Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ACP)

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience with our established Acute Oncology Advanced Practitioner team to deliver expert nursing care to patients with acute oncology issues relating to their treatments or disease progression. The successful candidate will be highly motivated and driven to improve patient care and experience and although oncology experience advantageous it is not essential as you will be supported with an extended supernumerary period to develop the required skills as experience in an acute care or medicine is transferable. The successful candidate will have completed formal ACP training and have achieved a master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice, enabling them to work autonomously in the planning and delivery of care for this complex group of patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The post will comprise of 80% clinical, 20% non-clinical hours to allow for service development, audit and research and professional development opportunities and support the Associate Chief Nurse with the co-ordination of the team. Additionally flexible or part-time hours will be considered

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an integral member of our team of Acute Oncology Advanced Practitioners and provide clinical assessment and support to the care and treatment of a diverse caseload of patients requiring specialist acute oncology care. Demonstrating highly developed specialist knowledge and skills.

The post holder will be integral in the early identification of complications and the treatment management of acutely unwell oncology patients. Responding quickly the advanced clinical practitioner will formulate clinical decisions to manage acute illness and escalate to specialist teams appropriately and deliver expert clinical care to oncology patients with advanced or relapsed disease. The post holder will also provide clinical expertise for developing and enhancing the service The post holder will work alongside the medical and AHP/nursing teams, maintaining good communication and collaboration between the various multidisciplinary teams. Therefore, the post holder will be a highly visible and approachable role model. Evidence based care will be inherent in their practice, ensuring that best practice is disseminated throughout the clinical areas.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  Clinical Practice  To participate in the direct clinical management of acute oncology patients from first presentation at the hospital, until discharge. This will include history taking, systematic physical examination and formulating clinical management plans.

Plan, deliver and evaluate interventions and/ or treatments when there are complex issues and/ or serious illness.  Review and interpret all information available utilising a systematic process of reasoning to make a working and differential diagnosis.

Develop and record a treatment plan consistent with the outcome of assessment and most probable diagnosis.

Prescribe drugs within the capacity of non-medical prescribing, adhering to Trust policy and existing frameworks.

Communicate complex clinical and supporting information/ findings to patients and significant others according to individual situations. Ensure patients receive appropriate information and support in relation to their illness and treatment.

Arrange or refer the patient for appropriate diagnostic test, investigations, other professional colleagues.

Check and interpret, taking action as clinically appropriate.  Perform clinical procedures safely according to defined protocols. These may include arterial blood gas sampling and analysis, oxygen therapy.

Support equality and value diversity.

Prepare accurate and concise reports both verbal and written.

Plan and manage own workload/ caseload in a flexible manner, ensuring that service provision meets the needs of patients.

To liaise with the other members of the multi-professional team and facilitate excellent and effective communication to provide a patient focused service.

Ability to self-manage, plan and adjust priorities to meet the dynamic demands within the oncology and acute oncology teams.

Leadership & Management

Work within professional codes and policies both nationally and by the Trust

To demonstrate an up-to-date knowledge of oncology/ acute medicine practice and responsibility for one’s own professional development.

To maintain a portfolio to fulfil requirements of professional regulatory bodies in maintaining effective Advanced Practitioner registration.

Maintain safe practice and development through regular peer review of evidencebased practice with medical Consultant supervisor.

Liaise and collaborate with multi-professional disciplines and outside agencies.

Participate in clinical audit in respect to evaluating service effectiveness and future developments within the role.

To develop clinical protocols, standards, and guidelines in own area.  Contribute to wider issues in the trust, such as committee membership, clinical progression, and policy development.

To actively contribute to the process of clinical risk management.

Act as a role model in developing advanced practice roles at local, regional, and national level.

To inspire others and encourage them to seek advice and solutions to problems.

Challenges other to take an active part in developing knowledge, ideas, and work practice

Promotes the service and encourages the Acute Oncology team to disseminate good practice both internal and external to the Trust.

To identify own development needs and set own personal development objectives in discussion with his/her reviewer keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work.

Undertakes annual mandatory training updates and other relevant courses in line with Trust and local policies.

Acts as a resource for the acute oncology nursing team.

To act as a role model ensuring own actions promote quality and identify and manage any risks.

To raise quality issues and report related risks within the trust to address poor standards and incidents.

To inform and influence clinical governance issues.

To keep up to date and act consistently with quality standards and guidelines within their own clinical area and associated areas

Research

Initiate and support clinical audit with respect to evaluating service effectiveness and future developments within the role, developing, and managing strategies to address any shortfalls.

Involvement in medical and/or nurse/AHP-led research within oncology in response to identified need. Disseminate results and implement findings appropriate to practice.

Demonstrate knowledge of current research in all aspects of his/her work and to site specific disease group.

Implement research findings appropriate to practice.

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices though the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, and lead others in doing so. Make recommendations for and lead change.

Maintain accurate records and provide necessary data for statistical analysis.

Education and Development

To participate in training and education programmes allowing professional and clinical updating to take place within the normal working week (Journal Club, Annual OSCE, Non-Medical Prescribing, Communication Skills Training, Informed Consent, Mandatory Training etc.)

Identify own development needs in line with service requirements within personal development plan. Undertake continuing professional development to ensure that skills remain optimal and new elements can be added to the skills portfolio.

Assist in the identification of the training needs of colleagues and participate in their continuing education, mentorship and skills development.

Ensure personal, peer group support and clinical supervision needs are met.  Contribute to the development and dissemination of new knowledge by submitting papers for publication and/or abstracts for appropriate conferences.

Have a named mentor from within the medical team for continuing clinical support and development.

Provide specialist training and education locally, nationally and internationally (e.g., organising/hosting/presenting at meetings, study days, conferences etc.).

To provide clinical and professional support and advice to all staff.

Develop and deliver specific and relevant teaching programs for all disciplines.

Support, supervise and assess clinical competencies of AACU nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

Equality and Diversity

To recognise and promote the importance of people’s rights and interpret them in a way that is consistent with Trust procedures, policies and legislation.

Acts in a way that acknowledges and recognises people’s expressed beliefs preferences and choices.

Respects people’s diversity and values them as individuals.

To challenge behaviour that undermines the rights of others.

To identify and act where necessary to address discrimination.

Health and Safety

Be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including the prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff, and ensuring that equipment used is safe.

To take immediate and appropriate action in relation to adverse incident reporting

To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

Monitors and maintains health, safety and security of self and others in own work area.

Contributes to risk register.