Upper Gastrointestinal Nurse Specialist

Job overview

Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (MWL) provides clinical support to patients with cancers of the Upper GI tract, and an exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and motivated nurse to join a well-established Upper GI team. We are looking for an innovative, forward-thinking nurse who is highly motivated to improve practice and committed to developing clinical skills.

The Upper Gastrointestinal Nurse Specialist acts as a keyworker and provides a continuous point of contact throughout the patients’ pathway from diagnosis and onwards. Applications for this post are invited from nurses who have experience in gastrointestinal, oncology or palliative care nursing. You should also have a degree and possess excellent communication skills with a commitment to continuing education. The successful post holder will work cross both Whiston & St Helens hospital sites. We offer a friendly, supportive working environment and as the post is Macmillan badged you may have access to financial support for commitment to personal professional development.

The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change

Main duties of the job

We offer a friendly, supportive working environment and as the post is Macmillan badged you may have access to financial support for commitment to personal professional development.

Applications are invited from Registered Nurses with the following:

• NMC registered.
• Recognised mentorship course.
• Relevant and recent experience in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Care.
• Masters degree or working towards.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of evidence-based nursing care.
• Provide expert advice and clinical practice.
• Provide specialist education and training to others.
• Work collaboratively and co-operatively with clinical colleagues to develop services and high quality of care delivered.
• Lead the development of clinical services within the specialist field.
• Providing leadership to specialist nursing team in the provision of first contact assessments, diagnosis and comprehensive assessments. Triage more complex/advanced conditions where more specialist treatment is required to appropriate nursing staff.
• Manage an agreed patient caseload, when the diagnosis may be uncertain, according to own advanced clinical judgement and skills.
• Order/undertake, interpret and act upon diagnostic tests and investigations.
• Independent Endoscopist or a willingness to undertake training with the view to making a preliminary diagnosis.
• Identify, assess and triage patients ensuring smooth transition to other services as appropriate.
• As required undertake highly specialist procedures and lead on clinical pathways which may include making clinical judgement on the prioritisation of cases for treatment.
• Support the team to develop comprehensive care plans, with measurable outcomes, including advice or education to other clinical staff and care givers.
• Ensure the team involves patients, cares and relatives in the planning and delivery of care.
• Act as a highly autonomous practitioner, with minimal supervision, exercising judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.
• Ensure own and team compliance with any specific regulations for example: Quality Surveillance Programme, drug administration, record keeping and data collection within own area of work.
• Develop protocols for nurse led clinics, ensuring that outcomes are evaluated and activity monitored.
• Initiate medication/treatment reviews independently within area of work.
• Manage complex cases and those for specialist investigations referring to MDT as appropriate.
• Lead on the development of integrated care with primary and secondary care clinicians as required and other agencies involved with care delivery.
• Ensure appropriate services are put in place to support management of condition at home, supported by the multidisciplinary team as required.
• The post holder will abide by legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice and promote and maintain standards of professional practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (NMC) Code and Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.
• Develop and maintain required specialist clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of patients within the area of responsibility.
• Responsibility to develop and deliver ‘Living with and beyond cancer’ patient support service
• Responsibility to develop and deliver the Recovery package ‘as per NHS England requirements.
• Provide specialist telephone advice.
• Key worker role.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform comprehensive assessment of patient nursing needs, plan, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health care needs.
• Perform advanced clinical skills in assessment &/or diagnosis &/ or treatment.
• Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patient records.
• Involve patients and carers/ relatives in the planning and delivery of care and the development of services.
• Monitor investigation results, initiating further assessment/ review and co-ordination of treatment pathway as required.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure discharge arrangements.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers/relatives and professionals across health and social services.
• Contribute to the health and promotion agenda with the local health economy.
• To undertake / work towards non-medical prescribing as per NMC and trust guidance.
• In keeping with the NMC “Code of Professional Conduct” and “Standards of Proficiency for Nurse and Midwife Prescribers”, keep up to date with best prescribing practice in relation to the management of conditions within his/her specialist area.
• Attend Clinical Supervision sessions.
• Attend Network meetings.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administration supporting direct patient care/MDT preparation/follow up.
• Dictating and signing letters.
• Requesting appointments for patients.
• Processing Clinical Outcome sheets.
• Updating Somerset Cancer Registry.
• Report Writing.
• Presentations.
• Macmillan Service Reviews.
• Address issues raised by remote follow up clinic service.
• Patients experience assessment/improvement advocates.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify learning needs, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified needs.
• Participate in the education of pre and post registered nurses, medical staff, AHP’s, patients and carers and participate in curriculum development where appropriate.
• Address specific health targets e.g. CHI, NICE Guidance, NSF related to own are of practice through education.
• Ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regarding mandatory training and PREP requirements.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients and carers/relatives.
• Evaluate service delivery against key performance targets, National Quality Measures, identify areas for improvement and initiate change.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources; make suggestions regarding supplies and equipment.
• Collect, collate and report activity data to key stakeholders, producing regular formal reports.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Identify need for, participate and undertake, research, clinical audit, benchmarking and equipment trials, in order to improve effectiveness of patient care.
• Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publication.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work.
• Promote patient and public involvement activities in the specialist area, leading to service improvement.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.