Respiratory Nurse / AHP

Job overview

Applications are invited for this exciting post to provide specialist respiratory care to patients with chronic lung disease. It is an opportunity to develop further advanced skills, to work autonomously and develop educationally. This service forms part of the Dorset Adult Integrated Respiratory Service (DAIRS) which serves all of Dorset.

The post holder will join 2 nurses working in the team which also has 5 Consultant Respiratory Physicians providing inpatient and outpatient care. The team are also supported by Clinical Physiologists, Cancer Nurse Specialists, a Respiratory Consultant Nurse and Physiotherapists.

The post holder will be required to provide integrated respiratory care within West Dorset. This will involve inpatient reviews as well as seeing patients within the community.  The role includes a mixture of clinics, home visits, ward reviews and providing education to patients and other health care professionals. Ideally candidates should have a COPD qualification and respiratory experience however relevant post qualifying experience such chronic disease management will be considered in the absence of a COPD qualification. The successful candidate will be expected to complete a recognised COPD course as part of their specialist nurse training should they not already have this.

The post requires excellent communication skills for liaising with a range of health professionals to provide further support for patients across primary and secondary care.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will need to drive and so have a valid driving licence and insurance to cover visits to patients in their home, should hospital vehicles not be available.

• Provide evidence-based care for respiratory patients and carers in the management of acute and chronic phases of respiratory conditions within acute hospital and community settings.
• Competently take a history, assess, examine, develop a management plan and monitor the response within the competency of respiratory medicine.
• Provide advice and support for the wider respiratory team and community/primary care staff.
• Work with the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to review respiratory practice-based data and outcomes achieved, providing feedback to the practices and DCHFT.
• Utilise highly developed nursing knowledge and skills to provide high standards of evidence-based patient centred care, respecting dignity and privacy.
• Manage the care pathway of respiratory patients with clinicians; ensuring all discharge planning commences at the point of admission and follow up after discharge including referral to pulmonary rehabilitation where appropriate and follow up for those who need home oxygen.
• Ensure that the Trusts' organisational goals and values are reflected in all department and individual objectives.
• Assess and identify patients for home oxygen and action accordingly. Training will be provided to undertake oxygen assessments including arterial blood gases and order home oxygen.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.