IBD Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual with experience in the management of patients with gastrointestinal conditions.

The post holder will work within an established service, work autonomously and within the multidisciplinary team with the support of Gastroenterologists and other nurse specialists. The IBD Nurse Specialist will have a caseload of patients and would run Nurse-led clinics. They would also manage a caseload of in-patients and would be expected to have close communication with community health services. New developments within the service include the need to safely switch patients to bio similar drug therapies.

The IBD Nurse Specialist would provide expert care including patient assessment, clinical examination and developing clinical management plans. The role would include independent prescribing and the Nurse Specialist would review patient management plans, fine-tune drug therapy, monitor patients on therapies and encourage drug compliance. The role would include patient educational support, psychological support and good communication skills which is essential in improving quality of life and helping with disease control.

You should have knowledge of the gastro-intestinal system with at least 6 months experience in working with patients with inflammatory bowel disease at band 6 or higher. You will work alongside other IBD Nurses and will case manage patients referred into the IBD service.

Main duties of the job

To improve disease management, concordance and patient satisfaction by providing a specialist nursing contribution within the multi-disciplinary team to patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Care maybe provided jointly by Gastroenterology and Surgery and the IBD Nurse will develop an understanding of all aspects of medical and surgical care for patients with IBD in order to play an active role in providing care within both specialities.

Responsible for the assessment of care need and the development, implementation and evaluation of complex programmes of evidence based patient care. Assessment may take place in outpatient clinics, wards or via the telephone.

Delivers enhanced nursing skills within complex patient care pathways.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL

• To provide specialist nursing expertise and work alongside the multi-disciplinary team to develop clinical practice.
• Manage a case load in IBD nursing service, responsible for planning and prioritising own workload as an autonomous practitioner in response to service needs.
• Liaise with, refer to and advise a range of professionals regarding ongoing care and management of patients. This will be done via case conference, home visits, letter, report or email.
• Support staff within a range of clinical areas to ensure that patient needs are assessed, care planned, implemented and evaluated and that there is consultation and involvement of patients / carers.
• Responsible and accountable for accurate management of nursing records to ensure patient documentation meets agreed standards, ensuring the quality of record keeping is within the NMC Code of Conduct.
• Develop and implement specialised patient care pathways using advanced clinical reasoning skills.
• Provide highly specialist advice concerning the treatment of IBD / complex gastroenterology patients and families.
• Initiate patient referrals to other healthcare professionals and outside agencies as appropriate.
• Work in collaboration with medical staff when assessing the patient and refer appropriately if the patient's clinical condition changes or new concerns arise.
• Work in collaboration with surgeons to plan appropriate surgical interventions when required by co-ordinating review and subsequent admission for surgical procedures.
• Provide intensive support, information and advice in times of crisis - diagnosis, first hospital admission, and change in condition, terminal care and bereavement.
• Provide diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the Endoscopy Unit.

MANAGEMENT

• Design, develop and implement clinical protocols, guidelines and information leaflets for use locally and nationally.
• Responsible for managing, arranging, recording and monitoring own activity and practising effective time management.
• Initiate and lead discussions in weekly multidisciplinary gastroenterology team meetings.
• Evaluate the ongoing needs of the IBD nursing service and plan / shape for future expansion in agreement with the direction of the lead nurse.
• Work within all Human Resources policy frameworks.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• To assess the level of patient's knowledge and understanding of IBD and provide personal or small group education programmes for patients and families indicated thus empowering them to take a greater part in the management of their disease promoting independence.
• Organise or participate in the delivery and evaluation of teaching programmes for ward and departmental staff involved in caring for patients with IBD.
• Teach on and consult on content of courses and modules relating to IBD and its management as required.
• Act as a resource for IBD within the Trust, for the PCT's and other external agencies.
• To be responsible for ongoing personal development displaying expertise working at a level to enable the post holder to identify a clinically significant professional, educational and research strategy for the IBD nursing service.

RESEARCH

• Initiate and lead own audit research studies relating to nursing and multidisciplinary care within the specialist area of practice, presenting findings through presentation and writing for publication.
• Actively participate in research initiatives associated with service
• Actively seek out research and audit results by other bodies relative to specialist area
• Present own evidence based findings from audit at multi-professional meetings / conferences both locally and nationally.
• Ensure clinical nursing practice is evidence based
• Collaborate closely with other members of the Gastroenterology Network to keep up to date with emerging thinking and findings.

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

• To continually update and develop own clinical and theoretical knowledge of IBD and lower GI disorders and other areas of nursing and research by attending relevant conferences and reviewing the relevant literature on a regular basis.
• Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure the IBD service is developed in line with the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) recommendations for this patient group.
• To maintain own personal and professional profile
• To be flexible and adaptable to the needs of the service and develop the role accordingly.