Clinical Nurse Specialist Vascular Access

Job overview

• To contribute to the provision of a nurse led central venous access device (CVAD) service for patients across the trust.   •    To be a clinical expert and be responsible for trust wide implementation of national guidance regarding CVAD’s.   •    To develop the practice of the multidisciplinary team and be responsible for reducing the level of line related bacteraemia’s and other CVAD complications.

***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.***

Main duties of the job

• To assist in the development a nurse led CVAD line insertion service for patients across the trust. •    To be a clinical expert and challenge and inform practice across the trust. •    To manage a caseload of patients requiring central venous access. •    To act as an expert practitioner in CVAD insertion and care and provide specialist interdisciplinary education and training. •    To develop and implement policy and guidelines to inform best practice across the trust. •    To undertake regular audit against relevant national guidance. •    To develop the skills/knowledge of healthcare professionals caring for patients with a CVAD outside of the acute trust to ensure patients receive a seamless care pathway. •    To lead on service development in line with advances in practice, national guidance and technology. •    To represent the trust at relevant external forums. •    To lead by example demonstrating effective role modelling to all members of the multidisciplinary team. •    To be responsible for meeting the NMC requirements in line with the code of professional conduct for their scope of responsibility.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Work as an autonomous practitioner providing a nurse lead CVAD line insertion service for all appropriate patients across the trust. •    Take referrals directly from medical staff. •    Undertake a complex assessment of all patients referred for a CVAD and advise clinicians of appropriate type of vascular access required. •    Discuss and inform patients of indication for line insertion and obtain informed consent in line with trust policy. •    Demonstrate clinical excellence in the placement of all types of CVADs and all associated invasive procedures (following relevant training). •    Demonstrate clinical excellence in the use of ultrasound guided CVAD placement. •    Demonstrate clinical competence in the management of all types of CVAD. •    Ensure that own practice reflects national standards and advances in practice. •    Responsible for maintaining accurate patient records. •    Independently manage a caseload of patents with a CVAD.  Ensure that all patients with a CVAD are reviewed daily and the care they receive is in line with national/trust guidance. •    Develop, implement and regularly review treatment plans to reflect best practise for patients with a CVAD. •    Undertake clinical audit of the vascular access service. •    Collect and disseminate relevant data and facilitate audit against national guidance to inform practice. •    Work as an expert practitioner in all areas of vascular access and provide expert clinical advice to all members of the MDT and patients regarding the care of CVADs. •    Maintain a high profile in all relevant clinical areas acting as a role model for good practice. •    Undertake route cause analysis (RCA) for line related bacteraemia’s and CVAD complications and present at appropriate trust forums. •    Manage resources to ensure overall financial budgets are balanced using a collective responsibility approach •    Maintain a safe working environment ensuring high standards and safe practices are maintained in line with trust policy and procedures. •    Be responsible for identifying risks and utilise trust risk assessment documentation, ensuring that the guidelines of the health and safety at work act/clinical risk are adhered to. •    Work with professional groups in primary healthcare settings.  Assume a central role in problem solving and service coordination to ensure patients and carers receive high standards of seamless care. •    Ensure own clinical practice remains up to date, is relevant to the needs of the service and promotes service development. •    Be responsible for maintaining own personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the role. •    Represent the trust at relevant external forums. •    Identify and plan education participating in curriculum planning and delivery. •    Provide a trust wide education programme on CVAD insertion and care for all members of the MDT. •    Develop and maintain a competency framework related to CVADs for all relevant healthcare professionals across the trust. •    Teach relevant clinical skills to the MDT and assess competence. •    Develop and implement relevant clinical guidelines across the trust. •    Develop and implement appropriate resources to advise patients and relatives. •    Use research findings critically to develop practice. •    Undertake relevant research projects in collaboration with senior clinicians. •    Establish local and national networks, linking with other practitioners in specialist areas to share and learn from examples of good practice.

For further details please see attached JD & PS