St. John s Hospice Job Description Registered Nurse POST: HOURS: ACCOUNTABLE TO: REPORTS TO: Registered Nurse 37.5 hours Head of Nursing and Quality Ward Sisters JOB PURPOSE To provide skilled nursing care for patients with palliative and end of life care needs and their family within the inpatient unit. Raising clinical standards and promoting a learning environment for other health care providers. They will be responsible for planning, assessing, implementing and evaluating patient care. To support and direct Health Care Assistants and Assistant Practitioners in implementing individualised plans of care. To support and contribute to an environment of continuous quality improvement. To manage the ward for the duration of a clinical shift and lead the team of Registered Nurses, Health Care Assistants and volunteers, ensuring future shifts are adequately covered with staff according to the changing needs of the ward patients and families. To support and contribute to an environment of continuous quality improvement. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Clinical and Medical Staff Volunteers Ward Sisters Integrated Services Manager Internal Departments Head of Nursing and Quality MAIN DUTIES Participate in the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of evidence based nursing care for patients and their families. Provide support, information and advice to patients, families and professional colleagues. Develop knowledge and expertise in symptom management. Supervise the work of junior members of the team, student nurses and volunteers. Clinical Work with the multidisciplinary team involved in the total holistic care of patients and families integrating nursing care with their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs.
Assess the individuals needs of the patient and families and be professionally accountable whilst complying with policies, procedures and current legislation. Ensure the safe custody, ordering, administration and disposal of drugs in accordance with Hospice policy and procedure. Ensure all errors are reported to the Head of Nursing and Quality and RN in charge of the ward at that time. Demonstrate personal clinical competence and expertise in palliative care. Participate in progress reviews of nursing care and team work at regular intervals. Provide competent care in venepucture, cannulation, verification of expected death, male catheterisation and intravenous care. Ensure up to date, accurate patient healthcare records at all times, which are completed with the patient and family s support and knowledge. Maintaining the strict confidentiality of all information acquired especially with regard to patients and staff. To be a co-operative and supportive member of the St. John s Hospice staff team, ensuring that all members are aware of any issues in the post holder s workload, which may affect other members of the St. John s Hospice team. To manage all volunteers utilised in your area and to develop effective working relationships providing regular feedback on their performance. Work flexibly to meet service demands, which will include unsocial hours. Communication Participate in professional discussions as appropriate and act as a patient advocate if required. Update members of the MDT regarding patient situations as required, ensuring care is patientcentred. Promote a multidisciplinary approach to patient care by contributing and communicating effectively with the team. Participate in Multidisciplinary Team meetings. Be responsible for co-ordinating and leading on patient discharges and ensuring effective communication with the multidisciplinary team takes place to promote a seamless discharge process. Complete continuing health care checklists and fast track documentation to ensure patient transfers are timely and co-ordinated. Use communication and interpersonal skills to communicate difficult or sensitive information to patient, families, carers and staff. Ensure patients and families are aware of treatment plans and aims whilst being cared for on the ward. Attend and participate in service and team meetings. Management Manage and maintain a safe clinical environment utilising allocated resources safely and effectively. Ensure competency in the use and function of equipment and report any malfunctions immediately, ensuring patient safety at all times.
Lead and co-ordinate shifts managing the team of Registered Nurses and Health Care Assistant ensuring patients and their families receive the highest standard of care. Lead the night shift service (with support from the on call Doctors and management) ensuring patients are safe and receive 24 hour care in the ward setting. Be aware of and adhere to the Hospice policies and procedures and act at all times with the NMC standards, Code of Conduct and guidelines. Report any issues to your line manager at the earliest opportunity. Contribute to practice development and specific clinical governance projects. Line manager a cohort of Healthcare Assistants. Education and Development Audit Develop and maintain relevant knowledge and skills and be responsible for own continuing professional development. Participate in the appraisal system and agree a personal development plan with the line manager in line with the Hospice strategy, personal needs and requirements of the post. This will include mandatory training needs which must be completed & will be achieved through a variety of processes including regular 1-2-1 s with Line Managers or senior colleagues, annual appraisal and development reviews. Provide mentor support to new staff, students and volunteers. Attend Hospice education sessions relevant to the post-holder s educational needs. Contribute to the co-ordination and development of teaching and learning activities on the inpatient unit and to the paid education programme. Co-operating fully in the introduction of any new technology and new methods as appropriate. To promote at all times the Hospice philosophy and uphold St Johns core values. Use opportunities to extend clinical and professional knowledge. Accept accountability for own clinical practice and maintain and continue professional development. Promote a questioning and analytical approach to health care delivery. To contribute to the development and implementation of evidence based practice. Support audits undertaken on the unit. Respond to initial complaints from patient/family and report to senior staff. Report any near misses, accidents or incidents as per Hospice policy. Other To be an ambassador for St John s Hospice as a charity engaging in public speaking and fundraising initiatives as required. To be aware of the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and follow codes of practice to ensure safeguarding of confidential information. To undertake other duties appropriate to the role as agreed with the Head of Nursing and Quality. To be willing to embrace development opportunities as they arise.
ENHANCED DBS DISCLOSURE REQUIRED FOR THIS POST DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO ST. JOHN S HOSPICE 1. Confidentiality Each member of the Hospice staff is responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of any information relating to patients, personal information relating to staff, volunteers, supporters, visitors or contractors and for complying with all the requirements of the Data Protection Act and Caldicot Guidelines whilst carrying out the duties of the post. Any breaches in confidentiality will be dealt with by St. John s Hospice Disciplinary Procedure and may result in dismissal. 2. Health and Safety Each member of the St Johns Hospice staff is responsible for ensuring that they carry out the duties of their post in accordance with all appropriate Health and Safety legislation, guidance and procedures and they do not, by any act or omission on their part, create a threat to the Health and Safety of any other person. 3. External Interests Each member of the St Johns Hospice staff is responsible for ensuring that any external interest they have do not conflict with the duties of their posts and they must disclose the external interest if this is likely to occur, or if they are in doubt about a possible conflict with their work. Each member of staff is reminded to refer to their employment contract in relation to any other secondary work that they may do alongside working for St John s Hospice and their obligations under the Working Time Directive. 4. Statutory Training Each member of the St Johns Hospice staff has a statutory obligation to attend mandatory training. It is the responsibility of each member of staff to ensure that they comply with this legal requirement. 5. Flexibility This job description is intended to act as a flexible guide to the duties of the post and therefore will require revision in consultation with the post holder to reflect the changing requirements of the post, to enable the St John s Hospice to achieve its corporate goals and objectives. 6. Safeguarding Each member of St John s Hospice staff is responsible for understanding their responsibilities for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults in accordance with their job role and any requirements they are obliged to follow as members of their profession. Staff should seek guidance from their immediate supervisor if in doubt. 7. Disclosure and Barring Each member of staff is required to disclose any caution, fine, penalty or criminal conviction that may occur during the course of employment. This should include any motoring convictions as this may affect the staff member s ability to use Hospice vehicles. Any change in circumstance must be
reported immediately to the staff member s supervisor so that any impact on ability to work in post can be assessed. 8. Equality and Inclusion Each member of staff is required to undertake their duties with due regard for the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 i.e. not to discriminate against members of staff, patients, patient family members, volunteers, supporters, contractors and any visitors to the Hospice. Agreed Manager signed:. Employee signed:. Date: Date:.