Drug Specialist Nurse

Job overview

The post holder will work across the Adult Emergency Department and inpatient services in the BRI and Weston General Hospital, to manage a caseload of patients with substance misuse related health problems. They will provide a liaison, consultation and treatment role that supports MDT's and community services, to ensure a co-ordinated quality service

The post holder will acknowledge and provide overall responsibility for the provision of specialist nursing advice and support to patients with Substance Misuse problems and concerned others, as in-patients. They will ensure all drug users admitted to the trust are promptly assessed for substitute prescribing and stabilisation during their admission. They will provide advice, support, and information from the time of diagnosis and throughout their care pathway to enable the patient to achieve optimum self-management and access to healthcare. They will be responsible for providing personalised prescribing plans and managing Opiate Substitute Therapy.

The post holder will provide training and support to nursing, medical and allied health professionals within the trust in order to improve communication skills and management of all substance misusing patients.

This service currently  operates Monday –Friday 9-5, however the post holder must be able to provide some OOHs working as this service develops across both hospital sites.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be working alongside clinical teams across all areas of the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Great Weston General Hospital including the Emergency Departments to provide excellent care to patients with substance misuse issues.

The post holder will ensure all drug users admitted to the trust are promptly assessed for substitute prescribing and stabilisation during their admission. They will work alongside a highly skilled team to ensure the timely discharge of patients whilst ensuring their ongoing support needs and referral to secondary services are considered and addressed.

The post holder will be required to demonstrate a patient and a non-judgemental approach to the care of this client group, and treat this often vulnerable people with dignity and respect in line with the Trust Values.

The post hold holder will act as an advocate for clients whilst they are an inpatient.

The post holder will be able to balance their ability to be assertive, and offer a consistent and boundaried approach to managing sometimes challenging behaviour from the client group.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide specialist nursing advice and support to patients, their families and carers from the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment and follow-up phases of treatment and care.
• To lead the development, improvement, management and promotion of the service ensuring the delivery of high quality, cost effective care
• To lead on the implementation and monitoring of adherence to relevant clinical guidelines.
• To provide all staff with specialist advice on the management of symptoms
• To educate and share expertise with the multidisciplinary team
• To act as a resource in the care of patients with specialist care needs, ensuring an optimum level of service to patients and their carers
• To work closely with community and or network teams, other hospital and community staff to ensure an effective seamless service
• To develop effective communication and support systems for patients and their families
• To function as a patients’ advocate to negotiate and mediate to work with the system to ensure optimum care to patients
• To establish nurse-led interventions to support services and manage patient’s needs and expectation
• To prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and practice protocols and legislation (Non-medical prescriber or under Patient Group Directions -PGDs), and within scope of practice
• To establish links with other organisations providing support and information and utilise these additional resources where necessary.
• To adhere to infection control guidelines and procedure
• To act as a positive role model for nurses in the hospital through the demonstration of strong leadership skills
• To provide support and advice in clinical areas, wards and outpatients, to optimise quality improvement opportunities
• Analyse and respond to complex clinical situations utilising specialist knowledge to assess a range of options to formulate solutions and recommendations.
• To act as a change agent, using skills that will motivate and reassure staff through negotiation and training, to facilitate the change process