Senior Respiratory Clinical nurse specialist

Job overview

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Respiratory Care is an advanced practice nurse who provides expert clinical leadership, specialist assessment, and evidence-based interventions to patients with acute and chronic respiratory conditions. This role focuses on improving patient outcomes through advanced clinical practice, education, consultation, and service development. The CNS collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality respiratory care across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Responsibilities include leading respiratory care initiatives, managing complex patient cases, developing clinical protocols, supporting staff education, and promoting best practices in areas such as asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and oxygen therapy.

CNS within respiratory service will support the individuals referred with suspected lung cancer. Additionally, you'll be involved in the virtual surveillance of lung nodules, adhering to The British Thoracic Society guidelines. Your tasks will include requesting CT scans, responding to findings, coordinating with the diagnostic MDT, and keeping patients informed about their results while referring them to appropriate services when necessary.

Main duties of the job

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• To work with the multidisciplinary team across an integrated pathway of care to deliver quality standards in line with NICE guidance.
• To work with the nurse specialist team to ensure that all patients have equitable access to investigations, treatment and follow-up care.
• To work with the nurse/midwifery specialist team to develop best practice in line with NICE guidance.
• To work with the team to develop guidelines to enhance optimal management of patients.
• To collect appropriate data against NICE guidance.  To use audit as a tool to improve practice and evaluate services.
• To work with the team to implement recommendations from National audits and benchmarking.
• To identify objectives for own professional development which reflect local and national service needs, accessing advice, guidance and support as appropriate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills and share this with others to positively influence patient care.

• To develop own specialist clinical knowledge and skills and participate in the development of other staff
• To reflect on own practice through clinical supervision/mentorship
• To provide a comprehensive nursing service for patients with conditions within the specialty.
• To work in close liaison with the multi-disciplinary team across the pathway in order to meet the needs of patients and their famillies, and to aim for seamless care.
• To use clinical judgement and skills in decision making to manage this caseload of patients. To develop skills of history taking and physical assessment to direct appropriate intervention.
• To assist in the development of the service
• To vigorously promote the patient’s participation in decision-making, enabling informed choice of treatment.
• To contribute to any audits requested by the Trust, Commissioners or Nationally.
• To identify deteriorating patients and take the appropriate action to manage the situation, liaising with interdisciplinary team as appropriate.
• To obtain valid and effective consent from patients prior to any investigations and treatment.