Staff Nurse - Medical 4

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Staff Nurse to join our team within Acute Medicine!

At Princess Royal University Hospital, we take caring and compassion seriously. The Acute Medical Unit (AMU) is a fast-paced busy environment that provides urgent and emergency care for patients who are medically unwell, requiring rapid assessment, planning and treatment for their immediate needs. We work closely with the Emergency Department to ensure a safe and effective patient journey.

We have 56 acute beds, which incorporates 8 level one higher dependency beds so we can support patients who require respiratory support, including non-invasive ventilation, as well as cardiac monitoring in the acute phase of their illness. Patients on the Unit will often have changing requirements, and you will be part of the dynamic, multi-disciplinary team meeting their medical and nursing needs.

Main duties of the job

• We are looking for highly motivated nurses, who possess both a strong clinical knowledge base and relevant skill set.
• The post holder will provide nursing support to the acute medical unit and could also undertake some rotation to ambulatory unit or ED.
• Excellent communication skills are crucial, and the successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to initiate and sustain new innovative ways of working which facilitate developments in nursing practice.
• The post holder will act as a positive role model in the promotion of quality care delivery for acutely unwell medical patients, committed to improving service delivery and be flexible to the needs of the service.
• You will be supported by a practice development nurses and an experienced senior leadership team who can offer support and guidance through preceptorship and an acute care course.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Delivering high quality, evidence-based and patient focused clinical care through:

• Delivering a high standard of evidence-based care to patients.
• Ensuring good standards of care for the patient are maintained at all times.
• Adhering to NMC Code of Professional conduct at all times.
• Involving and supporting patients, relatives, carers and friends in the care process.
• Promoting well-being and involving patients and relatives in health education.
• Ensuring clear and accurate written and verbal information is given at all times.
• Ensuring contemporaneous record keeping at all times.
• Seeking advice from more senior/experienced members of staff where appropriate.

Working effectively as part of the immediate team and wider multi-disciplinary team (MDT) through:

• Liaising effectively with all members of the MDT to ensure patients’ needs are met.
• Exercising leadership and taking the initiative where appropriate.
• Providing support and advice to ward/unit staff (especially junior staff) on clinical and administrative issues.
• Liaising with discharge coordinator / bed manager to ensure effective admission/discharge of patients.
• Keeping the ward/unit sister / charge nurse informed of significant changes and/or anticipated problems.

Upholding a duty of care and clinical governance through:

• Observing a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of yourself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital.
• Ensuring the rules, policies, procedures and standards of Kings College Hospital NHS Trust Foundation together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations are adhered to at all times.
• Maintaining patient confidentiality, dignity and privacy at all times.
• Adhering to the Trust’s policy on valuing equality and diversity and showing due regard for each patient’s cultural and religious beliefs, gender, ethnicity, age and sexuality.
• Strictly adhering to the National Code of Practice on Infection Control.

Maintaining own and others’ knowledge of clinical excellence through:

• Taking responsibility for your own personal development and keeping up to date with nursing and medical knowledge.
• Being aware of current research and the implications for the ward/unit speciality.
• Acting as a role model at all times and for all staff.
• Acting as practice supervisor and/or preceptor/mentor for junior and newly-qualified staff.
• Working with appropriate members of the teaching staff to ensure effective staff development (own and others).
• Participating in Trust and Divisional initiatives to develop nursing practice and support change.

General

• To maintain strict confidentiality of staff and patient records, in line with Trust Policy: any unauthorised breach of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action.
• To ensure that acceptable standards of data protection are maintained, in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
• To observe the rules, policies and procedures in place at King’s College Hospital.
• To carry out duties as an employee and service-provider with due regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
• To participate in team meetings as required by your team leader.
• Under the Health & Safety at Work Act, the post holder has a general duty of care for the health, safety and well being of oneself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time.