Respiratory Nurse Practitioner

Job overview

he Liverpool Community Respiratory Team hosts the Acute Respiratory Infections Virtual Ward, delivering hospital admission avoidance and early supported discharge for patients with COPD exacerbations, bronchiectasis, community-acquired pneumonia, and viral lower respiratory tract infections. We also provide nurse-led respiratory optimisation in homes and clinics, following NICE and local guidelines.

Medical leadership is supported by a Respiratory Consultant and two Advanced Clinical Practitioners, alongside a multidisciplinary team including a team leader, Band 6 and 7 specialist nurses, physiotherapists, an assistant practitioner, and admin staff.

This role involves assessing patients in two local hospitals for safe early discharge and delivering hospital-level care at home. Responsibilities include home visits to monitor health and treatment during exacerbations, holistic assessments, and optimisation of respiratory management. Strong communication skills and the ability to make autonomous clinical decisions at pace are essential. A commitment to audit, research, and understanding national and local respiratory priorities is required.

The service operates 8am–8pm, seven days a week, across multiple community locations, so flexibility and mobility are vital. This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative team improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital pressures.

Main duties of the job

Clinical decision-making is required for this post. Therefore sound theoretical and practical knowledge relating to this speciality is required from a practitioner who strives to maintain clinical excellence.

Practice autonomously and demonstrate evidence based clinical decision making, within the hospital setting and patients home.

Provide clinical respiratory expertise and knowledge to others when managing continuing and highly complex situations.

Assess patient conditions and consider a range of options when delivering continuing and highly complex care, drawing on external specialist services as required.

Undertake chronic disease management reviews of the housebound patient/client, where appropriate.

Provide support in managing patients/clients with chronic diseases.

Following holistic assessment of need, develop individualised care plans to fulfil those needs, with the involvement of patients and carers. Refer on to partner organisations.

Implement and evaluate care delivery for patients/clients with identified needs.

Ensure that all clinical activity provided by the team directly reflects the core objectives of health promotion, supported self-care, disease specific management, management of long term conditions and end of life

Ensure all assessments and referrals are documented to the standards set by the NMC.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Clinical Assessment & DiagnosisConduct full patient assessments (history, physical exams, spirometry, blood gases), analyse diagnostic tests (pathology, imaging) and determine suitable care settings (clinic, home, virtual).
• Care Planning & DeliveryDevelop and implement personalised care plans (medication review, oxygen therapy, inhaler training), manage exacerbations in the community (COPD, pneumonia), and support early discharge schemes.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation & Self-management SupportRefer to pulmonary rehabilitation programmes; provide education on disease self-management, inhaler technique, smoking cessation, and prevention strategies.
• Virtual Ward & Telehealth CareParticipate in virtual ward models or ARI early supported discharge service, conducting remote patient monitoring and telephone triage
• Education, Training & MDT CollaborationProvide specialist advice to colleagues, train nursing and therapy staff, contribute to local guidelines, clinical audits, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Clinical Governance & Quality AssuranceMaintain comprehensive patient records, participate in national audits, monitor KPIs, and engage in service evaluation and research.
• End-of-Life Care & Advanced Care PlanningCollaborate with palliative care teams to deliver advance care planning and symptom management in advanced respiratory disease.

Essential Skills & Qualities

• Clinical ExpertiseIn-depth understanding of respiratory pathophysiology, pharmacology, diagnostic interpretation (e.g. spirometry, arterial blood gases, chest imaging).
• Decision-Making & AutonomyAbility to independently assess, triage, and manage complex cases in non-acute settings.
• Communication & EducationStrong communication with patients, carers, and MDT; proficient in conveying medical information clearly and supporting behavioural change.
• Interprofessional CollaborationWorks effectively within MDTs and fosters relationships across community, acute, and primary care sectors.
• Organisational SkillsCapable of managing a caseload across multiple delivery modes—home visits, virtual wards—while maintaining documentation and governance standards.
• Adaptability and MobilityWillingness to travel across community sites, sometimes working as a lone practitioner within specified policies.
• Compassion & Patient-Centred CareValues holistic approaches, supports long-term self-care, and demonstrates empathy—especially in chronic and palliative contexts.

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.