Senior Staff Nurse - Apheresis

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen and we are seeking an experienced nurse to join our friendly Apheresis team.

The Department of Haematological Medicine at King’s is one of the leading UK centres for the care of patients with Haematological disorders. The department employs a team of specialist consultants and nurses who collectively provide a comprehensive haematology service covering diagnosis and treatment. We are one of the top UK NHS Foundation Trusts who provide care for patients with malignant disorders (leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, Aplastic Anaemia, MDS) and non-malignant disorders (Sickle Cell Disease). Our service comprises of 4 dedicated haematology wards,  Haematology Supportive Therapy Outpatient Unit, Ambulatory Care Unit  and Apheresis Unit at Denmark Hill.

Our dedicated Apheresis Unit has been a nurse led service since 1997 and is an integral part of the Department of Haematology. It is MHRA, HTA and JACIE Accredited blood cell Collection Facility. The last 8 years have seen a steady increase in the number and range of procedures performed, including peripheral blood stem cell collections, donor lymphocyte collections, red blood cell exchanges, therapeutic plasma exchanges and ATMP/ATIMP starting material collection.  The unit performs procedures on patients, sibling and unrelated donors. The therapeutic procedure service is provided to many departments within King’s.

Main duties of the job

If you are committed to contributing to the continuing development of our Apheresis department within our expanding division and wish to pursue a rewarding career, King’s College Hospital is the right place for you. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated and has experience, knowledge & skills in Haematology, Sickle cell disease and/or Apheresis. As many procedures are conducted for other departments, particularly neurology, we would welcome applications from these fields provided you can demonstrate suitable knowledge, experience and skills. Apheresis skills are desirable but not essential. You must be enthusiastic, caring and passionate about people, and committed to support others.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to this at all times.
• To demonstrate clinical expertise in the care of any patients receiving treatment in the ward/ department.
• To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the needs of patients on the Ward on an ongoing basis, co-ordinating the care given by all members of the clinical team.
• To accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients’ condition, promptly report changes and instigate remedial action as appropriate.
• To act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
• To ensure that accurate records are maintained reflecting both changes in the patient’s condition and the treatment delivered.
• To ensure that patients and their relatives are updated regularly with accurate information, and ensure that this is presented in a way that they understand.
• To ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with Line Manager and practice development staff.
• To ensure that practice is evidence based and with support assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area.
• To uphold high standards of nursing care, according to existing policies and standards.
• To support the Ward Managers and Modern Matron in processes of continuous quality improvement, formally evaluating standards of care and assisting in the implementation of changes in the light of such findings.
• To contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring that all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• To actively support the implementation of the Trust nursing strategy and uphold the ethos of the local philosophy.

Education and Research

• To act as a mentor to junior staff members, responsible for the orientation, supervision and ongoing development of junior and student nurses, in conjunction with Line Manager and Practice Development staff.
• To act as practice supervisor, responsible for completing competency documents for junior staff within agreed timeframes.
• To act as a mentor to students undertaking further education as requested, ensuring a positive learning experience and facilitating the development of their clinical skills.
• To contribute to the wider educational activities within the Care Group – ensuring attendance at and contributing to the delivery of educational activities within the Care Group.
• To promote and encourage the application of research and of evidence based practices.
• To participate in any research projects conducted in the clinical area as appropriate.

Management

• To manage the clinical workload effectively, ensuring care is prioritised appropriately.
• To contribute positively towards the delivery of a cost effective service, adjusting staffing levels to meet demand and assisting the ward manager to keep within agreed resources.
• To assist with the ongoing organisation of the ward, co-ordinating the activities of the clinical area.
• To liaise with Medical Personnel and Bed Manager to ensure optimal bed usage at all times, facilitating timely admission and discharge of patients.
• To act as a team leader to an identified group of staff, monitoring and documenting the development of their clinical skills.
• To develop own skills in recruitment and retention, sickness management and performance management as determined by line manager.
• To actively support the process of risk management – ensure incidents are reported appropriately and helping identify ways of preventing errors and accidents to both patients and staff.
• To make a positive contribution to service development affecting the clinical area and positively influence others to adapt to change.
• To actively promote customer care, assisting in resolving local (informal) complaints and supporting the ward manager to investigate formal problems.
• To assist with the monitoring of stock levels of clinical stores and technical equipment, resolving any shortfall as appropriate.
• To maintain standards of hygiene and cleanliness within the clinical area, actioning remedy as appropriate and reporting deficits to Modern Matron, as appropriate.
• To communicate varied and complicated information (verbally and in writing) in a way that is understood and gets the important facts across.
• To carry the Unit bleep as required, resolving local problems/ conflicts, keeping managers/others informed and maintaining positive team dynamics across the Care Group at all times.
• To take a leadership role in crisis situations, resolving problems across the Care Group as necessary.
• To maintain confidentiality with regard to personal information pertaining to staff.
• To attend and contribute to departmental meetings as required.

Personal Professional Development

• To work within and accept responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of clinical competence.
• To keep up to date with NMC, Trust and Care Group policies and guidelines and to adhere to these at all times.
• To be a fully active and committed member of the multidisciplinary team operating in the Care Group.
• To demonstrate an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational and clinical training needs in conjunction with the ward manager.
• Participate in own Individual Performance Review and after suitable training, to be responsible for undertaking this for own team of junior staff.
• To ensure own educational commitment is at least sufficient to maintain PREP requirements and to ensure own mandatory training certificates are current, in liaison with Line Manager.