Breast Care Nurse Specialist

Job overview

We are looking for a Band 6 Breast Care Nurse Specialist.

***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.***

Available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity. (With current line manager's agreement). Secondment with the possibility of becoming Permanent***

Main duties of the job

• Using expert knowledge, the post holder will assess patients’ needs, formulate care pathways, and provide evidence based care in order to meet the needs of patients diagnosed with breast cancer through the breast screening and surgery pathway .

• The post holder will have continuing responsibility for the co-ordination and organisation of individual treatment programmes for patients with breast cancer throughout the breast surgical pathway.

• Is able to address complex needs and provide specialist nursing advice and psychological support to a large caseload of patients and their carers.

• Acts as an expert resource, and facilitator to educate and train junior breast care nurses and other health care professionals as required, both formally and informally within the primary, secondary and tertiary care.

• To provide nurse specialist input to the Breast Multi-disciplinary Team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Clinical
• Works autonomously to manage her own caseload of patients whilst working as part of the  breast multidisciplinary team. • Communicates highly sensitive and emotive condition related information to patients,  relatives.  • Utilizes advanced skills of assessment, interpreting complex needs, and implements  specialist nursing care for patients with breast cancers, and their carers. • To act as 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  timely pathway of care. • Provides continuity of care throughout the patient journey and liaises across organizational  boundaries within Trust, the network and to other regions, in order to provide a seamless,  patient-focused service. • Develops specialized programmes of care and provide specialized advice and written and  verbal information to patients with breast cancers, and their carers.  • Attendance in breast clinics at time of diagnosis and result giving by clinician. • Organises and implements a nurse-led follow up clinics and drop-in clinics for all groups of  patients. • Assesses patients’ needs regarding body image and sexuality. Supply information and advice  regarding swimwear and underwear. Autonomously runs breast prosthetic fitting clinics. • Identify vulnerable groups and educate in the prevention of lymphoedema of the arm.

For further details please see the attached JD & PS