Lymphoedema Nurse

Job overview

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a proactive experienced nurse to provide active care and treatment for people who develop lymphoedema as a result of their cancer treatment.

You will hold a 1st degree in nursing and have or commit to undertaking a qualification in lymphoedema management.

You will be an advocate for adopting an enabling approach and be well versed in the principles of self arrangement to support patients to live well with lymphoedema.

The post will be based at Keech Hospice, Great Bramingham Lane, Luton, LU3 3NT.

Point of contact for any further information or to arrange an informal visit please contact:

Sue Plummer,  Interim Project Lead for Cancer, EOL and Palliative Care

Acting Deputy Head of Nursing Cancer and Palliative Care

Mobile 07976416757

Main duties of the job

To assess and treat patients with Secondary Lymphoedema due to cancer or it’s treatment, who may have complex and/or chronic presentations.  The Lymphoedema Service is predominantly clinic-based but also includes in-patient ward cover within time constraints set by previously arranged appointments with the patients attending the clinic.

To apply developed assessment, analytical and clinical reasoning skills in evaluating the patients’ condition and in progressing and executing appropriate treatment plans and maintaining records.

To apply practical therapeutic skills in Manual Lymphatic drainage and Complex Decongestion Therapy, as taught by a British Lymphology Society approved body; to fit support hosiery

To represent the Lymphoedema Service, giving specialised advice to M.D.T. members when required

To participate in the efficient running of the Lymphoedema Service

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilites

To provide appropriate treatment to patients Secondary Lymphoedema due to cancer or it’s treatment, referred by members of the M.D.T to the Lymphoedema Clinic

To maintain links with other Lymphoedema Services and to attend regional meetings of the British Lymphology Society

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time

To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and that of more junior staff

To undertake the comprehensive specialist assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills

To formulate an appropriate, individual management and/or treatment programme, using clinical reasoning skills, setting objectives, timed goals and ensuring treatment progression with a variety of manual and treatment techniques

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to patients, relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of the Lymphoedema Service and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

To be prepared to contribute to the development of the service.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties, as an autonomous practitioner.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care.

To assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

To evaluate patient progress, re-assessing and altering treatment programmes as appropriate.

To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload.

To be responsible for the provision and ordering of appropriate equipment to meet the patients’ functional needs.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of appropriate equipment, gym equipment and patient appliances and aids.

To communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information to patients, carers and members of the MDT, overcoming barriers to communication such as e.g. aphasia, language difficulties, or deafness.

Professional Responsibilities To keep up to date with relevant developments within the field of Lymphoedema, disseminating information and ensuring that practice is based on the best available evidence

To be a resource for advice to colleagues working in other clinical areas

To comply with the NMC & BLS guidelines for professional practice

To comply with national and local policies and procedures.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and carers and contribute to the provision of a service that is sensitive to these needs.

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice, audit and outcome measures, either individually or with more senior therapists.

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practise through CPD activities, maintaining a portfolio to reflect this.

To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review.  This may be inter- or intra-professionally. To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit.  To be involved with research into specific areas of practice and service delivery as part of MDT audit and departmental research activities.

Clinical Governance

• To be responsible and accountable for ensuring that all staff under your direction comply with Trust Infection Control policies and clinical guidelines.

To participate in audit / research projects relevant to Lymphoedema and / or multidisciplinary services, supporting the dissemination of findings at a local level.

To demonstrate understanding and application of national guidelines and legislation relating to Health & Social Care and your clinical area, and their impact on service provision.

To demonstrate skills in critical analysis of research and evidence and share/apply the findings.

To participate in the development and review of standards, policies and procedures.

Organisational

To ensure that your own practice and that of staff under your supervision meet the required professional and Trust standards of practice.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of equipment by patients and by junior and student therapists, through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

To comply with all Trust and departmental policies

Communication To communicate effectively with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, about patient issues, in order to facilitate a team approach to patient care; writing to General Practitioners etc

To communicate effectively with patients and carers in order to maximise therapeutic outcomes, and to ensure understanding of the condition.  Communication skills in persuasion, motivation and explanation will be used.  Barriers to effective communication will occasionally be encountered e.g. hearing loss

To assess capacity, gain consent and have ability to work within a legal framework and to support other staff to do likewise.

To liaise with other professionals, requesting investigations to assist with diagnosis.

To establish effective communication with patients and carers to gain their active participation in the development and progress of the Therapy treatment plan, including setting of realistic goals

To ensure that required activity data is recorded and that relevant personal and departmental records are maintained.