Staff Nurse - Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries

Job overview

At the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI), we are excited to offer nursing positions for newly qualified and experienced nurses.

We are committed to supporting new members of staff to ensure you develop the specialist knowledge and skills required to provide excellent care to a person with a spinal cord injury, enabling maximum independence, depending on level of spinal cord injury. The ‘MCSI Preceptorship Programme’ has been implemented to ensure you complete specialist competencies with support from the wider MDT.

The RJAH runs a preceptorship programme for newly qualified nurses which has links with the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS and registered practitioners have the opportunity to complete the Orthopaedic Course at degree or masters level.

Our Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) is one of 11 in the UK designated to receive and treat spinal cord injured patients. Our Centre is one of excellence and serves a catchment of 10 million from North Wales, Mid Wales, South Mersey, Cheshire and The West Midlands and provides a lifelong service to a current population of 3,500 patients. MCSI comprises of a ward and an Outpatients unit environment.

Main duties of the job

We offer opportunities to work within both inpatient and outpatient settings. We care for acutely unwell patients and gain skills incluidng tracheostomy and increased respiratory care needs,  pain control, diabetic management and neurorehabilitation. As part of the patients rehabilitation following a spinal cord injury, you will develop skills in tissue viability, health promotion, bladder management and physiotherapy, to name a few. Complex discharge planning and outreach surveillance are also areas of the spinal cord injury pathway for developmental opportunities.

Our Centre is dedicated to the holistic management of our patients with spinal injuries, maximising neurological recovery and function. With this approach, our Centre aims to minimise complications and disability, and through follow up appointments after discharge, continue to support and maintain health, independence and a good quality of life. Amongst the facilities available in MCSI is Horatio’s Garden. Horatio’s Garden is a national charity that creates and cares for NHS spinal cord injury centres. Horatio’s Garden offers a sanctuary for staff and for patients with spinal cord injuries, which helps with both physical and psychological well-being.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Under the direction of the Ward/ department manager the post holder is responsible for providing skilled high quality nursing care within a multidisciplinary environment, to ensure individualised and effective care is practiced.

Contribute to the continuity of good team spirit and high standards of nursing care. Empowering junior staff to develop the highest possible level of clinical skills and facilitates communication within all care groups

Utilising the ward/department resources to promote excellence in practice and promote and expedite quality issues relevant to the service delivery.

Be accountable and responsible for maintaining own nursing practice and take every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge and professional competence.

To be responsible for the delivery of patient centered care. Maintaining own specialist knowledge and clinical skills participating in direct patient care and uphold evidence of PREP standards as required by the NMC. The post holder must be able to demonstrate extremely developed dexterous skills during clinical practice and the capability to manage periods of moderate physical effort during the shift worked.

Assist the ward staff in the provision of clinical and professional advice, expertise and support, developing practice and monitoring performance.

Keep abreast of current political issues within the NHS, and future nursing trends.

To provide leadership to all staff promoting a culture of positive and effective team work.

Assess care required, requesting medical input as necessary and devising appropriate care programmes for the patient, implementing and evaluating care during the admission and in preparation for a safe discharge. Supported by written evidence.

To provide a high standard of nursing care based on the assessment of care needs - in consultation with the patient, their relatives and the multidisciplinary team.

To continuously evaluate the quality of care given, and regularly re-assess the needs of the patient, in consultation with the patient, other carers and the multidisciplinary team to effect change required to achieve planned goals.

Liaise with other professionals to ensure cohesive patient care.

Formulate well-planned discharges with appropriate follow-up, ensuring effective liaison with the family, Allied Health Professional’s and community services.

Ensure a patient / client-focused approach to care.

Ensure due regard is given to the customs, values and spiritual beliefs of the patient family, carers and staff.

To uphold the Trust's Diversity/Equal Opportunities Policy.

Ensure due regard is given to the safety of patients belongings.

Providing and receiving complex or sensitive information about patients, dealing with confrontation where you will be able to reassure, calm and defuse difficult situations.

Advise on issues within own scope of practice relating to health promotion & MECC.

To identify the learning needs of the patient, relatives and staff, and in consultation with the Ward/department staff will plan and implement education to meet those needs.

Facilitate and maintain patient records to ensure information is accurate and up to date for future reference and complies with the Data Protection Act, NMC Patient Record Keeping Guidelines.

Prepare care plans to ensure the delivery of effective patient care.

To be able to manage time effectively, ensuring patients are ready for planned procedures and staff receive adequate breaks during the working day and finish at the appropriate time.

Ensure the safe delivery of medicines by the prescribed route adhering to national and Trust guidelines.

Assist the Ward staff to ensure the ward area meet risk management standards, working with all health care professionals.

The ability to use and recharge intravenous drug administration pumps including the recognition of early signs of drug reaction, and the appropriate steps to be taken.

Frequent provision of patient care, which requires the use physical effort to roll, manoeuver and stand patients. The use of ward manual handling equipment / training is essential, to reduce physical strain and maintain safety of the patient. Annual manual handling training is mandatory.

Frequent handling of waste body fluids, ensuring correct disposal.

Participate in a yearly appraisal, setting personal objectives for own professional development plan. Completion of yearly statutory training to ensure adherence to Trust policy and current legislation.

Attend relevant in house training sessions which is pertinent to own clinical practice, to enhance knowledge and skill, maintaining competencies.