Job overview
The Heart Failure Specialist Nurses are an integral part of the East Lancashire Cardiology Service providing high quality, patient focused, specialist care to people diagnosed with Heart failure. The post holder will act as an autonomous practitioner, undertaking high level assessment in order to confirm a diagnosis and initiate medical and/ or nursing interventions including the prescribing of evidence based medications recommended in the treatment of heart failure. The post will support the current nursing team to deliver highly personal, safe and effective care.
Main duties of the job
MAIN DUTIES
Describe main duties of the job
· To have or develop the specialist knowledge and skills required to practice at an advanced level and to use an extended scope of practice, including taking responsibility for the development of individual management plans, clinical examination and prescribing skills in order to facilitate the provision of high quality, effective, evidence based care to people diagnosed with Heart Failure .
· As a heart failure specialist nurse you will be expected to manage a caseload of new and existing patients with complex needs, and to have or develop the skills that are required to act as an autonomous nurse practitioner. You will have or be expected to undertake V300 prescribing module, adult Clinical Examination Skills and cardiology based modules in order to develop the specialist knowledge and skills required to undertake the role.
· To have or to develop the skills to formulate and implement treatment plans based on current evidence and expert clinical reasoning.
· To have a comprehensive understanding of available treatments including medications, device therapy, surgical intervention, cardiac rehabilitation, use and interpretation of available supportive literature., i
Working for our organisation
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) Heart Failure Service consists of a multi- professional team who provide much-valued hospital and community Heart Failure services to residents in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen. This role will be based within the community setting.
The Trust has built a good reputation as a place to enjoy job satisfaction and develop professional skills and experience. By joining us now you can play a role in organization that continues to put patients and clients at the heart of everything that we do.
* The successful candidate will be well support in their learning needs to become an experienced Heart Failure Specialist Nurse.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· To support the educational, emotional and practical needs of people with Heart Failure.
· To provide highly specialist heart failure advice and promote good practice with colleagues in primary and secondary care.
· Highly effective communication skills and the ability to liaise appropriately with other health care professionals including regular liaison with GPs and cardiologists to provide seamless care across primary/secondary care boundaries.
· work with the MDT to deliver early supported hospital discharge and prevent admission / re- admission into hospital. To carry out home visits when required and provide telephone advice and direction as needed.
· To liaise with GPs and other key healthcare professionals verbally, via telephone or electronically to suggest appropriate medical / other interventions.
· To communicate complex information effectively (including breaking bad news), to patients and/or carers, from a multicultural, ethnically diverse population where there may also be barriers to their understanding or where they may be in a highly stressed state. To inform them of the benefits and risks of suggested treatment options; this may require the use of interpreters and / or non-verbal communication aid.
· To work in collaboration with palliative care teams with the aim of increasing the number of patients being placed on the palliative care register. To support and enable patients in their preferred priorities of care. To identify the needs of clients with end stage disease through referral to palliative care services and provide specialist advice regarding symptom relief.
· To work collaboratively with our hospital based colleagues in the appropriate referral of patients who may benefit from IV diuretics provided on an Ambulatory (daily) basis within the cardiology ward setting.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
1. To maintain accurate and up-to-date records and reports of patients being treated in line with departmental standards and the appropriate professional body. (NMC)
2. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of intervention undertaken, working within relevant codes of practice and professional guidelines.
3. To review current research and evidence relating to heart failure and utilise the findings and implications of these in order to ensure that practice is evidence based and to plan for future health care developments.
ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
· Work at all times as a role model for others in the delivery of high standards of evidenced based practice, leadership and compliance with organisational policy.
· Engage in clinical and organisational supervision in keeping with organisational policy and in support of optimum standards of care for patients
· Ensure standards of conduct and dress are maintained within the team in order to sustain public confidence in keeping with organisational policy and takes action where necessary.
· Responsible for own practice and that of team members in relation to the prevention and control of health care associated infections and the promotion of best practice in keeping with organisational policy for e.g. Essential steps.
· Utilise and develop own knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding policies and guidance related to vulnerable adults and work at all times in the best interests of the patient.
· Model and ensure a climate of acceptance and respect for the differing values, beliefs and cultures inherent within the wider team and caseload and work with others to address attitudes or behaviour which compromise this.
· Continually review, evaluate and develop own clinical and leadership practice in order to reflect service need and delivery.
Person specification
shortlisting
Essential criteria
* NMC registered
Desirable criteria
* 2 years post qualification