Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced nurse to join the transfusion nurses team.
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, motivated registered nurse to support the Transfusion Nurse Specialist in promoting the safe, appropriate use of blood products through training and education and therefore confident in delivery of training to staff of all grades.
The role also encompasses the participation in audits, the investigation of transfusion reactions and the investigation of the final fate of non-confirmed transfusions.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required.
The candidate should be a motivated team player who is able to use their own initiative and contribute to the service delivery.
This is an excellent opportunity to develop within a specialised role and provide support Trust wide.
Main duties of the job
The main purpose of the role is to ensure provision of safe, high quality care for all patients having, or who have the potential to have, a blood transfusion.
An understanding of the blood transfusion process and the risks of errors that may occur.
Communication is a key aspect of the role required when presenting training sessions, when investigating blood transfusion incidents and working in a small team.
The tenacity to investigate blood transfusion incidents coupled with the ability to review documentation and gather information from the parties involved.
Attention to detail in daily activities, documentation review, investigations.
Computer literate with skills in using word, excel, PowerPoint and other office programs.
Ability to work unsupervised and complete assigned tasks.
Support other team members within the hospital transfusion team.
Confidence to present multidisciplinary training sessions to both large and small groups.
About us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.
Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.
We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.
Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.
We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Transfusion Practitioner will work as part of a team to support the Transfusion Nurse Specialist (TNS), the Hospital Transfusion Committee (HTC) and Hospital TransfusionTeam (HTT) to manage the risk and optimize the quality and safety in blood transfusionthrough policy, education and training and the appropriate use of blood components.
To support the TNS and the HTC with the implementation of guidance, legislation andregulation in blood transfusion practice.
Dimensions
eg Number of staff managed/budgetary responsibilities
Be a member of the HTC and HTT
Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and protocols for bloodtransfusion
Implement and facilitate the training and education for relevant clinical staff in bloodtransfusion practice across all disciplines and processes.
Participate in local, regional and national audit programs.
Participate in the investigation and reporting of transfusion related incidents
Deputise for the TNS in her/his absence
Communications and Relationships
Works well in a team and with other members of the multidisciplinary team
Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience
RN 1st level Nurse
Degree in health related subject
Evidence of continuing professional development
Evidence of competence in transfusion practice relevant to current role
IT skills
Significant post graduate experience at band 5/6
Teaching experience
An ability to maintain a good working relationship across the multidisciplinary team
Experience of change management and evidence of the implementation of evidencebased practice
Excellent interpersonal/communication skills
Management and organizational skills
The ability to motivate staff
Effective problem solving skills
A clean driving license
Experience of the audit process
Haematology background
An understanding of current transfusion legislation
Experience in incident investigation (formally known as Root Cause Analysis (RCA))
Qualification/ experience in blood transfusion practice.
An understanding of the diversity of practice within the different specialties and howtransfusion fits into this.
Teaching certificate C&G 730/ENB 998/ equivalent or prepared to undertake
Patient/Client care: Please specify the level of involvement in the provision of care to patients/clients and including how responsibility is shared with others.
The main purpose of the role is principally about the provision of safe, high quality care forall patients having, or who have the potential to have a blood transfusion.
Must act as patient advocate and facilitate/support patient choice in transfusion
May be required to discuss sensitive information with patient/relatives.
Required to participate in surveys for patient views
Required to provide specialist advice to contribute to the care of patients havingtransfusion, the use of alternative therapies and introduction of strategies to improve theoverall experience for the patient.
Policy and Service Development:Level of involvement in the implementation of policy and contribution to the decision making process bothwithin own department and other functions.
Contribute towards the development and implementation of trust wide policies and protocols for blood transfusion and patient ID. Required to be an active member of the HTT and HTC where planning and decision making skills are required with trust wide implications. Required to participate in working parties/project groups for service development in transfusion.
Financial and Physical Resources budget, stock and equipment:Responsibility for cash, budgets, and physical assets, vehicles, plant and machinery including the security ofequipment.
