Spinal Clinical Nurse Specialist (Fixed Term Contract)
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
We have an exciting opportunity for a Spinal Clinical Nurse Specialist to join us in the spinal service and part of the Trauma & Orthopaedic team.
This post is a 12-month fixed-term, working Monday to Friday 37.5 hours per week.
We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic practitioner to support the delivery of the spinal service. As a registered nurse, the applicant will be responsible for supporting the consultant and the team in ensuring that our service users' needs are met through the delivery of high-quality care. The successful applicant will demonstrate high standards of work at all times, be self-motivated and efficient, and demonstrate the ability to work independently in all aspects of patient care.
Utilising a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making you will triage, assess, and review patients referred to the Spinal Service. This will include outpatients and inpatients.
You will be required to ensure appropriate assessments, investigations and specialist nursing procedures are carried out and results acted on appropriately.
Working collaboratively, you will use audit, research, evidence-based practice, and peer review to develop the service.
Main duties of the job
1. Deliver individualised patient care, with direct responsibility for assessment, examination, investigation/diagnostic procedures, and diagnosis of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations.
2. Work autonomously as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner within the specialty, managing a caseload of patients and clinical priorities according to agreed protocols and working practices.
3. Triage patients referred to the Spinal Service using advanced, expert, critical thinking skills and make autonomous clinical decisions regarding patient diagnosis, care, management, and treatment. This includes advanced health assessment, independent nurse prescribing and recognition of appropriate and timely referrals both internal and external to ensure safe holistic patient care.
4. As an Independent nurse prescriber initiate drug therapy/medication within the parameters of agreed clinical guidelines and in accordance with present legislation.
5. Order and interpret haematological, biochemical, microbiological, radiological and electrocardiograph investigations. Act on results to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan. Escalate to MDT when beyond scope of practice and approved protocols and current clinical guidelines.
6. Undertake ward rounds, actively contributing to planning and providing direct clinical care of post-operative patients.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job responsibilities
1. Utilise advanced knowledge and skills relating to the speciality to provide specialist advice to other members of the multidisciplinary team based on patient assessment. Provide guidance to staff, patients and their families and carers on pathway navigation.
2. Lead in the development and updating of referral guidelines and policies for the service.
3. Use professional judgement to act as an advocate for patients to ensure a patient focused approach to the delivery of care. Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisions relating to their treatment, consent, and management. Escalate any concerns via the nursing/professional structures as required.
4. Work towards safe and timely discharge and/or transfer of care of patients from or between hospitals and services and healthcare professionals, ensuring barriers to discharge/transfer are identified and acted upon appropriately.
5. Report and raise concerns related to Safeguarding, accessing advice and support as required. Be conversant with Trust policies for safeguarding including the assessment of Mental Capacity, and consideration of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) and the application of the principles of Prevent (counter terrorism awareness).
6. Monitor the quality and standard of care provided by all members of the team and all staff in clinical areas. Identifying any skills or training gaps and escalating to the appropriate Consultant, Senior Nurse / Matron / Clinician.
7. Undertake training and learning to develop further advanced practice skills required by the service to provide a high standard of patient care.
8. Practice within the scope of relevant professional registration (NMC).
9. Use highly developed communication skills to effectively communicate with colleagues, patients, and their relatives/carers, making reports and liaising as required with medical staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team both verbally and in writing.
10. Ensure effective and accurate verbal/written/electronic consultations and handover of patients between healthcare professionals.
11. Ensure that high standards of all documentation are maintained, with accurate, complete, and up-to-date information regarding patient care are kept in accordance with Trust record keeping standards.
12. Utilise the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills when dealing with complex, sensitive, or emergency situations.
13. Organise and plan own day to day workload or activities to meet the demands of the service.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
* Professional Registration with NMC
Experience
* Significant experience of working as a registered practitioner and within a relevant specialty
Knowledge
* Demonstrate an understanding of spinal cases with current developments in the relevant speciality
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.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Luton & Dunstable Hospital Site and Orthopaedic Centre
Luton & Dunstable Hospital Site and Orthopaedic Centre
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