Emergency Department Deputy Sister / Charge Nurse

Job overview

Are you an experienced band 5 nurse with considerable emergency nursing experience/acute care experience, with current NMC registration, who is ready to step up to a Band 6 role? Are you currently a Band 6 nurse with emergency care experience looking to work in a different and dynamic emergency department? An opportunity has arisen for a secondment to a Band 6 Deputy Sisters/Charge Nurses  within the Emergency Department at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

The Emergency Department consists of a 3 bay Resuscitation Room , a large, recently refurbished unit with 15 Majors cubicles, ACDU and 3 bay PAT area. As a department we provide 24/7 emergency access to care for both adults and children providing access to a wide range of specialist clinical services and expertise. We are able to offer in-house training and external courses to our nurses including Advanced Life Support, Trauma Immediate Life Support.  We also offer the opportunity to all our nurses to complete an emergency care pathway made up of 3 university modules covering the acutely unwell adult, minor illness and injuries and emergency care. As well as working in all areas of the emergency department, our senior nurses co-ordinate patient flow and manage patient safety alongside displaying compassionate and inclusive  leadership skills.

Main duties of the job

As a department we are committed to the delivery of quality care in an unpredictable and challenging environment. We encourage innovation and participation in the development of new ways of working through multidisciplinary collaboration to achieve patient-focused outcomes.

There are many opportunities for in-house training on emergency skills such as advanced life support, critical care and major incident planning. At Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse level you are expected to be signed off and competent in the main areas of the department: triage, resus and PAT.

The successful candidates will need to be enthusiastic and self-motivated and demonstrate that they are committed to the development of the department and the team. They should show evidence of their own development in a Band 5/6 role. This includes completion or near completion of the ECA level 1 competencies.  Mentorship or practice assessor module completion is essential for the role.  Experience of all aspects of emergency nursing is essential for this post along with Manchester triage system or equivalent proficiency.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.

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 hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.

Managerial/Organisational

To contribute to the overall effective management of the department and role modelling  to maintain a clean and safe working environment, eg, tidy working area, clean up spillages, liaise with housekeeping co-ordinator and Nurse in Charge (NIC) etc.

To undertake shifts in all areas of the department including paediatrics as required.

To manage a group of patients effectively and reporting to others as required on a shift basis.

To contribute to the effective use of resources and monitor the safe and economical use of all supplies and equipment, identifying problems and reporting to the A&E NIC or be able to escalate to the appropriate service , eg, use appropriate equipment for purpose and minimise wastage.

To assess and report practical hazards and take any immediate and appropriate action.

To ensure that any incident, complaint or other undue occurrence is managed in accordance with departmental and Trust policy, eg complete DATIX form, statements in timely manner, complete adult or paediatric safeguarding  referrals and de-escalate complaints in real time whenever possible.

Demonstrate basic understanding of clinical governance and risk management and its application to work.

Triage and movement of patients to appropriate clinical areas.

Collaborate in the achievement of Government and Trust targets alongside local PFIS initiatives. Participate department meetings and quality improvement projects

Communication

To ensure all communication is timely, accurate, honest and effective and is managed with discretion.

Responsible for protecting all confidential information concerning patients obtained in the course of professional practice.

To report clearly and concisely, written, verbal and computer-entered relevant information regarding the care and well being of patients.

To establish and maintain effective communications with all members of the public, including challenging behaviour, learning disability and bereavement. Establish and maintain effective communication and collaborative working with the multi-disciplinary team including but not limited to the clinical site team, integrated discharge team and emergency floor pharmacists.

To provide patients and carers with relevant written and verbal care advice.

To co-operate with all staff in the care, treatment and discharge of patients providing professional nursing advice to other members of the care team.

Leadership

Continual role modelling professional standards of behaviour and attitude as listed within the departmental above and below the line behaviours.

Participate in the mentorship/practice assessing of students and new staff members.

Coordinate department, being responsible for the safe and appropriate allocation of patients arriving by ambulance and those from the waiting room highlighted by the triage nurses. Display awareness of how staff are working to maintain high standards of care and challenge poor standards as appropriate. Manage evolving and dynamic risk changes as patients clinically deteriorate or display challenging behaviour.

As required to shift lead in the Emergency Department day and night.

Solely coordinate resus , be accountable for own professional judgements, actions and omissions, ensuring safe transfer of patients arriving and leaving the clinical area.

Clinical

To ensure optimum standards of care for all patients attending the A&E Department.

Be competent in caring for paediatric patients and being the lead nurse as required.

Undertake assessment of individual patients through a system of prioritisation of need and continuous assessment

Undertake planning, implementation, evaluation and re-evaluation of individual programmes of care, taking into account the patient’s dignity, religious and cultural needs under supervision.

To develop into expanded roles of plastering, wound closure, suturing, venepuncture, defibrillation and maintain competency in these roles

Work towards completion of the Emergency Care Association level 2 framework competencies.

To ensure that the delivery of all nursing care complies with departmental, NMC and Trust policies, protocols, procedures and guidelines.

Be accountable for own professional judgements, actions and omissions.

Regularly handle heavy patients/objects adhering to Trust Moving and Handling Policy.

Ensure appropriate standards are met when being exposed to hazardous/biological substances.

Maintaining provider status in extended resus courses such as TILS, ALS, NIV.

Research

To promote and collaborate in the provision of an environment where patients, visitors and staff feel valued and supported.

To ensure that own nursing practice is based on current research findings and an informed professional knowledge base.

To contribute in the review of clinical standards and practices in the department. Initiating changes and improvements in collaboration with departmental Managers, colleagues and clinical audit.

Participate in accurate data collection and audit relating to current Government targets.

Participate in department trials.

Education

To contribute to an effective learning environment for the training and professional development of self and other staff and students.

To undertake specific training in all emergency procedure including major incident, cardiac arrest calls, medical emergency calls and fire emergencies so they are competent to carry out these roles.

Responsible for maintaining, updating and improving own skills, knowledge and competencies, identifying education needs with Team Leader through appraisal, ensuring that those needs are addressed and completed. Takes ownership for completion of level 2 ECA competencies.

Act as a practice assessor to help support and provide clinical education of Student Nurses and Health Care Assistants.

To have an understanding of appropriate health promotion and education for patients, carers and visitors. Being able to appropriately counsel patients when discharged on new medications.

Participate in in-house forums/training relating to emergency care

Ensure that own mandatory training is attended and updated as required.

Participate in staff appraisals as directed by the senior team.