Advanced Critical Care Practitioner

Job overview

The post holder will principally work on Critical Care, but will also be expected to look after critically ill patients throughout the Trust. As part of the consultant led team they will assess, plan and implement care of critically ill patients from admission to discharge.

They will actively contribute to all aspects of the assessment, resuscitation, diagnosis, and treatment. The post holder will follow up patients after their discharge to general wards, providing teaching and support for ward staff. They will provide safe transfers of critically ill patients to other hospitals and for in-hospital investigation (for example CT scan).

They will hold highly developed practical skills, independently providing a range of vascular access as well as basic airway skills. The post-holder will be expected to work flexible hours to meet service demand. As the role develops this may include working alongside or independently from junior doctors on the medical resident on-call rota.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as part of a consultant led team and actively contribute to all aspects of the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the critically ill patient by; Acting as patient’s advocate at all times. Applying the skills of history taking and notes assimilation, collating medical information if necessary by contacting the patient’s general practitioner or other hospitals.

Applying the skills of cardio-respiratory, abdominal, basic neurological and mental state examination. Applying the skill of settling a patient on to a ventilator and the use of recruitment manoeuvres to improve oxygenation. Requesting or performing diagnostic tests as indicated by patient needs, including ECG, chest X-rays and blood tests. Interpreting ECG, chest X-ray & blood results and acting accordingly. Making initial assessments of referrals of critically ill patients at the request of the ICU consultant.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work as an autonomous practitioner, liaising with all members of the multidisciplinary team in order to provide clinical expertise, emotional and psychological support and education to patients and their carers.

Develop skills to independently assess, plan, implement and evaluate care delivered to own caseload of patients following attainment of competency.

Develop the ability to make clinical judgements about patients, order investigations and adjust treatment plans accordingly in order to achieve treatment targets following attainment of competency.

Develop and maintain a knowledge base that reflects contemporary issues and therefore be able to autonomously select and apply the most appropriate treatment regime.

Promote a critical, analytical approach to the delivery of care, reviewing care delivery and the implementation of change.

Advanced clinical skills, e.g. the insertion of central and arterial lines, as well as applying current skills required for administering intravenous injections, setting up syringe pumps and other infusions and advanced patient monitoring.

Provide support to patients with other psychological and emotional challenges, referring them to the clinical psychotherapist as necessary.

Provide education programmes for patients and their carer's as appropriate to meet the needs of individuals.

Involve carers or relatives in the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of care of the individual patient, as appropriate.

See attached JD and Job Spec for more details.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust’s policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £54.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary  In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.