Responsible for actively promoting the appropriate use of blood components which has apositive impact on the blood budget for the transfusion laboratory. The transfusionpractitioner requires the knowledge to promote appropriate use of blood components.
Responsible for encouraging best practice to reduce wastage in transfusion resulting insavings in the blood budget.
Good transfusion policy/practice impacts positively upon the Trust risk assuranceassessment and the subsequent contributions to the scheme
Human Resources:Responsibilities of the job for the training and development of employees/students/trainees. In additionresponsibility for the operational management of staff such as recruitment, discipline, appraisal, and careerdevelopment.
Participates in the implementation of training, education and competency assessment for
all clinical staff groups who have part to play in caring for patient having a transfusion orthe potential for blood transfusion.
Mentorship of student nurses, doctors, midwives and biomedical scientists.
Facilitates the development and training of link nurse network across the trust.
Information Resources:Level of responsibility for either paper based or computerized records and systems, responsibility forinformation systems both hardware and software, plus the generation and creation of information
Required to prepare and keep accurate information for audit, training and education,incident investigation, etc.
Basic IT skills, including Microsoft office programmes.
Will use established data bases/ spread sheets for data input.
May be required to set up spread sheets for data processing.
Research and Development:Responsibility for informal or formal clinical or non-clinical R & D including audit.
May be required to participate in research as directed by the Hospital TransfusionCommittee, Haematologist or Transfusion Nurse Specialist etc.
Freedom to Act
Must develop knowledge and skills in clinical and scientific aspects of transfusion practiceto a high level in order to advise staff including doctors, nurses etc.
Required to act without direct supervision most of the time, but aware of own limitations.
Works within the trust policies/protocols and national guidelines/ legislation
May lead on specific projects within own scope of practice.
Control of Infection
All Trust staff have a duty to provide a safe environment by considering adherence to infection prevention and control as an integral part of their roles and responsibilities. The individual roles and responsibilities for staff are outlined in the Trusts Control of Infection policy (IC 1). There should be specific discussion of control of infection within the KSF/Appraisal process and as a minimum all staff must demonstrate good hand hygiene and practice and support the Clean Your Hands Campaign.
Within transfusion there is always the potential for blood borne viruses and other infections to be transmitted through donor blood.
It is the transfusion nurses responsibility to raise awareness of this issue and promote the appropriate use of blood to minimize the potential for infection.
Privacy, dignity, respect & equality of opportunity
The Trust is committed to ensuring that all current and potential staff, patients and visitors are treated with dignity, fairness and respect regardless of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital or civil partnership status, religion or belief or employment status. Staff will be supported to challenge discriminatory behaviour.
Professional Code of Conduct (if appropriate)
To abide by the Code of Practice of Professional body as published by the relevant regulatory body (if appropriate).
Code of conduct for Senior Managers (if appropriate)
To adhere to the Code of Conduct for NHS Senior Managers.
Person Specification
Skills, knowledge and aptitude
Essential
1. Organisational and management skills
2. Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
3. IT skills
Desirable
4. Experience of change management
5. Familiar with Microsoft office
Qualifications and training
Essential
6. Registered Nurse,1st level Nurse with valid NMC registration
7. Degree in nursing or health-related subject
8. Teaching experience
Desirable
9. An understanding of current transfusion legislation
10. Teaching certificate, C&G 730/ENB 998/ equivalent or prepared to undertake
11. Experience of training large groups and staff of different grades
12. Qualification in blood transfusion practice
Experience
Essential
13. 3 years post-registration experience in hospital setting
14. Evidence of ongoing Professional development
Desirable
15. Audit experience
16. Experience in Incident Investigation
17. Clinical experience of caring for patients with medicine/surgery/Haematological conditions
Disposition
Essential
18. Management and leadership skills
19. Managing people and resources
20. Ability to work in a small team and alone
Desirable
21. Committed to the development of the NHS
Special requirements
Essential
22. Must be willing to work flexible hours/ days
23. May have to travel to other sites
24. Clean driving licence