Community Staff Nurse - District Nursing

Job overview

Contract - Fixed Term. Full-time

Do you want to be able to provide holistic, patient centred care while being part of a friendly and supportive team? We are recruiting nurses like you now!

Our District Nursing Service is forward thinking, hardworking and dynamic which we pride ourselves on. We are committed to making a difference for our patients and providing good quality care. We deliver services across the diverse and exciting boroughs of Islington and Haringey – providing fantastic opportunities to develop your skills.

We have a strong and supportive nursing leadership team and a dedicated Professional Development Team to guide and support you in your professional development.

We offer you the following:

• On-going learning and development opportunities including leadership courses and clinical skills such as catheterisation, leg ulcer management, palliative care and intravenous medication administration
• A structured induction programme for community nurses
• Personal safety device
• IPADS and mobile phones
• A comprehensive 12-month preceptorship programme for newly qualified nurses which has been awarded the national preceptorship quality mark
• High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) additional to your basic pay depending on borough

Main duties of the job

Our district nursing team’s visit adults who are housebound in their own homes or residential homes, enabling them to self-manage where possible and implementing appropriate treatments and care pathways.

The types of patient care you will provide are:

• Patient assessments
• Continence assessment (including catheter care, bowel management, nephrostomy care)
• Ear Irrigation
• Health Promotion
• Leg ulcer management (including doppler assessment and compression therapy)
• Management of Enteral Feeding Tubes
• Medication administration and management- including IV medications
• Palliative care and end of life care (including care of rocket and Pleurx drains)
• Safeguarding (with MDT involvement)
• Wound care (post operative, surgical, pressure ulcer, leg ulcers, burns, diabetic foot ulcer etc)
• Trial without catheter

You will be working alongside a multi-skilled team led by Specialist Practitioners in District Nursing as well as liaising regularly with a variety of specialist nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure you are able to provide the best care for your patients.

As an integrated care organisation our community and hospital services are one. We bring high quality services closer to home and speed up communication between community and hospital services, improving our patients’ experience.

This role involves rotational shifts between 8:30am-5:00pm and 2:00pm-10:00pm. You will be required to work one weekend on and one weekend off duty.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Values

The post holder will uphold and display the Trust values of Innovation, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Equity.

• Plan the delivery of patient care and take responsibility for implementing and evaluating that care, using an appropriate nursing model.
• Be accountable for own nursing practice and work unsupervised and on own initiative, but to be responsible to the Team Manager for all aspects of their work.
• Deliver a high standard of comprehensive skilled and evidence based nursing care to patients.
• Be responsible for a delegated caseload of patients under the guidance of the District Nurse Team Manager.
• Contribute to, and be competent in, the assessment of needs (including for the provision of continuing care) of the clients on all matters and to provide total patient care using evidence based nursing models.
• Be able to prioritise their own workload and of those working with them, such as learners and Healthcare Assistants. When in charge of the team, know how to delegate what staff to what duties and ensure the smooth running of the team.
• Know how to impart news of a distressing nature to patients and relatives. This will include passing on news of a patient’s death or helping a patient/relative understand a diagnosis such as cancer.
• Assist patients, carers and their families to identify health and well-being goals.
• Support and empower patients, carers and their families to achieve their health and well being goals.
• Accurately record observations and changes in clients’ conditions and report back to the responsible District Nurse Team Manager.
• Assist in assessing and caring for patients with complex and ongoing health and social needs, self-care and health promotion.

• Assist in planning and implementing methods of rehabilitation for patients and their carers.
• Liaise with colleagues and other agencies, including Social Services, to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Contribute to the integration of Whittington Health and Social Services.
• Extend their nursing knowledge/skills by undertaking further professional training that may be required in addition to keeping up to date with professional developments.
• Attend staff meetings and other relevant meetings.
• Participate in research projects and/or innovations, including health promotion and chronic disease management activities.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records are kept that ensure safety and continuity of patient care.
• Be computer literate.
• Ensure that all appointments and interventions are recorded accurately on RIO.
• Utilise appropriate resources in the provision of total patient care.
• Be aware of, and act in, accordance with agreed policy procedures legislation and NMC standards.
• Participate in the orientation of new staff and nursing students, and act as a practice supervisor/assessor to nursing students, nursing associate students, other learners and healthcare assistants where appropriate.
• Demonstrate practice to nursing students and other staff.
• Undertake other relevant duties arising from the work of the Primary Health Care Team as requested by the Team Manger and/or Lead Nurse and/or Nurse Manager .

Please see job description and personal specification for more details about this role.