Endoscopy Staff Nurse

Job overview

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for a post for Band 5 Staff Nurses in the Endoscopy department at the University Hospital Lewisham. The UHL Endoscopy department is a 4-procedure room department offering both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy (including ERCP, Colonoscopy Gastroscopy, and Bowel Screening) as well as supporting our inpatient service. The department has a progressive, motivated and highly experienced team who are keen to support new staff in their clinical development skills. The suitable candidates can be experienced Endoscopy nurses who are highly motivated and enjoy developing new skills in Endoscopy or those who are ready to learn new skill in Endoscopy. Endoscopy unit covers a 5 day service, full time hours are usually completed over 4 days.

Main duties of the job

A Band 5 Endoscopy Nurse provides holistic, high-quality care from pre-assessment through to discharge for patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. Core duties include assisting with procedures monitoring, administering medication, monitoring patient recovery, and maintaining infection control standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Clinical Duties: Assessing, planning, and delivering patient care before, during, and after endoscopic procedures (e.g., gastroscopy, colonoscopy).
• Procedure Support: Assisting endoscopists in procedure rooms, managing specialized endoscopic equipment, and providing technical support.
• Patient Monitoring: Monitoring vital signs, conscious levels, and administering sedation/medication in accordance with policy.
• Recovery and Discharge: Monitoring patient recovery, ensuring stability, providing discharge advice, and managing patient care from admission to discharge.
• Safety and Standards: Ensuring infection control compliance (e.g., COSHH), maintaining accurate documentation, and adhering to JAG (Joint Advisory Group) standards.
• Teamwork and Development: Acting as a role model, mentoring junior staff/students, and participating in on-call rotas.
• Communication: Acting as a key member of the multidisciplinary team to ensure a positive patient experience.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Act as a Named Nurse within a Team taking responsibility, over an appropriate span of time, in conjunction with the Ward/Unit Manager and the multidisciplinary team, for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care from admission to discharge within the in-patient setting.

• Be patient centred in approach to developing clinical care plans
• Be aware of current advances in clinical care and be able to facilitate the team members in implementation of evidence-based practice.
• Take an active role in the continuing development and use of protocols and standards for nursing care.
• Participate in evaluation, audit, and research of nursing care.
• Actively work to promote health and prevent ill health in staff, patients and their relatives.
• Promote and maintain a safe and pleasant environment for patients, visitors, and colleagues.
• Check the readiness for use of emergency/special equipment and ensure all equipment in use, is in good working order.
• Have knowledge of recording relevant patient/nursing data on to computer.
• Accept responsibility for the administration, care, and custody of medicines, in accordance with legal requirements and NMC and Trust Guidelines on drug administration.
• Attend mandatory annual updates in fire training, basic life support, other identified sessions and maintain knowledge of relevant policies.
• Have knowledge and understanding of all relevant Trust policies, including the Major Incident Plan, ensuring that junior colleagues are aware of such policies.
• Have knowledge of and adhere to relevant parts of national legislation, including Health and Safety at Work Act, COSHH Regulations, and Moving and Handling Regulations.
• Transport people and/or items safely and to time consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Ensure all biomedical investigations and interventions are undertaken safely and in a timely manner, reporting and documenting results appropriately and in line with legislation, policies and procedures. Workforce
• Manage a group of patients, prioritising their needs in conjunction with those of the ward/department, to ensure safe and effective care.
• Manage the ward/unit in the absence of senior staff, ensuring safe and effective patient care.
• Manage an area of responsibility as required within allocated resources.
• Escalate any concerns to the Senior Staff Nurse/Ward/Unit Manager Financial
• Understand ward/department budgets and how the division may become more cost-effective. With support work within budgetary requirements whilst maintaining standards of care.
• Participate in the management of skill mix issues, stock control, and available resources. Partnerships
• Take an active role in developing and maintaining effective communication with members of the interprofessional team, patients, and relatives about difficult matters in difficult situations. General
• Participate in the orientation of new members of staff when relevant.
• Act as a change agent where necessary.
• Ensure all Trust Nursing policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Be aware of human resource issues relevant to the directorate including management of absence and sickness, disciplinary and recruitment matters.
• Ensure own continuing professional development and identify own Personal Development Plan.
• Participate in the clinical and educational development of other staff within the team.
• Act as a clinical role model for all levels of staff.
• Encourage other staff to keep abreast of new developments and encourage the exchange of information, ideas and experiences.
• Endoscopy staff – ensures care is delivered to the JAG standards
• Endoscopy staff – ensures competencies are identified for this area

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.