Asthma Nurse specialist

Job overview

Funding has been confirmed for 1.6WTE Band 6 Asthma Nurse Specialists to work within an established , expanding  and friendly Asthma/Severe asthma service .This is an exciting opportunity for service and self development.

We are looking for dynamic forward thinking  individuals  to take up these posts . They are being advertised as 1.6WTE to allow for consideration of 2 part time workers or 1WTE , plus   0.6WTE .

You  will be an integral part of the team , improving the management of  asthma and associated comorbidities , increasing access to specialist treatments for severe asthma , thus reducing hospital admissions and improving quality of life.

Hours per day will range from 7.5 – 9.5

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

Main duties of the job

• To manage and co-ordinate care of inpatients/ clinic patients  with Asthma / Severe Asthma / Difficult Asthma.    Work as part of respiratory team, leading, teaching and delivering expert care. Act as an expert resource within the multi-disciplinary team.

Contribute to resource management

• Assess, plan, implement and provides specialist advice and support to the ward staff, medical teams and clinic teams. The post holder will have involvement in co-ordination and organisation of individual treatment programmes throughout the illness trajectory and work to develop communication across divisional and organisational boundaries. Provides Clinical supervision to other staff.
• Provides specialist nursing advice, psychological support and an educational role to patients, carers, and health care professionals with regards to Respiratory care.
• Acts as a nursing resource and is involved in the education and training of medical, nursing and allied health professionals as required. Carries out specialist nursing procedures eg spirometry, specialist medication monitoring
• Works autonomously throughout the Trust supporting colleagues and Line manager within the service.
• Undertakes audit and becomes involved in research appropriate to these patients
• Contributes to resource management using and allocating resources and equipment responsibly

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Manages own caseload of patients across clinic in the Chest Clinic and offering specialist advice on patients with Asthma / Severe Asthma / Difficult Asthma,  including  specialist medication management, monitoring of Specialist Medication patients. Works as part of the Multidisciplinary team.

Communicates highly sensitive, complex and contentious information to patients, relatives. e.g. need for implementation of  Biologic, Steroid treatment and Immunosuppression treatments

To offer regular review of patients requiring supportive therapies offering appropriate advice regarding changes in medication

To asses new and established patients with asthma , identifying their psychological, physiological, emotional spiritual and cultural needs in relation to their disease and proposed treatment, providing a pathway of nursing care for the patient through liaison with other agencies, ie Long Term Condition nurses, GP, Community COPD Team

Acts as a patient advocate when relevant and be able to educate on all the treatment options to enable a patient to make an informed choice, negotiating with the medical team to agree a pathway of care

Provides continuity of care throughout the patient journey and liaising across organizations

Develops specialised programmes of care and provides highly specialised advice including written and oral information to patients with Respiratory conditions, their relatives and carers.

Assesses and develops Specialist care programmes.

Acts as an expert resource within the Trust.

Develops a Progressive and dynamic approach to practice thus ensuring a responsive, quality up to date service

Provides clinical advice and support to junior and senior health care professionals within Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

For further details please see enclosed JD and PS