JOB DESCRIPTION 1. JOB IDENTIFICATION Job Title: Urology Nurse Specialist Responsible to: Department & Base: Date this JD written/updated: 22/10/07 Clinical Service Manager General Surgery / Urology Service, Borders General Hospital Job Reference no.: NM1710 2. JOB PURPOSE The post-holder will work within the NHS Borders Urological Team and in collaboration with tertiary and community services, to deliver a high quality, patient focussed service for patients with urological conditions. She/he will manage a caseload of patients, ensure continuity of care between tertiary and local services, help meet information and support needs and provide nurse led services that improve access and reduce waiting time. She/he will contribute to the development, strategic planning and knowledge base of Specialist Urological Nursing at a local, regional and national level. 3. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION General Manager Associate Director of Nursing / Lead Nurse Acute Services Consultant Urologist Urology Managed Clinical Network SE Scotland Clinical Services Manager Urology Nurse Specialist (this post) Senior Sister Charge Nurse Surgical Wards 4. SCOPE AND RANGE Post- holder sees Borders patients who have been referred by Urologists, GPs, Oncologists, General Surgeons, Physiotherapists and Nurse Specialists. Patients are seen in the Borders General Hospital, peripheral hospitals and patients home if indicated. Post-holder works collaboratively across NHS Borders and Lothian to develop integrated and clinically effective services for patients with benign urological disorders, and urological cancers as required in conjunction with urological cancer nurse specialists The post-holder may be required to work in other wards and departments within NHS Borders.
5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES 5.1 Management of health and illness Provide a high standard of patient care based on the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, involving the patient, those close to them, and the care providers. In attending to referrals and self-referrals of patients, provide an unsupervised, autonomous specialist nursing service to a caseload of patients with support from the medical team as required. To be responsible for the safe administration, storage and ordering of drugs wherever used in the Outpatient Department or community. To undertake nurse led clinics in line with identified protocols and agreed clinical guidance. Will liaise with the medical team to report any significant clinical changes and to facilitate any recommendations following medical discussion. Will ensure continuity of care, aftercare and support for Borders patients referred to Lothian for treatment. To provide a diagnostic urodynamics service for local patients, with the support of medical staff, including accurate measurement of their urinary flow and residual urine volumes and assessment of their symptoms to exclude other conditions. Patients will be discharged from clinic with good understanding of any treatment required (i.e. surgery, oral therapy). Postholder will prepare reports for referring medical staff, arrange necessary treatments or further review, as appropriate. To provide support for the development of a local nurse cystoscopy service. Communication Understands the roles and responsibilities of clinical and management team members, and external agencies, and ensures effective communication and collaboration, minimising potential for conflict and complaint. Deals sensitively with patients and carers during stressful and embarrassing consultations, investigations and treatments, including support with relationship issues and the needs of patients adjusting to a diagnosis of cancer, to chronic conditions or treatment failures. Ensures accurate record keeping in accord with NMC and local standards. Quality improvement Identifies opportunities to develop and improve services for individual patients and client groups, using clinical audit and research to ensure that practice is evidence based. Develop specialist protocols within sphere of work; ensuring activities remain within the policies and objectives of NHS Borders. Assesses and manages risk, cleanliness and the control of infection, to ensure the safety of the work environment and work processes, for patients, visitors, and staff. Collaborates with clinical and management teams in service review and strategic planning, taking the lead on agreed projects. Participates in and undertakes nursing and speciality research activity in NHS Borders, and in collaboration with tertiary and national centres. Learning, teaching and personal development Contributes to improving knowledge of the speciality and meeting the learning needs of the Urology team and of other staff groups within hospital and community. Builds and maintains professional contacts with colleagues within the Managed Clinical Network and nationally; attending relevant meetings, courses and seminars to maintain professional and clinical expertise Participates in staff appraisal and personal development planning, and facilitates the development and support of new and existing staff and students. Patient education and instruction is regularly required (e.g. teaching patient to perform selfcatheterisation).
Clinical leadership and teamwork To provide expertise in Urological Nursing within NHS Borders. To liase with the Urology team to ensure that nurse-led services are contributing effectively to meeting patient needs, improving service performance and making best use of available resources. Professional responsibilities and accountability for practice. To accept professional responsibility and accountability for autonomous patient caseload, and nurse led clinics, organising, and planning and managing workload effectively and independently in line with agreed clinical protocols and guidelines. Manages self and others according to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, NMC Guidance and NHS Borders policies and procedures. 6. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT The post-holder Post holder is required to operate specialist equipment during assessment of patients in prostate clinics, urodynamic clinics and to perform ultrasound scanning of bladder in a range of conditions. Knowledge and skills to operate specialist computer programmes and databases for clinics, and for audit. Responsible for ensuring routine care and maintenance of specialist equipment. The post-holder will develop & maintain expertise in the use of the following systems: NHS Borders and Departmental policies, procedures and protocols. Systems for risk identification, reporting and management, and for managing complaints. Procedures for child protection and the protection of vulnerable adults. Patient administration system, laboratory and radiology results systems. Borders NHS intranet, internet and email, Microsoft Office applications. 7. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS The post holder will be expected to take clinical and management responsibility for all aspects of the service, acting independently and using initiative to ensure the effective development and maintenance of the service. S/he will recognise situations that require assistance and support from medical colleagues, Clinical Services Manager, and members of the senior management team. Post-holder will assess, diagnose, discharge and refer independently. Some decisions will be guided by protocol but there remains a level of autonomous clinical decision-making (e.g. planning regimes for patients after urodynamic testing. Post-holder will be required to select treatment, and then write to GP recommending prescription. Some clinics will run simultaneously with routine consultant clinics, but often clinics will be run independently and post-holder may be working alone in the clinic environment. The post holder is accountable for her/his nursing care and for the standards of care delivered by junior staff in the ward/department.
8. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS Communicates effectively with patients, carers, members of the multi-disciplinary and management teams, and external agencies, in styles appropriate to people and situations. Promote good relationships with patients, public and staff in verbal and written communication. Maintain a close collaboration with Consultant Urologists and other members of the multidisciplinary hospital, community and tertiary care team. Contributes to informal and formal teaching programmes. Prepares and writes reports and makes presentations as required within NHS Borders and associated institutions. Report complaints, clinical and non-clinical incidents, and contributes to risk assessment. Networks locally and nationally with Primary, Secondary and Tertiary services and specialist professional groups. 9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB Dexterity required to perform and teach clinical procedures (e.g. self catheterisation) and to operate equipment The post holder will be mobile for much of each shift. Will regularly use a Video Display Unit and keyboard. Moderate effort and good hand-eye co-ordination required for moving patients, furniture and equipment using appropriate aids, ensuring compliance with moving and handling guidelines. Be able to respond speedily and accurately to emergency or unplanned situations. Much of post-holders work will be working alone on occasion in isolated clinics (e.g. out of normal clinic hours) 10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB Changing established practices and challenging existing role definitions. Effective and efficient management of a caseload. Clinical decision-making. Developing and maintaining the advanced level of clinical skill and leadership skill and knowledge necessary to maintain autonomous practice and lead developments within the speciality and wider multidisciplinary team. Meeting the emotional demands of care for patients facing a diagnosis of cancer.
11. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB Qualifications Essential First level Registration. Diploma or degree in relevant speciality or extensive relevant experience at senior level. Desirable Leadership or management qualification Membership of British Association of Urological Nurses Relevant specialist course/s e.g. Urological Nursing Course, Urodynamics Course/Continence management course Research and training Experience relevant varied urological experience. relevant experience at Band 6 or above. Extensive knowledge and understanding of urological conditions, treatments and issues around service provision. Post-holder must have sound understanding of issues surrounding advanced practice and the professional and legal implications of developing new nursing roles. Experience of clinical governance responsibilities & risk assessment. Skills Able to communicate effectively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team. Good presentation skills. Leadership ability. A high standard of inter-personal skills. Evidence of teaching skills Report writing and IT skills. Personal Evidence of ability to innovate, develop qualities clinically effective care, and manage change. A team worker demonstrates a collaborative approach to multidisciplinary teamwork. Experience of using audit and interest in research. Evidence of continued professional development. Management experience. Research experience
TERMS AND CONDITIONS Grade and salary: Hours of work: Annual leave: Public Holidays: Superannuation: Band 6-25,528-34,189 per annum, progressing to Band 7 on completion of competencies & learning Permanent, 37.5 hours per week 27 days per annum Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbooks. 8 days per annum on dates designated by NHS Borders Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbook. The post-holder is entitled to join the NHS superannuation pension scheme. If Unsuccessful: If you have NOT heard from us within 4 WEEKS of the closing date, then we regret that your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we appreciate your interest in working with NHS Borders and your time and effort in completing the application form. We would welcome your application for future posts. Equal Opportunities: In NHS Borders, we believe that all staff should be treated equally in employment. We will not discriminate against any member of staff, or job applicant, on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation. Trade Union membership. Disclosure checks: We carry out criminal record checks on new staff who fall within certain staff groups within NHS Borders, through Disclosure Scotland. We send out Disclosure Forms to all shortlisted candidates for these staff groups, and ask for these to be completed and returned at interview. If a successful-at-interview candidate forgets to bring their completed form to interview, then they will be required to return the form (and proofs of identity) within 7 days, otherwise the provisional job offer will be withdrawn. Unsuccessful candidates forms will be shredded. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to this post. Mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support Workers in Scotland: Your performance must comply with the Mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support Workers in Scotland and with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers (in line with CEL 23 (2010)), both subject to amendment from time to time, which are attached. If, despite ongoing support, you fail to adhere to the Standards or to comply with the code, your performance will be managed in line with the NHS Borders Management of Employee Capability Policy and could result in the termination of your employment with NHS Borders. Tobacco policy: We have a Tobacco policy in place. When selecting staff, we do not discriminate against applicants who smoke, but staff must observe our policy on smoking.
Hepatitis B: We offer Hepatitis B immunisation through our Occupational Health Service (OHS). If you think you may be at risk of contracting Hepatitis B through your job, you should ask for this immunisation at OHS. If your work involves exposure-prone procedures, you must keep to the document Protecting Health Care Workers and Patients from Hepatitis B, and the NHSiS Management Executive Directive on this issue. You must be immune to Hepatitis B, and if you cannot prove that you are immune, OHS will investigate to find out whether you are Hepatitis B positive or not. Health and Safety at Work: You must take look after the health and safety of yourself and anyone else who may be affected by what you do at work. You must also co-operate with us to make sure that we keep to legal and organisational safety regulations. You can get more information from the NHS Borders Health & Safety Adviser. The closing date for completed application forms is: 5pm on Wednesday 10 April 2013