Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse - Critical Care

Job overview

St Richards Hospital Critical Care is a 10 bedded unit with 6 level 3 ICU beds and 4 level 2 HDU beds.

The band 6 role is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, motivated and enthusiastic  ICU nurse with the critical care course to take on a leadership role within our friendly , hardworking team.

We support ITU course students as well as general students and have a strong focus on education for our critical care team.

We receive both medical and surgical patients.

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

Main duties of the job

To plan,provide and evaluate skilled evidence- based care for critically ill patients, both L2 and L3.

To support and develop colleagues by mentoring and assessing their skills.

To promote practice development within Critical Care.

To shift lead and support staff.

To fulfil local/trust requirements in specified audit/project work.

Under guidance of B7 team leader ,to undertake performance development reviews .

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Participate in ensuring effective multidisciplinary communication links both upwards and downwards within Critical Care (ICU/HDU) and the rest of the Trust. This involves all staff members, relatives and patients.

Attend Team Away-days/Unit meetings in order to communicate and discuss issues with senior members of staff.

Adhere to NMC guidelines on documentation; accountability and responsibility for accurate, professional record keeping either on paper and/ or the electronic system.

Display competent use of; Trust e-mail, CIS message centre (where applicable), visitors intercom system and telephone.

Responsible for effective shift handovers ensuring relevant detail is communicated and identifies and challenges any unprofessional or subjective comments made about patients.

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.

Acknowledges the nature and progression of the critically ill patient, and the subsequent cognitive impairment of these patients, can recognise barriers to understanding by communicating verbal and written information, clearly, sensitively and diplomatically, ensuring that information is understood whilst displaying underpinning knowledge.

To initiate and take part in complex patient 'case conferences' when discussing future treatments for patients which can involve 'withdrawal of treatment' in situation of 'poor prognosis'.

To participate in mortality and morbidity meetings

To be responsible for accurate, appropriate and efficient communication between your team and in support / conjunction with Team Leader.

For more details please review the full job description and personal specification.