Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
The Endocrine Nurse Specialist will work as a senior member of the Diabetes and Endocrine Multi-Disciplinary Team providing endocrinology nursing expertise to patients and health care professionals at MWL Trust. They will be seen as a clinical expert in the area of endocrinology and play an integral role in the service development and quality initiatives relating to the endocrine service.
They will act as an autonomous practitioner providing expert nurse led care to patients and will be expected to advise secondary and primary care clinicians in all areas of endocrinology including complex endocrine patients. They will maintain links across organisational boundaries, acting as a source of specialist knowledge working within agreed protocols and guidelines.
Main duties of the job
* Autonomously assess, triage, and diagnose endocrine conditions and review those with longstanding endocrine conditions, including complex patients as outpatients and inpatients, recommending or initiating appropriate treatment within agreed protocols and guidelines.
* Independently order, undertake, interpret, and act upon diagnostic tests and results for endocrinology patients.
* Be proficient in venepuncture and cannulation.
* Manage, lead, and report on key areas within the endocrine service maintaining regular audit and updates on service development at appropriate Governance Meetings and relevant reporting bodies or appropriate agencies as needed.
* Assess, plan, co-ordinate, implement, and evaluate evidence-based endocrinology care in conjunction with relevant health care professionals.
* Liaise and support primary and secondary care clinicians in relation to management of endocrine clinical care.
* Develop, undertake, and manage clinical telephone support clinics and the endocrine support line, patient education sessions relating to endocrine conditions and medication titration.
* Be proficient in assessing and prioritising internal and external referrals for endocrine conditions.
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Clinical
* Autonomously assess, triage, and diagnose endocrine conditions and review longstanding endocrine conditions, including complex patients as outpatients and inpatients, recommending or initiating appropriate treatment within agreed protocols and guidelines.
* Independently order, undertake, interpret, and act upon diagnostic tests and results for endocrinology patients.
* Be proficient in venepuncture and cannulation.
* Manage, lead, and report on key areas within the endocrine service maintaining regular audit and updates on service development at appropriate Governance Meetings and relevant reporting bodies as needed.
* Assess, plan, co-ordinate, implement, and evaluate evidence-based endocrinology care in conjunction with relevant health care professionals.
* Liaise and support primary and secondary care clinicians in relation to management of endocrine clinical care.
* Develop, undertake, and manage clinical telephone support clinics and the endocrine support line, patient education sessions relating to endocrine conditions and medication titration.
* Participate in nurse-led clinics using relevant protocols whilst exercising judgement, discretion, and decision-making in clinical care.
* Be proficient in assessing and prioritising internal and external referrals for endocrine conditions.
* Ensure compliance with specific regulations in regard to endocrinology drugs and administration and record keeping within the area of work.
* Act as a senior support and role model supporting and mentoring junior staff.
* Act as a non-medical prescriber within clinical area and competence.
* Be flexible and willing to further develop the endocrine service.
Professional Leadership and Development
* Identify, contribute to, or lead on the development and dissemination of evidence-based guidelines, standards, and protocols as required.
* Develop and maintain required specialist clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of patients with endocrine and related conditions.
* Attend annual appraisal to discuss and identify training and development needs as part of a Personal Development Plan.
* Support other specialist nursing colleagues in their continuous professional development including peer and clinical supervision.
* Update and maintain own clinical knowledge and competence by attending post-education courses, mandatory training, study days, workshops, and conferences.
* Maintain regular links with other Endocrine Specialist Nurses at both local and national levels.
* Lead on and contribute to the development of agreed protocols, integrated care pathways, standards, and audit tools that monitor practice.
* Be competent with ESR and line management systems as required.
* Support the Diabetes Nurse Consultant in areas of line management when required including appraisal, complaints handling, serious investigation reporting, risk assessment, and staff development.
* Lead, participate, and contribute to regular MDT and clinical supervision sessions as and when required.
