Staff Nurse - Surgical Pre-assessment

Job overview

Surgical Pre-assessment nurse within the pre-assessment department. The main aspect of this role is to carry our pre-assessments for both The Arthur Levin Day Surgery Centre and the Queen Elizabeth hospital.

You will work with all members of the multi professional team practicing and maintaining high standard of clinical care supported by evidence-based practice, participating in all activities of the department to enhance the patients experience and ensuring safety for patients , visitors and staff.

Main duties of the job

As a pre-assessment nurse you will undertake history taking to assess suitability for elective procedures and identify risk factors which would contraindicate fitness for surgery.

You will support the triage of patients notes to determine which pre-assessment clinic is best suited for their needs, reviewing optimisable health conditions and supporting prehabilitation pathways.

You will carry out and request appropriate clinical investigations based on agreed protocols to aid a thorough assessment of the patient prior to elective surgery such as bloods, ECG and MRSA swabbing.

Support the development of pathways as we move towards the implementation of  Electronic Patient records.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Surgical pre-assessment nurse within the pre-assessment department, main aspects of the role to carry out pre-assessments for both The Arthur Levin Day Surgery Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

To work with all members of the multi professional team practising and maintaining high standard of clinical care supported by evidence-based practice. Participating in all activities of the department to enhance the patients experience and ensuring safety for patients, visitors and staff.

• Undertake history taking to assess suitability for elective procedures, and to identify risk factors which would contraindicate fitness for surgery. Triage patients notes to determine which pre-assessment clinic is best suited for their needs. Support the development of virtual pre-assessment clinics as we progress the service. Participate in the prehabilitation and optimisation of patients prior to surgery Carry out appropriate clinical investigations according to agreed protocols to aid thorough assessment of the patient prior to admission e.g. Bloods, ECG, MRSA swabbing. Collaborate with the medical and anaesthetic staff to ensure that the patient is medically fit for surgery, to support the reduction of on the day cancellations Participate in developing joint action plans, protocols and pathways to ensure continuous quality improvement for the service. Through high quality pre-assessment and organisation, support the Division in meeting their targets relating to cancellation of operations and patient length of stay. Assist in implementation of the Nursing Strategy ensuring that evidence of integration of the strategy in working practice is available for audit. Promote a culture where change is embraced and there is commitment to improving the pre assessment service. Undertake any additional training to be able to carry out a clinical examination after a period of preceptorship. Using the KSF framework, progress personal and professional knowledge and skills