Nursing Associate

Job overview

We are looking to recruit a knowledgeable, motivated and skilled Band 4 Nursing Associate who is ready to work as part of the nursing and multidisciplinary team to provide high quality care for patients presenting with all kinds of medical needs.

You will practice under indirect supervision in all areas of the medical wards reflecting the values and principles of teamwork such as proper communication and escalation as a team member.

Following a period of development and assessment, you will contribute to the assessment, planning and implementation of individual care for assigned patients under agreed pathways ensuring safe practice and maintaining high standards of care.

We are looking for those who can do either full time(37.5 hours a week) . The main base will be in St. Peter's Hospital with a requirement to work across in the Ashford Hospital site to fulfil the role, and to work at any other Trust site as required. You will be responsible to the Nurse in charge, matrons and Chief Nurse. Internally, you will develop key working relationships within the nursing team, the multi-disciplinary team, the different wards and departments, specialist nurses and teams. Externally, this includes the community teams, care homes, and ambulance services.

Main duties of the job

To implement and monitor patient care following nursing care plans and patient pathways, and reporting progress to registered practitioner/s. To ensure a welcoming, caring and safe environment of patients and visitors to the department. Carrying out regular observations, proper documentation, identification of a deteriorating patient and following escalation procedures as identified in the patient pathways. Initiate basic life support for a collapsed patient until medical help arrives.

Assist with safe transfers of patients within the wards and other departments. Perform hospital transfer and handover of patient care for agreed patients. Provide clinical skills such as recording of 12 lead ECG, insertion of peripheral cannulation and venepuncture, female and male urinary catheterisation, minor wound dressings and wound closure, oral medications

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Maintain up-to-date, comprehensive and accurate records of clinical care, the patients’ condition and other relevant information in accordance with the NMC Standards for Record Keeping

Be aware, active and follow protocol for all types of internal and external major incidents including flu pandemic.

Assist to identify and care for patients with mental health and vulnerable patients who lack capacity.  To act in the patient’s best interest and apply knowledge of Mental Health and the Mental Capacity Act in implementing care.

To act in a professional manner at all times, maintain professional communication and attitudes with service users and colleagues.  Keep services users informed of waiting times and planned care pathway.

Follows policies/procedures designed to prevent hospital acquired infection. Monitor and maintain unit equipment in each area of care, reporting problems as appropriate. Be proficient in the use of information technology utilised within the wards, Report staff sickness/absence immediately to the nurse in charge of the department.

Take personal responsibility for own professional development and keeping up to date with current practices. To support HCA's and other trainee band 4s in their role development.

Work within agreed competency framework, taking personal responsibility for achieving specialist skills and maintaining competence.

To report any complaints, accidents, untoward incidents or unusual occurrences to the Head of Nursing and ensure that, where possible, remedial action is taken to prevent the occurrence/reoccurrence of such incidents, and to complete and incident form/DATIX where appropriate. In conjunction with the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse and Head of Nursing/Matrons, participate in the planning and implementation of quality and risk management initiatives and targets, including CNST, RPST and Controls Assurance. Assist in maintaining evidence-based quality standards that are regularly audited, and participate in agreed changes in practice.

In conjunction with the Ward Sisters/Charge Nurse and the Practice Development team, participate in agreed programmes of clinical benchmarking.

Support and supervise junior staff in a way that promotes patient safety and well-being.

Assist the Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses and their deputies in the orientation and induction of new staff. Ensure appropriate paperwork is completed and processed. Support the Ward Sisters/Charge Nurse in ensuring that staff acquire the appropriate clinical competencies to deliver safe and effective patient care.

Actively participate in the Trust’s professional supervision programme as a supervisor and as a supervisee. Understand and be aware of when and how to report untoward incidents, accidents, concerns or near misses and how to deal effectively with patients’ or relatives’ complaints

You are expected to work within the boundaries of medication administration as per Trust guidelines. You are not allowed to receiving patient directly from the ambulance service as they require triage by a registered nurse. To report immediately to the shift leader/nurse in charge, any identification of a safeguarding issue and/or any identification of a high risk patient. You are not to be left under supervised in any area of the emergency department.

To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this grade and type of work. The postholder should NOT: undertake any task which has not been fully explained to them for which they do not feel competent or undertake.