Macmillan Secondary Breast Cancer Nurse

Job overview

There is an exciting opportunity for a passionate, motivated experienced cancer nurse to work as a core member of the multidisciplinary team, providing high quality patient centred care to those living with secondary breast cancer

The role involves undertaking a comprehensive Holistic Needs Assessment and Care Planning at key stages during the illness experience, acting as the patient’s main point of contact, coordinating their pathway from the point of diagnosis of secondary disease

The post holder will have the opportunity to provide specialist support during outpatient consultations, review inpatients and respond to alerts when secondary breast cancer patients are admitted as an emergency, demonstrating the ability to plan and implement programs of care in response to presenting symptoms

We welcome applications from passionate, motivated experienced cancer nurses who want to make a different and have recent experience in caring for patients living with breast cancer.

Main duties of the job

Interested applicants must hold a First Level Degree in cancer/palliative care or equivalent level of education or training.    Experience of working as a Band 6 Nurse. Be able to demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and assessment skills and have the ability to work as an autonomous practitioner as well as part of a team.

In return we can provide an opportunity to work with a dynamic Macmillan Team who are committed to providing high quality care to those affected by cancer and an opportunity for personal development

Working as a core member of the Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Team, the post holder will provide high quality patient centred care to those living with breast cancer from the point of diagnosis of secondary disease.

The post holder will act as the main point of contact, managing a caseload of patients, providing specialist information, help and support, liaising with other healthcare professionals within the Breast Cancer MDT, primary and secondary care to ensure a seamless service for patients and their families.

Responsible for implementing personalised care for patients living with secondary breast cancer, ensuring patients have a HNA/Care Planning at key stages in the pathway in line with national directives and have access to health and wellbeing opportunities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To undertake a Holistic Needs Assessment at key stages in the patients’ pathway in line with national directives, using a recognised tool, ensuring their physical, emotional, social, financial and spiritual needs are identified.

Use supportive conversations to develop and implement plans of care to meet the individual needs of patients/carers, ensuring they are reviewed and updated in response to the changing situations.

To attend the weekly breast cancer multidisciplinary team meeting, contributing to the multidisciplinary discussion and patient assessment/care planning decisions and co-ordinate actions from the MDT.

To provide advice on the management of symptoms, referring those with complex needs to the Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Team

To demonstrate enhanced practice in planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care, documenting the outcomes of consultations in the hospital notes and on the Somerset Cancer Register

To provide Level 2 psychological support for patients/carers, referring patient with complex needs to the Macmillan Clinical Psychologists.

To lead on patient and carer communication issues and co-ordinate the patient’s pathway, acting as the main point of contact or responsible for nominating the main point of contact for the patient depending on their individual needs.

To identify and met patient/carers specialist informational needs utilising the local Macmillan Information Centre, referring patients to the dedicated Cancer You Tube Channel to support self-management strategies

To become acquainted with the local and regional care pathways for patients living with breast cancer, including knowledge of contact points for referral and advice.

To identify and meet the educational needs of those affected by secondary breast cancer

To demonstrate knowledge of the clinical trials appropriate to secondary breast cancer

Ensure the palliative care needs of patients and their families are identified and met, referring patients with complex needs to the Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Team

To identify the patient’s Preferred Place of Care at the appropriate point in the illness experience, ensuing patients are able to be discharged to their place of choice where possible

To identify patients suitable for the AMBER Care Bundle

To respond to EAU alerts for patients with secondary breast cancer providing specialist information and support, co-ordinating their pathway from the point of admission

To ensure patients/carers are supported during significant consultations, acting as the patients advocate

Promotes a culture that supports and enables self-management

Support the generation of an “End of Treatment Summary” for patients following each modality of treatment, ensuring their ongoing needs are identified and addressed.

To work in line with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct

To promote collaborative working relationships and effective communication between all members of the cancer multidisciplinary team and across different boundaries of care

To provide nursing advice and support to other health professionals related to secondary breast cancer

To identity own personal development needs to work at specialist level and take appropriate action to ensure that these are met, actively engaging with the learning and development opportunities offered by Macmillan

To maintain a personal professional profile clearly demonstrating evidence for revalidation

To participate in the formal review process and plan future personal development and competencies to be achieved

Make sure that people affected by cancer are aware that they are interacting with a Macmillan Professional and know the full range of resources and services available through Macmillan

To record nursing interventions in the hospital notes and on the Somerset Cancer Register

To record data to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Macmillan Secondary Breast Cancer service

To deputise for the Macmillan Secondary Breast Cancer CNS’s at local, regional and national meetings.

To participate in Macmillan Service Reviews in order to drive service improvements

Implement the personalised care and support agenda for patients living with secondary breast cancer

To support the Macmillan Secondary Breast Cancer CNS in the development of policies/clinical guidelines to enhance the nursing service.

To participate in informal/formal education initiatives related to secondary breast cancer.

To participate in clinical audit and research initiatives

To promote best practice ensuring care in evidence based