Job Description
Are you looking for a new challenge? Have you completed six months in an acute care setting?
Would you like in depth knowledge, training and support to develop your ED skills? Then come and join our amazing nursing team!!
We have a cohesive and comprehensive development plan which will support you through your career in ED nursing.
We will provide funding and study leave to help progress and grow your ED nursing career that follows the RCN and The National Major Trauma Nursing Group strategies.
This includes in house training with trauma days, emergency nursing skills of plastering and x-ray requesting and triage training as well as The Capital Nurse Emergency Course and mentorship.
We offer flexible working patterns and the opportunity to work with our multi-disciplinary team of an Emergency Consultant Nurse, Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) , Research Nurses and Emergency Nurse Practitioners. We also have a team of Clinical Practice Facilitators that support your educational development and we offer a 4 week super-numeracy induction programme working across all areas of the department.
To work according to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and relevant
professional guidelines as a named nurse or key worker (with facilitation) for a defined group of patients and take responsibility for:
- Protecting and supporting the health of individual patients and clients
- Assessment of care and health education needs
- Development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care
including discharge planning for each patient
2. Under supervision, to gain experience and skills in:
- Clinical practice
- Facilitation and teaching
- Management (as appropriate)
3. To work in accordance with UCLH Nursing and Midwifery Strategy and Core Standards and contribute towards achieving the Trust’s “Top 10” Objectives
4. To maintain effective communication
5. To provide a high standard of holistic patient-centred care
6. *To take charge of the ward/department in the absence of senior nursing staff following performance review against the agreed KSF outline and progression through the first gateway
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically-led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital
Eastman Dental Hospital
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
University College Hospitals at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.
Key working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team, including nursing and medical staff, allied health professionals and support workers
Communication
- Record observations accurately in accordance with the patients' condition.
Interpret and inform the nurse in charge of changing data and respond as directed
- Assist patients to gain access to health and social care, information and support relevant to their needs
- Participate in the promotion and maintenance of effective communication with the patient and their carer(s)
- Provide information which enables patients to make choices about adopting a healthier lifestyle
- Complete patient documentation correctly, appropriately and in a timely manner
- Develop communication skills in order to convey complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers and other staff, overcoming any barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional
events. This includes expanded role responsibilities, following appropriate
training
- Maintain patient confidentiality
- Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and colleagues
Personal and People Development
- Educate patients and their carers as required where a need has been identified
- Participate in annual staff appraisal, staff development and in-service training activities in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework
- Attend Trust/local orientation programmes, mandatory training sessions and annual updates
- Be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, clinical skills and professional awareness in accordance with CPD requirements and maintain a professional profile
- Help maintain a suitable learning environment for staff and act as a facilitator in the supervision and teaching of nursing students and others to develop their competence
- Develop own teaching skills and participate in staff/student education programmes that develop competence and performance
- Assist in the training and development of Health Care assistants and complete assessors training as required
- Act as a preceptor/facilitator/mentor for junior staff nurses
- Take part in reflection and appropriate learning from practice, in order to maintain and develop competence and performance
Health, Safety and Security
- Develop an awareness of personal responsibility with regard to maintenance of a clean environment that is conducive to safe, therapeutic and ethical practice
- Be accountable for and ensure own competence in practice, e.g. use of specialised equipment
- Be aware of own personal/professional limitations and seek help of others to maintain safe practice.
- Assist in promoting nursing practice and care delivery in line with relevant research and evidence base and with reference to trust policies and guidelines
- Identify potential risks for all staff, patients and visitors and adhere to relevant incident reporting procedures
- Assist with the safe custody and administration of drugs in accordance with local and Trust policy and legal requirements
- Handle and dispose of all body fluids in accordance with universal precautions
Service Improvement
- Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of nursing practice standards, guidelines, policies and care pathways
- Contribute to the setting and monitoring of measurable standards of care and be accountable for maintaining standards
- Deliver care based on current evidence, best practice and validated research when available
- Contribute to research and development programmes within the ward/department
- Work with the Practice Development Team in developing and implementing best practice
Quality
- Ensure a welcoming, caring and safe environment is provided for the patient and their family/visitors/carers
- Promote a happy and supportive environment
- Maintain own awareness of the national, professional and local quality issues relevant to the delivery of nursing services
- Uphold quality initiatives that improve ‘customer care’ and enhance the interface between staff, patients and visitors and other wards and departments
within the trust
- Be aware of the role of the nurse in handling complaints in accordance with UCLH policy
- Participate in audit process for monitoring and reviewing nursing quality
- Assist in raising the profile of the “Essence of Care” Benchmarking process and implementing the action plans
Equality and Diversity
- Carry out duties and responsibilities with regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunity policy
- Recognise the importance of people’s rights and act in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures
- Act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples’ expressed beliefs, preferences and choices; respecting diversity and valuing people as individuals
- Take account of own behaviour and its effect on others
Assessment and care planning to meet health and wellbeing needs
- Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients and make changes as necessary
- Produce care plans that are appropriate to the patient’s needs, monitor and update them
- Plan and co-ordinate patients’ discharge arrangements
Provision of care to meet health and wellbeing needs
- Act as a Named Nurse (with facilitation) and maintain accountability for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of care
- Act as an advocate for the patient, providing information and directing them to the relevant support services where appropriate
- Take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
- Respect people’s dignity, wishes and beliefs; involve them in shared decision- making and obtain their consent before undertaking nursing procedures
- Promote a patient focused multidisciplinary approach to care in collaboration with carers, health care professionals and other agencies
- Ensure that treatments prescribed by the medical staff are carried out, and that multidisciplinary team members are informed of changes in the patient’s
condition
- Ensure safe and timely transfer of patients in accordance with UCLH policy
- Ensure safe discharge of patients in accordance with UCLH Discharge Policy
Information Processing
- Use electronic patient records (EPR) and develop other computer literacy skills.
- Collect/record data accurately in accordance with professional guidelines and UCLH Core Standards
The post holder is required to have a minimum of one year’s post-registration experience (preferably in the speciality of the ward area) before they may take
charge of the ward/department in the absence of senior nursing staff. The following section is key to defining this level of practice.
People Management
- Take charge of the shift in the absence of senior staff and co-ordinate the multidisciplinary team
- Supervise and support team members and ensure that all patients receive appropriate care
- Develop skills in efficient and effective resource management, e.g. staffing, equipment and materials
- Assist in the assessment and monitoring of staffing requirements and report problems to the appropriate manager
- Report when the availability of supplies falls below an acceptable standard or level
General
- Adhere to the UCLH Service Commitment "Putting Patients First" and adopt a professional approach to customer care at all times
- Comply with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and treat staff, patients, colleagues and potential employees with dignity and respect at all times
- Take personal responsibility for promoting a safe environment and safe patient care by identifying areas of risk and following the Incident, Serious Incidents and Near Misses reporting policy and procedure
- Take personal responsibility for ensuring that UCLH resources are used efficiently and with minimum wastage, and to comply with the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs)
- Comply with Trust policies for personal and patient safety and for prevention of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI); this includes a requirement for rigorous and consistent compliance with Trust policies for hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment and safe disposal of sharps
- In accordance with the Trust's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to undertake work and alternative duties as reasonably directed at variable locations in the event of and for the duration of a significant internal incident, major incident or pandemic
- Be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures, the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Data Protection Act
- Maintain confidentiality at all times