Role Responsibilities:
Clinical/professional
1. Provide compassionate, safe and effective care and support to patients in a range of care settings, maintaining patients privacy and dignity at all times.
2. Assist in welcoming and receiving patients to the hospice, orientating new patients and their families to their surroundings.
3. Under the supervision of and working in partnership with a registered nurse, provide and monitor a high standard of nursing care based on evidence, contributing to the ongoing assessment of patients and working collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team.
4. Monitor the condition and health needs of hospice patients on a continual basis, in partnership with patients, families and carers, ensuring appropriate escalation to a registered nurse when required.
Support patients to improve and maintain their mental, physical and behavioural health and wellbeing. Promote comfort and wellbeing by ensuring that patients' personal and social needs, as well as nursing needs, are met. Safely undertake routine procedures to meet patients' needs, including, but not limited to:
1. Measuring and interpreting blood glucose levels
2. Recording clinical observations
3. Personal care
4. Managing continence care
5. Pressure area care
6. Skin integrity
7. Nutrition
8. PEG Care
9. Oral hygiene
10. Hydration
11. Foot care
12. Routine monitoring of subcutaneous lines
Safely assist the registered nurse during procedures to include:
1. Wound management
2. Catheterisation
3. Bowel care
4. Nasogastric tube placement
5. Controlled drug second checking following competency assessment
Identify and report changes in a patient's condition to a registered nurse. Provide and receive sensitive information concerning a patient's medical condition. Contribute to nursing handover. Ensure volunteers receive an accurate handover of all patients.
Perform the role of Meal Co-ordinator in the absence of the Ward Assistant. Provide support to patients during clinical procedures. Escort patients to appointments/home visits as required. Assist with clerical duties in the absence of the Ward Clerk.
Assist the registered nursing staff during the admission and discharge process. Perform care after death, maintaining patients' dignity at all times. Be involved in goal setting of new patients. Support group/workshops for patients and/or carers. Be available as a chaperone if/when required for out-patient appointments.
Support the creative therapist in the delivery of creative activities with patients/family/carers.
Clinical Governance, Evidence Based Care, Quality and Standards
1. Promote the safety of patients, staff, visitors and volunteers at all times.
2. Have an awareness of the importance of clinical audit.
3. Understand the Clinical Governance framework.
Ensure that all the policies and procedures of Bolton Hospice are adhered to. Complete ongoing risk assessments, alerting registered staff to any changes in the level of risk. Have an awareness of the complaints procedure. Adhere to the policies and guidelines of Bolton Hospice.
Maintain personal and professional development. Ensure equipment is maintained as appropriate, and necessary records are maintained. Complete reporting of Accidents/Incidents and Near Misses via electronic Vantage system in line with hospice policy and procedure. Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient records, in line with hospice policy.
Education and Training
1. Comply with mandatory competencies, in line with hospice policy.
2. Maintain own continuing professional development.
3. Participate in annual appraisal and regular one to one supervision sessions.
4. Contribute to the maintenance of the learning environment.
5. Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improve.
Undertake further training as required, prior to carrying out any additional duties identified as relevant to the role, to comply with hospice policies and procedures. Teach patients and their families in the safe use of equipment. Participate in Nurse Champion Groups and share knowledge/learning with the wider team.
Communication
1. Communicate effectively and with dignity and respect to all patients, relatives and others, giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding.
2. Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care.
3. Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
4. Contribute to a culture where all staff feel safe to raise their concerns and where speaking up about any concerns is a normal part of the routine.
5. Help create an environment which reflects the Hospice's philosophy, values and its specialist palliative care approach.
6. Promote effective communication between members of the multi-disciplinary team and users of the service.
7. Promote positive communications and relationships with the public.
Other
The post holder will be required to rotate onto nights, or to different departments in the hospice, to reflect the needs of the service. Any other requirements as appropriate to the post and location.
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