Radiology Sister

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced nurse to join our Radiology Nursing Team focusing on our Interventional Services at a time of investment and development.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver high standards of care within the imaging modalities of Interventional Radiology, Fluoroscopy, CT and Ultrasound. The varied nature of this speciality means there is always something new and interesting to learn.

This is an opportunity for a Registered Nurse to develop their career and skills within the Imaging Speciality to deliver the highest standards of care during Interventional Procedures. The post consists of a variety of roles as we provide a nurse-led interventional service. These include working as a scrub nurse, circulating and managing patient care pre and post procedure. You will also ensure patients are booked in a timely manner, pre-assessed, fully informed of the procedure and prepped accordingly. You will also assist the Band 7 Nurse Manager in the management of the nursing team, the day-to-day duties of the Radiology Department and ensure patient lists are running smoothly.

Previous radiology or other relevant experience is essential.

Main duties of the job

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

Where applicable, the post-holder will deputise in the absence of the nursing manager, managing staff and physical resources effectively.

• Be conversant with all policies and procedures.
• Act as an accountable role model, demonstrating high levels of clinical expertise, leadership, managing and delivering individual high quality patient care and acting as patient advocate throughout Interventional Procedures.
• The post-holder is expected to carry out all relevant forms of care without direct supervision, supervise registered and unregistered staff whilst maintaining a safe working environment.
• Many inpatients are acutely unwell requiring emergency procedures/imaging, the post-holder must be confident in managing these patients in the isolated environment of the radiology environment.
• The post-holder must be confident supporting out-patients who experience allergic reactions/anaphylaxis or become acutely unwell whilst in the radiology department.
• Contribute to the operational and strategic development of Interventional Radiology services whilst ensuring delivery of the clinical governance agenda of the West Suffolk Hospital Trust.
• The postholder will be expected to scrub alongside the Consultant Interventional Radiologist in our interventional theatre delivering minimally invasive, image guided procedures.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Communication:
• Assist in the development of communication systems and maintain existing effective systems within the clinical area, with nursing, the multi-disciplinary team and support services staff.
• Ensure effective communication takes place between patients and /or relatives and staff.
• Participate and communicate effectively with the inter-professional team and other agencies as necessary.
• Report and document relevant information, using their initiative and communication skills to liaise with the Radiology Department, the multi-disciplinary team and other professionals. They must be confident and competent to react to any concerns immediately.
• Promote effective communication with ward/departmental staff and multidisciplinary teams by maximising the use of available communication hubs.
• Clinical Duties:
• Act as a role model in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individual programmes of care for patients.
• Review and evaluate the care given by other team members, ensuring that realistic goals are set in partnership with the patient, and interventions enable the achievement of optimal outcomes.
• Identify the need for changes in practice and the implications (including budget). There may be a need for some weekend working to achieve Government and Trust targets.
• Ensure an approach to care which recognises the needs and views of patients and their carers.
• Ensure an approach to care which minimises clinical risk and maximises clinical effectiveness.
• Ensure that clinical and other untoward incidents are reported through the Trust’s incident reporting mechanism and that staff are supported in this process.
• Assist in the investigation of clinical incidents and errors and to identify and support any required change to nursing practice.
• Contributes to policy and practice changes arising from e.g complaints, audits.
• Ensure that protective clothing is worn and that radiation protection is adhered to during procedures.
• Assist in the investigation of complaints through the Trust’s complaint procedure, using these as a learning opportunity and support the Nursing Manager to change practice as a result, when appropriate.
• Assist the Nursing Manager in the setting of evidence-based clinical practice standards, guidelines and protocols, which are regularly audited.
• Support the development of multidisciplinary clinical audit at unit level.
• Responsible for clinical assessment and management of patients attending the radiology department who experience unexpected clinical events, ensuring appropriate care is provided and concerns are escalated as indicated.
• Ensure the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of patient’s/clients, relatives and colleagues are respected at all times.
• Monitor and support patients undergoing complex interventional radiology procedures acting as scrub nurse as required following completion of competencies as required.
• Responsible for the timely booking of, pre-assessment and prep of patients undergoing interventional procedures in the radiology department following a period of induction.
• Liaising closely with the multi-disciplinary teams across the trust to ensure timely interventions as required.
• Governance:
• To actively promote the development of evidence-based practice.
• To ensure that all accidents, incidents and complaints are reported and to assist in the investigation of them
• Exercise professional accountability and uphold the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
• Use reflection to formulate and prioritise areas for self-development.
• Develop and maintain own professional knowledge and skills through lifelong learning.
• Works within codes of practice and professional guidelines.
• Finance and Resources:
• Oversee the management/ordering of stock for interventional procedures, liaising closely with procurement, colleagues and external agencies to ensure appropriate levels/requirements are maintained and rotated as appropriate escalating any shortages/concerns to the Radiology Nursing Manager/Consultant Radiologist.
• Act as signatory, authorising and processing overtime/bank shifts for nursing team.
• Leadership and management:
• Ensure that a high standard of nursing is delivered by self and others based on an assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, identifying priorities and realistic goals involving patients, relatives and the multi-disciplinary team.
• Utilise leadership skills ensuring the department runs smoothly in the absence of the Radiology Nursing Manager.
• Assist and support the Radiology Nursing Manager in the overall management of the area.
• Supervise and monitor the work of staff within the department, ensuring that practice is evidence based and agreed policies are adhered to.
• Co-ordinate care across the department deploying staff and prioritising as necessary.
• Ensure that staff rotas are planned to provide adequate staffing cover. Identify when shortfalls occur or are likely to occur and take remedial action.
• Assist the Radiology Nursing Manager to manage resources within the agreed budgets.
• Assist the Radiology Nursing Manager in recruitment and selection of staff following agreed personnel policies.
• Be fully conversant with policies and procedures, including major accident, fire, health and safety, disciplinary, complaints and grievance and follows these as necessary.
• Assist the Radiology Nursing Manager to identify and manage performance issues including attendance, professional conduct, capability etc.
• Actively promote professional development amongst staff within the area.
• Assist the Radiology Nursing Manager to ensure all staff have agreed objectives and personal development plans utilising the trusts appraisals process.
• Please see job description attached to view main duties of role and man responsibilities.

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.