Bank Band 5 Staff Nurse -Radiology

Job overview

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is a high performing Trust with some of the best clinical outcomes in the country. Here, at The Royal Free  NHS Foundation Trust hospitals, we are passionate about delivering the highest quality care to all our patients. In order to help us maintain this, we are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and committed  Band 5 Registered Nurses to join the temporary staffing BANK team to work in the Interventional Radiology and Cardiology Unit (IRCU) at the Royal Free Hospital.

**VISA SPONSORSHIP DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS ROLE**

Main duties of the job

Royal Free World Class Values:

The post holder will offer World Class Care to service users, staff, colleagues, clients and patients alike.

As part of a multidisciplinary team the post holder will have responsibility for assessment of care needs, the development of programmes of care and/or the implementation and evaluation of these programmes ensuring the delivery of high quality care to patients.

The post holder has responsibility and accountability for maintaining both clinical and staff governance, and may be required to work in any of the departments associated within the Directorate.

**For further information please refer to the attached JD/PS**

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The patient group consists of outpatients and inpatients from within every clinical area of the hospital receiving diagnostic and interventional radiological procedures.

The department performs various examinations which include:

M.R. (Magnetic Resonances Imaging) C.T. (Computed Tomography Imaging) Lithotripsy Interventional Ultrasound Interventional Angiograms and Embolisations Radiofrequency Ablations Thrombolysis

Most hepatobiliary/vascular procedures are carried out under  general anaesthetic whereby:

1.The post holder will be involved in working in all of the above areas.

2.The post holder will be expected to perform as a scrub nurse assisting the radiologist by preparing specialist equipment and handling and receiving it throughout procedures whilst anticipating the requirements of the operator.

3.As the circulating nurse you will be responsible for monitoring the patient’s condition, administering required intravenous (IV) medication including IV sedation, IV analgesia and providing reassurance to the patient throughout the procedure. The circulating nurse also responsible for providing the scrub nurse with necessary sterile and specialist equipment. All nursing staff needs to have a good knowledge of the specialist equipment available.

4.Recover patient post procedure and post general anaesthesia.

5.Ever increasing numbers of combined surgical cases are now being performed both in the radiology department and in the theatre suite alongside the surgical theatre team.

6.Specialist knowledge is essential with experience plus related specialist course and training preferred.

7.To be responsible for the unsupervised assessment of patient care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of plans of care, ensuring high standards of evidence based care, using a defined model of care.

8.To undertake all nursing procedures in accordance with Trust policies and ensure that these procedures and policies are understood and adhered to including Radiation Safety and Protection Regulations IR(ME)R (2000) and the Health & safety at work act.

9.To communicate with patients and significant others with empathy and  reassurance regarding, assessment, care and treatment aiming towards a user centred care approach.

10.To maintain accurate and comprehensive nursing records using appropriate documentation in accordance with the NMC recommendations and Trust guidelines.

11.To assist in the smooth running of patient flow through the department including communication with the clinical areas about preparation and follow up care for patients

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1.To assist with the orientation of new members of the team.

2.To liaise with other hospital staff and departments to promote and maintain effective working relationships, ensuring high standards of care and service.

3.To assist in the investigation of accidents, incidents and complaints,  implementing corrective actions where necessary, under the direction of the ward sister / charge nurse, in accordance with Trust Policies.

4.To assist in the maintenance of a safe environment for all staff, patients and visitors and ensure that all equipment is in safe working order.

5.Participate in the implementation of new initiatives.

6.Assist in the maintenance of stock and pharmacy stores.

7.To be responsible for ensuring confidentiality and safekeeping of patient records.

8.To be responsible for reporting incidents and potential risks to the sister / charge nurse.

LEADERSHIP

1.To act as an effective role model to all level of staff.

2.To act as an effective preceptor of new staff with the support of the  ward sister/charge nurse.

EDUCATION

1.Attend mandatory training and demonstrate a commitment to personal  continuing professional development and actively participate in  Performance Review/appraisal.

2.To assist with the education of pre registration students and health care  assistants in collaboration with the rest of the team.

3.Participate in local teaching programmes.

4.Assist in providing relevant health education and information for patients including advice and care on discharge.

5.Motivate, develop and support the nursing team, utilising mentorship,  objective setting and appraisal, enabling needs of nursing staff met.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

1.To be aware of the research process and current trends.

2.With support and supervision from the sister/charge nurse, participate in audit of agreed clinical guidelines of practice, policies and benchmarks within area of clinical responsibility.

