critically consider and analyse own practice in light of best available evidence.

Contribute to surveys, audits and research activity as required to own role, supporting recommended changes in practice.

Promote health and safety maintaining best practice in health, safety, and security.

Share ideas with colleagues to improve care and suggest areas for innovation.

Adhere to legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines both local and national.

Regularly attend workplace and staff engagement meetings and contribute positively to discussions about the improvement of care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Foundation Degree / Degree in Nurse Associate program
• GCSE Grade A-C in Maths and English / GCSE Grade 4-9 in Maths and English / Skills Level 2 Maths and English equivalent
• NMC Registration

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in the role of the Nurse Associate in the context of the nursing and multi-disciplinary team.
• Evidence of working effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice
• Appropriate experience specific to the care of frailty patients
• Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans
• Understanding of evidence-based practice
• Experience of providing, receiving, interpreting and using complex, sensitive information
• Experience of working autonomously with patients
• Experience of working in the community

Skills

Essential

• Evidence of time management skills and ability to prioritise workload according to patient need
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
• Ability to maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping; ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date
• Excellent IT skills
• Able to demonstrate working on own initiative within set boundaries
• Able to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, digital, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients, relatives, carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting
• Able to evaluate, act upon and report appropriately a range of clinical values when recording patient's vital signs
• Able to carry out manual handling tasks in relation to direct patient care requirements
• Able to deal with emerging issues in a calm and effective manner

Desirable

• ECG competency

Other

Essential

• Positive approach to work
• Capacity to work with colleagues at all levels
• Open minded, treats colleagues and the general public with dignity and respect
• Demonstrate the Trust core values

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Whiston Hopsital

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR

Employer's website

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