B5 Staff Nurse - Acute Assessment Unit

Job overview

As a Band 5 Staff Nurse within the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU), you will provide high-quality, patient-centred care to adults presenting with a wide range of acute medical conditions. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will be responsible for the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of evidence-based nursing care, ensuring patients receive timely assessment, treatment and appropriate discharge planning.

The Acute Assessment Unit is a fast-paced 50 bedded ward that provides rapid assessment, investigation and treatment for patients admitted directly from the Emergency Department. You will care for patients with varying levels of acuity, requiring excellent clinical assessment skills, sound judgement and the ability to prioritise and manage a dynamic workload.

You will be expected to work collaboratively with medical staff, allied health professionals, discharge teams and community services to facilitate safe, effective and efficient patient care. You will actively contribute to maintaining patient safety, promoting clinical excellence and ensuring compliance with Trust policies, professional standards and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 5 Staff Nurse within the Acute Assessment Unit, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to patients requiring urgent assessment and treatment. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive safe, effective and compassionate care throughout their admission.

Your main duties will include:

• Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating individualised nursing care for patients with a wide range of acute medical conditions.
• Undertaking comprehensive patient assessments, recognising signs of deterioration and escalating concerns promptly using appropriate clinical pathways.
• Administering medicines and intravenous therapies safely and in accordance with Trust policies and the NMC Code.
• Monitoring, recording and accurately documenting patient observations, care plans and clinical interventions using electronic patient record systems.
• Working collaboratively with medical staff, allied health professionals and community teams to support timely assessment, treatment and discharge planning.
• Promoting patient safety by adhering to infection prevention and control standards, safeguarding procedures and medicines management policies.
• Supporting patients and their families by providing clear communication, education and emotional support throughout their hospital stay.
• Acting as an advocate for patients, ensuring dignity, privacy and respect are maintained at all times.
• Participating in the supervision and support of student nurses, healthcare support workers and newly appointed staff.
• Contributing to quality improvement initiatives,  incident reporting and the implementation of learning to enhance patient care.
• Maintaining professional registration and demonstrating a commitment to continuous professional development, mandatory training and evidence-based practice.
• Working flexibly across a 24-hour service, including weekends, bank holidays and night shifts, to meet the needs of the service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description which provides further information on the role and responsibilities.