Emergency Nurse Practitioner -ENP Band 7

Job overview

The ENP/ECP is an experienced Nurse (or Care Practitioner e.g., paramedic) that has a clearly defined role within the Emergency Department (ED) and collocated Urgent Care Centre (UTC). The postholder will complement the role of medical and nursing staff in providing unscheduled care in the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre.

The ENP/ECP is individually responsible for his/her professional development in line with the Code of Professional Conduct.

The ENP/ECP has achieved qualifications in both minor injuries and minor illness modules and will be expected to work autonomously within defined parameters to deliver care to patients attending the Emergency Department/Urgent Care Centre without reference to a doctor and will provide expert and specialist advice to patients and the multidisciplinary team. They should be competent in, or working towards a qualification for non-medical prescribing (NMP).

Main duties of the job

The ENP/ECP practices clinical autonomy with respect to patients presenting with a wide range of injuries, illnesses and ailments, within clinical governance limits. The ENP/ECP will work to national and hospital guidelines in relation to ‘evidence based best practice’, he/she will exercise his/her judgement in seeking specialist medical/surgical or orthopedic opinion or will proceed to definitive treatment within his/her scope of professional practice. The ENP/ECP is authorised to discharge patients without reference to any medical clinician within clinical governance limits.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The role consists of clinical, educational and professional components

Clinical

• Carry out initial patient contact assessments so that people attending the urgent care Centre (UCC) may be signposted, treated or referred on as appropriate.
• Clinically autonomous practitioner for patients attending the Emergency Department/Urgent Care Centre (UCC).
• Work autonomously to manage own caseload of patients whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Professional

• Provide evidence-based practice through the use of latest research based guidelines and the development of practice based research.
• Practice in continuing professional development to ensure up to date evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role is maintained.
• Work within the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
• Record accurate consultation data in patients records in accordance with the latest NMC guidance and other pertinent standards.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues within and external to the Emergency Department.
• Demonstrate daily ownership of the Urgent Care area.
• Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards.

Educational

• Be aware of current nursing trends and development in nursing.
• Act as a point of reference and guidance for junior nurses and doctors in the Emergency Department.
• Undertake teaching sessions within the Emergency Department relating to Emergency Nurse Practitioner skills.
• Participate in development opportunities to enhance and expand the scope of professional practice delivered by Autonomous practitioners within Emergency and Urgent Care directorate.

Note on Autonomous Practice

The ENP/ECP practices clinical autonomy with respect to patients presenting with a wide range of injuries, illnesses and ailments, within clinical governance limits. The ENP/ECP will work to national and hospital guidelines in relation to ‘evidence based best practice’, he/she will exercise his/her judgement in seeking specialist medical/surgical or orthopaedic opinion or will proceed to definitive treatment within his/her scope of professional practice. The ENP/ECP is authorised to discharge patients without reference to any medical clinician within clinical governance limits.

The ENP/ECP is individually responsible for his/her professional development in line with the Code of Professional Conduct.

The ENP/ECP will:-

• Ensure that he/she remains up to date with the developments and proactively uses his/her knowledge to develop the service.
• Undertake clinical audit and apply the results to improve care delivery. Education and Training
• Audit
• The ENP/ECP will also be required to teach and examine nurses undertaking the Diploma in Autonomous Practice course at Higher Education Institutions.
• The ENP/ECP has a responsibility for delivering an educational or training package as guided by the Emergency Department, Professional Development Nurse.  As an ENP/ECP it will be required on you at all times to take on an educator role in promoting the ENP/ECP service to all avenues of health care.

This is an integral part of the ENP/ECP role and the ENP/ECP is responsible for undertaking clinical audit to measure the effectiveness of the new service and delivering the findings to improve the service.