Administrative
* Ensure compliance with specific endocrinology protocols, standards, and clinical paperwork including patient experience satisfaction and diabetes/endocrinology related surveys.
* Undertake and provide telephone consultation/support to patients and health care professionals.
* Support with the completion of any relevant Diabetes/Endocrine Annual Specialist Service Reports.
* Support with the Diabetes/Endocrine Annual Quality Ward Round (QWR).
* Support and maintain information on the diabetes/endocrine intranet/internet to ensure that information is updated and relevant to support primary care professionals and patients.
Education & Training
* Provide specialist knowledge, advice, and support to colleagues, health care professionals, patients, carers, and relatives around endocrine related conditions.
* Lead and contribute to the multidisciplinary education and training provision/programme for health care professionals involved in caring for patients with endocrinology across organisational boundaries.
* Develop, coordinate, and participate in endocrinology education and training programmes and evaluate their effectiveness, supporting junior members of staff as needed.
* Raise awareness of endocrinology and related conditions through health promotion activities and organised events throughout the trust and wider community.
* Provide support and education to patients, allowing them to develop self-management skills as appropriate to their endocrine condition.
* Provide verbal and written advice to patients and carers with endocrine conditions, around care management as required in hospital and in preparation for discharge.
* Facilitate an appropriate learning environment for students and junior staff providing direct supervision, mentorship, training, and evaluation to students and new starters within the trust.
* Participate in regular clinical education sessions within the diabetes/endocrine unit.
Research, Audit, and Governance
* Adhere to policies, procedures, and protocols relevant to endocrinology demonstrating understanding of evidence-based care.
* Conduct/participate in national and local audit related to endocrinology evaluating and implementing best practice as appropriate.
* Lead and participate in research projects alongside senior members of the MDT.
* Lead and participate in audit projects relevant to clinical area and practice.
* Support junior members of the team with research and audit as appropriate.
* Attend local, national meetings, and conferences to network and share best practice.
* Ensure specialist nursing practice is evidence-based and reflects audit and research outcomes.
* Maintain clear, concise, legible, and contemporaneous patient records at all times in line with Trust policy and the Standard for Recording Keeping.
* Have an understanding of internal and external assessments such as CQC, COSHH, and NHSLA.
* Participate in the implementation of initiatives to improve adult diabetes care and support practice development to ensure a high-quality service.
Communication
* Communicate effectively with all members of the diabetes and endocrinology multi-disciplinary team.
* Establish and maintain continuing relationships with patients, carers, and relatives which are essential to providing effective long-term care.
* Support patients and their families communicating sensitive condition-related information and ensure they receive required information to enable them to participate in their care delivery.
* Support patients and their families during diagnosis of endocrine conditions and treatment ensuring understanding of their condition and any related complications.
* Engage with patients and carers to gain views on service delivery and development.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* 1ST Level Registered Nurse, Degree level or equivalent.
* Venepuncture and Cannulation proficiency.
* MSC qualification or level of study.
Knowledge & Experience
* At least sufficient years' experience working in a band 6 role or equivalent.
* Significant experience of working with endocrine patients in a clinical setting.
* Experience of clinical audit and research.
* Experience in developing clinical pathways/protocols and education materials.
* Understanding of wider professional and NHS issues.
* Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
* Experience and ability to educate professionals and patients to a high level.
* Can demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development.
* Experience of working in the different sectors of the NHS.
* Experience of collating and presenting evidence for internal and external assessments such as CQC and NHSLA.
Skills
* Excellent communication and presentation skills.
* Proven track record of initiating and implementing change management.
* Ability to cope and meet deadlines within a challenging environment.
* Proven track record of working effectively as part of a team.
* Proven track record prioritising and managing a changing workload.
* Effective organisational skills with demonstrative examples.
* Good IT Skills.
Others
* Be a caring and compassionate nurse.
* Be flexible and able to work on own initiative.
* Willing to travel to other health care venues within the local area if needed.
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.
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