3.Under supervision of the sister/charge nurse, participate in the review,  development and audit of research-based policies and procedures relating to nursing practice.

PROFESSIONAL

1.To always behave in a manner that is professional, positive and polite.

2.Develop the role by using evidence-based practice and continuously  improve own knowledge, following SOP’s and guidelines.

3.The post holder is required to act in accordance with NMC Code of  Professional Conduct with particular reference to limitations of  competence and conduct.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Equipment and Machinery:

• The post holder is expected to have knowledge and ability to use equipment in the area however may not have daily clinical involvement.
• Generic equipment – electric beds, computers, pat slides; glide sheets, oxygen, suction, trolleys, wheelchairs, fridge, fire equipment, and x-ray viewing boxes.
• Specialised equipment – Infusion devices, BP machines, glucometers, suction machines, cardiac monitor, injection pump, hoist if necessary.
• High Specialised equipment – infusion devices, thrombectomy devices, bear hugger, angiography catheters and wires, angioplasty balloons, detachable balloons, intravascular stents, embolisation coils (renal/vascular) and particles, biopsy needles.

Systems:

• Maintenance of patient records
• Inputting data on vascular stock system to track the use and cost of all procedures and equipment
• Accessing blood results from WinPath laboratory system/CERNER request if necessary
• Internet and Intranet – work and personal use
• Incident reporting

Assessment and Review of Work:

• The Post Holder’s work is generated from the demand for radiological procedures services within the division, legislation and performance indicators set by the Trust. The outcome of this will benefit the quality of the service to the patient.
• The post holder will be responsible to the Senior Staff Nurse/ Charge Nurse who will provide clinical guidance and professional management, work review and formal appraisal of performance.
• When on-call post holder is needed, radiology nurse will be on-site and therefore responsible for carrying out emergency duties.
• Workload will be assigned by the Senior Staff Nurse however; the Staff Nurse will have responsibility for managing defined workload within professional guidelines.
• The post holder will delegate/allocate work to the team in the absence of more senior staff.

Decision & Judgements:

• The post holder is expected to make clinical and professional autonomous decisions on a daily basis.
• Provide clinical and professional advice to the multidisciplinary team.
• Analysis and assessment of patient condition.
• Work within ones own limitations.

Most Challenging/Difficult roles of the job:

• On-call commitment when post holder is only radiologically competent
• Responsible for setting up the lab for a procedure/ assisting with pre op anaesthetic/ acting as scrub nurse for radiologist/ recovering patient post procedure.
• Very busy hepatobiliary/vascular radiology department with continually changing lists, which are altered according to urgency and capacity.
• Working in an environment which has a transient patient population where nursing staff must respond to any situation with little or no knowledge of patients’ general condition or medical history.

Communications & Relationships:

• The post holder will be expected to communicate and liaise with the patient, their relatives and the multidisciplinary team involved in the provision of care.
• The post holder will be expected to communicate and liaise with the multidisciplinary team involved in the provision of care in the ward areas.
• The post holder will be expected to communicate and liaise with the multidisciplinary team involved in the provision of care within the imaging department
• Communicate with the Senior Staff Nurse and in charge regarding patient condition, workload issues and personal development.

DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Physical demands:

• Patient movement with use of mechanical aides e.g hoist/Trolleys/Wheel chairs.
• Transferring of patients using PAT slides and glide sheets
• Wearing lead coats for radiation protection for much of the day often for long periods of time (2hrs+)

Mental demands:

• Ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations
• Often working as only department nurse with demanding and high-risk procedures i.e. in on-call situations
• Close working with a variety of professionals within the multidisciplinary team

Emotional Demands:

• Critically ill patients requiring embolisation
• Communicating with distressed/anxious/worried patients and relatives.
• Cardiac arrest
• Rupture of aneurysm/thrombolysis

Environmental:

• Exposure to radiation
• Exposure to bodily fluids sometimes in large volumes
• Exposure to sharps
• High number of ‘High risk’ patients
• Lack of natural daylight.

Physical Skills:

• Preparation of sterile trolleys for interventional procedures
• Scrub up and maintain sterile environment throughout interventional procedures
• Management of arterial and venous lines.
• Ability to perform neurological and other patient observations and respond appropriately to change.
• Blood glucose monitoring
• Insertion of urinary catheters
• Intravenous cannulation/ venepuncture
• Immediate Life support
• Computer literacy – use of CERNER, RIS, Teletracking
• Drug administration
• Care of ventilated patient if necessary.
• Care of patient with tracheostomy/high flow oxygen.

**For further information please refer to the attached JD/PS**