Clinical Nurse Specialist - Deteriorating Patients , Sepsis & AKI

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen at The Royal Marsden Hospital for a highly motivated and experienced nurse to join our team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist for Deteriorating Patients, Sepsis and AKI.

This pivotal role will provide expert clinical leadership across the Trust, supporting the early identification, escalation and management of patients at risk of clinical deterioration. The post holder will work closely with the Lead Nurse and Practice Educator for Deteriorating Patients, Sepsis & AKI, the Critical Care Outreach Team, and multidisciplinary colleagues to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes.

The successful candidate will lead education, audit and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring compliance with national standards and Trust policies while supporting the implementation of Martha’s Rule. You will act as an expert clinical resource, promoting best practice in the recognition and management of sepsis, acute kidney injury and deteriorating patients.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to Trust-wide patient safety priorities, influence practice and drive continuous improvement within a world-leading specialist cancer centre.

Please Note: This is a fixed-term post funded through short-term funding. As recruitment processes is a part of the funding period, the contract may be for less than 12 months.

Main duties of the job

This role focuses on the identification, escalation, and management of patients experiencing clinical deterioration, including those diagnosed with sepsis and acute kidney injury (AKI)

The CNS will offer expert guidance and support to staff in assessing and managing deteriorating patients, specifically those affected by sepsis and AKI. This includes acting as a resource for the clinical teams and collaborating closely with the Lead Nurse and Practice Educator for Deteriorating Patient, Sepsis & AKI, the Outreach service, and medical teams.

The post holder is responsible for driving educational initiatives, conducting audits, and leading quality improvement projects to ensure adherence to both national and Trust standards of practice.

A key aspect of this role involves supporting the Trust’s patient safety agenda and facilitating the implementation of component three of Martha’s Rule, in alignment with the NHSE national initiative.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist will work in partnership with other healthcare professionals to promote best clinical practices for the recognition, treatment, and care of deteriorating patients, including those with AKI and/or Sepsis.

By working collaboratively with colleagues, the post holder will help create a dynamic and supportive working environment. This ensures the service operates efficiently and effectively, contributing to the achievement of both national and local performance standards within the designated timeframe.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification

• Provide expert leadership and support in the management of deteriorating patients throughout the Trust, with a strong focus on Martha’s rule, sepsis identification, management and AKI prevention and management.
• Develop and implement Trust-wide policies and procedures for the early recognition and management of clinical deterioration, ensuring alignment with national best practice guidelines.
• Ensuring timely recognition and intervention for patients at risk of deterioration in all settings.
• Raise awareness of NEWS2, PEWS, AKI, and Sepsis among all clinical groups, patients, and carers.
• Ensure that the data is relevant and supports quality improvement and learning within the organisation.
• To feedback to appropriate stakeholders on the results/trends of audits and measurements for improvement to Trust Committees

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.