Acute Oncology Nurse

Job overview

An exciting opportunity exists to join the highly performing Acute Oncology Nurse (AOS) Service.

The Band 6 post will be supported by a comprehensive development framework.

As an integral part of the Hospital CNS Team, you will work closely with Emergency Care Physicians SPC Consultants; as well as Acute Oncology and other CNS teams across the Trust. You will also regularly liaise with Hospice and Community lead teams to deliver the highest standards of specialist palliative care. Requirements of this position include being an autonomous practitioner, able to assess, plan and implement comprehensive care plans, which reflect the holistic needs of individual patients. You will also act as an expert in your field providing advice and support to patients and clinical teams. This involves triaging acute oncology alerts and providing direct input and advice to appropriate cases.

As an AOS/CUP team member you will be involved with clinical work, audit, district wide education, delivery of new end of live and palliative care initiatives, research; and contributing to local policies, guidelines and service changes.

Main duties of the job

• To work autonomously whilst working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to manage caseload of patients who present to the acute oncology service with an existing cancer diagnosis or with symptoms of a suspected cancer diagnosis. To maintain effective communication with patients, carers, and professionals.
• To act as the central point for acute oncology service patient referrals and to co-ordinate the Malignant Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) pathways and ongoing referrals.
• To undertake the role and associated responsibilities of the core nurse member for the acute oncology service.
• To liaise with the cancer and palliative care CNS team to ensure that the most appropriate Keyworker is identified at all stages of the cancer journey.
• To act as a clinical expert in advising patients, their carers, and the multi-professional team about cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
• To work closely with the appropriate multi-professional team caring for patients who have complex discharge needs to facilitate a safe discharge from hospital.
• To work in close liaison with the palliative care team at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and in the community, handing over patient care as appropriate.
• To work to support service improvement of the acute oncology as a speciality at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide expert nursing advice in the specialty in history taking and assessment skills.
• To demonstrate specialist skills and knowledge through expert nursing practice.
• To maintain a high profile in the clinical area, acting as a role model for other health care professionals.
• To work with the nursing staff to facilitate individualised patient care based upon the principles of evidence based practice.
• To assist in establishing, implementing and monitoring Trust Guidelines, Policies, and Protocols relating to the delivery of the acute oncology service.
• To act as a change agent utilising the principles of evidence based practice.
• To implement and disseminate change through policy and guideline development based on evidence.
• To use communication skills to empathetically impart information at ll levels.
• To provide timely assessment of both the physical and emotional needs of patients upon presentation as an emergency ensuring early initiation of investigation or management.
• To ensure close liaison with other members of the acute oncology team and key personnel at other treating hospitals.