Staff Nurse - Victoria & Albert HDU

Job overview

Have you always wanted a career in cardiothoracic nursing? Our High Dependency Unit (HDU) could be the place for you. HDU cares for a variety of patients with complex needs pre and post cardiothoracic surgery as well as providing care for cardiology patients.

Kings College Hospital provides tertiary cardiac care and receives cardio-thoracic patients from across the South East, as part of Kings Health Partners we work closely with partner organisations and work together to form the cardiovascular network transforming cardiovascular services across the region.

We are committed to staff development and education with all staff having access to a wide range of educational and development resources.  The practice education team support staff in the clinical area and each new staff member will have an individualised training and development plan, further academic study opportunities are available to staff at King’s with our partner higher education institutions.

Main duties of the job

The High Dependency Unit is a fast paced level two area with 10 beds that looks after patients immediately post cardiac surgery. On a day-to-day basis, you will be providing a high standard of nursing care to the cardiac patients. You will be working collaboratively with the management, Clinical nurse specialists and the wider Multidisciplinary team to enhance the patient care through various quality improvement initiatives.

Applicants will ideally have experience in a cardiac care area, however we would be interested to hear from nurses with established knowledge and skills looking to broaden their existing experience and move into cardiac.

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 multidisciplinary 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. Staff Nurse (Band 5) Job Description Date of Origin: June 2009 3
• 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

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.