Clinical Nurse Specialist - Spinal Disorders

Job overview

The post holder will be responsible for being a clinical expert, providing safe and effective care to all categories of Spinal Disorders patients at outpatient and inpatient phases.

They will use highly developed specialist knowledge to plan, implement and evaluate, programmes of evidenced-based nursing care. Participate in the supervision, mentorship and appraisal of pre and post registration staff. Regularly manage the day-to-day activity of the service and demonstrate effective and safe decision-making ability when doing so. Provide comprehensive leadership and management skills to nursing staff through periods of supervised practice. Participate in all aspects of staff management. Responsible for providing direct clinical care to Spinal Disorders patients requiring elective care as well as providing advice, guidance and signposting to patients accessing the Spinal Disorders Helpline.

Team working and leadership skills will be used to ensure safe and effective delivery of the service for staff and patients according to the RJAH Trust values and behaviours.

** Pay banding subject to NHS Terms and Conditions Job Evaluation **

Main duties of the job

Perform comprehensive assessment of patient nursing needs. Plan, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health care needs.

Plan specialised nursing service provision or specialised health and education programmes.

Coordinates multi-disciplinary activities in specialist area to include planning and running of nurse led clinics

Independently manage patient caseloads overseen by Spinal Disorders consultants, providing an assessment, plan and evaluation within the specialist area. This includes history taking, physical examination and requesting agreed diagnostic procedures and clinical investigations, working within your scope of practice, referring to a Consultant when necessary.

Discuss patient information/investigation results with MDT and GPs, dictating letters to other healthcare professionals where required.

Implement changes in clinical practice that improve standards of care and health outcomes in the Spinal Disorders field within the Trust and wider community.

Contribute to or participate in policy and practice changes arising from e.g. audits, complaints.

To coordinate and carry out pre-operative assessments, working closely with the anaesthetic team, working within your scope of practice, referring to a Consultant when necessary.

Attendance to the Regional Spinal Network meetings, providing any required data for the British spinal registry.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Provide specialist, clinical knowledge to colleagues, patients and carers/relatives.

To develop the role according to the changing needs and requirements of the service user and in accordance with patient feedback and research findings.

Undertake clinical supervision of nursing colleagues on an individual or group basis.

Participate in the development of services and assist the Ward Manager/Matron to implement change.

Work with the Spinal Operational, Secretarial and Administration teams to ensure patients are appropriately listed for surgery and ensuring the relevant resources such as spinal cord monitoring, images and results of relevant investigations are available.

To help develop protocols and standards for clinical activities undertaken within the Spinal Disorders Department role.

Work with the Divisional Operational Management team to support the management of waiting lists.

Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources.

Monitor health, safety and security of self and others and promote best practice in the ward area.

Support for the BSR administration role.