Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

The Tissue Viability Nurse (TVN) works as part of the Tissue Viability Team to deliver specialist, evidence-based care relating to skin integrity and wound management. The role involves assessing patients, planning and implementing tailored care, and providing expert advice to staff, patients and carers to support the prevention and management of complex wounds. The TVN also supports clinical practice through education, training and supervision of staff and students, whilst maintaining accurate clinical records and carrying out specialist procedures, including the use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy. In addition, the role contributes to service improvement through leading clinical audits and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to plan, deliver and evaluate care for patients referred to the service.

Main duties of the job

• Vision, Strategy and Business development
• Independently provides holistic, pressure ulcer risk assessment, leg ulcer assessment and wound assessments for individuals with health impairment, facilitating the identification of adverse conditions that impair tissue health. Reach reliable and comprehensive patient centred conclusions, which manage risk and are appropriate to need, context, culture and ethnicity.
• Prioritise work within a climate of competing demands of clinical and service development requirements
• Proactively and directly imparts knowledge and shares skills
• Participates on the auditing relating to Tissue Viability
• Facilitate the dissemination of appropriate research findings to the clinicians within the Trust ensuring clinical nursing activities are evidence based
• Critically reviews research findings, which relate to Tissue Viability practice and where appropriate sharing this information in clinical teaching sessions thereby promoting a culture of Evidence-Based Practice
• To be aware of current trends in nursing and in the NHS and be able to translate into practice; for example, the 6 Cs
• Maintain own professional portfolio
• Maintain, progress, and develop personal theoretical knowledge, high standards of clinical competence and professional development through ongoing self-education and attendance at relevant courses of study ·

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Vision, Strategy and Business development
• Independently provides holistic, pressure ulcer risk assessment, leg ulcer assessment and wound assessments for individuals with health impairment, facilitating the identification of adverse conditions that impair tissue health. Reach reliable and comprehensive patient centred conclusions, which manage risk and are appropriate to need, context, culture and ethnicity.
• Prioritise work within a climate of competing demands of clinical and service development requirements
• Proactively and directly imparts knowledge and shares skills
• Participates on the auditing relating to Tissue Viability
• Facilitate the dissemination of appropriate research findings to the clinicians within the Trust ensuring clinical nursing activities are evidence based
• Critically reviews research findings, which relate to Tissue Viability practice and where appropriate sharing this information in clinical teaching sessions thereby promoting a culture of Evidence-Based Practice
• To be aware of current trends in nursing and in the NHS and be able to translate into practice; for example, the 6 Cs
• Maintain own professional portfolio
• Maintain, progress, and develop personal theoretical knowledge, high standards of clinical competence and professional development through ongoing self-education and attendance at relevant courses of study
• Leadership, Culture and Values and People
• Create and utilise opportunities to promote health and wellbeing of patients, empowering them to make informed choices and promote independence where appropriate.
• Organise own work and manage own workload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and relevant staff members
• Promotes good working relationships within the multi-professional teams providing appropriate specialist advice and support
• Work with the Harm Free Network in creating and promoting a supportive learning environment that embraces a culture of evidence and research-based practice
• Identify and agree professional development and training needs to keep updated in line with Trust and NMC requirements through appraisal
• Assists with the Trust clinical educational programmes and ensuring competency of staff is achieved in the clinical area
• Act as resource for the provision of nursing advice on appropriate use of wound dressing products/technologies, pressure therapy technologies and evidence-based care interventions to facilitate the effective management of pressure ulcer risk and problematic wounds
• Act as a role model and resource in expert clinical evidence-based practice.
• Act as an ambassador for the Trust always
• Ensure personal development and contribute to the work of the Trust through publications, presenting at Conferences and general internal and external networking
• Be responsible for and evaluate the continuous professional development of all nursing staff, participating in education on professional and managerial issues as required
• To support the Tissue Viability team in ensuring that training and teaching programmes are in line with Trust objectives and that all statutory and mandatory training is documented and up to date
• Assist others in developing nursing competence (both pre and post registration)
• To be aware of the change management process and to act as an expert within this process where required
• Governance, Quality and Performance
• Work within the NMC Guidelines and Trust Policies recognising one’s own abilities and limitations
• Maintain and develop professional practice through participation in clinical supervision.
• Work within the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional practice acting as an accountable role model through provision of professional leadership and demonstration of competent practice
• Maintain confidential patient records and follow policies with regard to patients’ confidentiality
• Deal with any unacceptable practices through the accepted channels and in line with the Trust policies
• Carry out administrative duties as required by the Trust
• Take precautions when transferring information, only disclosing patient identifiable information in line with Caldicott and the Data Protection Act
• Ensure that accurate and contemporaneous records are kept and that statistical returns required by the Trust are completed. This includes the entering of information or data onto the Trusts reporting system
• Demonstrate research critical appraisal skills
• Assist in the implementation of clinical governance through the implementation of evidence/research-based guidelines, education and audits relating to wound care
• To ensure practice adheres to confidentiality, GDPR and relevant information governance requirements, in accordance with local and national policy
• To ensure that all team members have a meaningful appraisal/personal development plan that includes feedback to the individual from a selection of internal customers and team members ·
• Communication and Partnership Working
• Manage and prioritise referrals to the service and determine referrals requiring direct client work or that need liaison and referral on to other agencies
• Plan, deliver and evaluate programmes of care for patients referred to the Tissue Viability Team in conjunction with referrer
• Develop effective communication networks with other health professionals across primary and secondary care
• Deal sensitively with patients who have a high level of anxiety and aggression caused by the psychological aspects of having non-healing and painful wounds
• Provide representation on committees/working groups as required
• Act as clinical expert both outside and within the Trust. This will involve dissemination of specialist skills and knowledge to others
• Develop and maintain a peer network of support, information and learning with other nurse specialists at a local and national level.
• To deal with highly complex, sensitive information and be able to communicate this information in a professional but compassionate manner to patients and families
• Networking with multi-professional colleagues within own area and representing the Trust at regional and national conferences and on working groups as appropriate
• To maintain and promote effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team and other wards\departments
• Facilitate the cascade of information to staff within the Tissue Viability Team, ensuring awareness of Divisional and Trust issues and allowing for discussion and feedback
• To develop relationships with others across both professional and primary care boundaries, e.g., national agencies, community, social services, key stakeholders, and partners
• To share knowledge in formal educational settings, conferences, and publications, internally, externally, locally, and nationally
• Financial health
• Work in a cost-effective manner, demonstrating speciality knowledge and high standards of nursing care whilst working within available resources.
• Promotes awareness of cost-effective approaches to use wound dressing products and pressure relieving/reducing equipment
• Rationalise resources, ensure cost efficiency and improve outcomes and monitor effectiveness

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.