Cardiac Intensive Care Nurse

Job overview

We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated registered nurses to join our dynamic team that is dedicated to the provision of high standards of patient care.

If you are interested in gaining experience in an intensive care setting why not come and be part of this nursing team.

Our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit specialises in nurse led fast track recovery for elective and emergency cardiac surgery patients undergoing CABG, valve replacement and dissection repair. The Unit is busy, dynamic and requires nurses that enjoy working in a fast paced and exciting environment. The unit also supports patients who require level 3 on-going critical care interventions in the post-operative period

The main responsibilities of the Cardiac Intensive Care Nurse is  to plan, provide and evaluate skilled evidence based care for the critically ill patient under the supervision of Band 6 and Band 7 cardiac intensive care nurses.

We welcome applications from those who currently hold a UK NMC registration. If you currently hold an overseas nursing qualification and require sponsorship we are not currently direct hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.

Main duties of the job

The post holder works within an eight bedded Cardiac Intensive Care Unit caring for patients immediately post cardiac surgery.  This unit caters for patients varying from those who are critically ill requiring mechanical ventilation and maximum hemodynamic support in the form of invasive monitoring devices and pharmacological agents to those patients ready for discharge to the ward areas. The post holder is an experienced critical care nurse who can work without supervision responsible and accountable for the total nursing care of one to two patients.

The role of the band 5 grade nurse is to initiate, facilitate and evaluate effective holistic and evidence based patient care in accordance with UHS NHS Foundation Trust policies, and within the NMC code of conduct.  To work as part of a team to provide an effective, safe environment of care for individual patients, their relatives and carers. This post holder on Cardiac Intensive Care Unit will play a supportive role to their shift leader with day to day management of the unit.  They will also supervise and support junior members of the team.

Your professional development is very important to us. We offer an orientation programme in a great working atmosphere, with a friendly and very supportive team. You will be fully supported to work towards completing your ITU course.  We are committed to providing a culture of continuous learning, which actively supports the professional and personal development of our staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

• Attends Unit meetings / Team Away days in order to communicate needs and discuss problems with senior staff
• Identifies needs and provides support for patients, relatives and friends with support from the shift coordinator
• Behaves in consistent manner with visitors, patients and the MDT.
• Articulates current status of patients in their care to shift coordinator.
• Informs shift coordinator when assistance is required / support needed
• Maintains communication with people about routine and daily activities constructively overcoming any differences in communication between the people involved, and modifying communication accordingly e.g. using tact, diplomacy, discretion, empathy.
• Participate in ensuring effective multidisciplinary communication links both upwards and downwards within Critical Care and the rest of the Trust. This involves all staff members, relatives and patients
• Responsible for effective shift handovers ensuring relevant detail is communicated and identifies and challenges any unprofessional or subjective comments made about patients
• Participate in medical ward rounds showing a thorough knowledge of the patient’s medical history, current condition and recent clinical events. Ability to present this concisely, at the appropriate time, and in the appropriate manner
• Involvement in complex patient ‘case conferences’ when discussing future treatments for patients which could involve ’withdrawal of treatment’ in situations of poor prognosis.
• Support families on a 1:1 basis using knowledge, experience and skill to explain complicated medical conditions. Provide adequate and appropriate information and education, whilst ensuring this information is understood
• Provide and receive highly complex information on clinical conditions, which could be sensitive and occasionally contentious. Information given to patients and relatives could involve breaking bad news and may result in conflict with relatives understanding of the critically ill patient. E.g. communicating : ‘withdrawal of treatment’, deterioration in condition, or sudden death. This must be done with great tact and skill
• Ability to guide relatives through withdrawal of treatment, tissue / organ donation in conjunction with relevant personnel e.g. Trust Donation Nurse Specialist, Transplant Co-ordinator, Trust personnel available for distressed / bereaved relatives
• Recognition of poor standards of care among MDT. Ability to highlight these to appropriate personnel, at an appropriate time, and in an appropriate manner

Service Delivery and Improvement

• To assist with clinical research programmes implemented by members of the multi-disciplinary team
• To be aware of the Mandatory Audit Documentation Programme and Trust Clinical Governance strategy
• To comply with all Local and Trust protocols and directives, showing an understanding of individual’s ethical and legal responsibilities
• To work in collaboration with Practice Educator and relevant Network groups in compiling and implementing clinical guidelines/competency documents, seeking to ensure consistent Evidence Based Practice
• Participate in implementing the Trust Clinical Governance Strategy.

Please see attached Job Description for full details.