24UHWNU1403 Clinical Nurse Specialist (Oncology/Liaison)

  • Waterford
  • University Hospital Waterford
<p><strong>*** CV's not accepted. Please complete and upload the Application Form below***</strong></p> <p></p> <p>The post holder’s practice is based on the five core concepts of Clinical Nurse Specialist role as defined by the NCNM 4th edition (2008) in order to fulfil the role. The concepts are:</p> <ul> <li>Clinical Focus</li> <li>Patient/Client Advocate</li> <li>Education and Training</li> <li>Audit and Research</li> <li>Consultant</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Clinical Focus</ins></strong></p> <p>Clinical Nurse Specialist will have a strong patient focus whereby the specialty defines itself as nursing and subscribes to the overall purpose, functions and ethical standards of nursing/midwifery. The clinical practice role may be divided into direct and indirect care. Direct care comprises the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to the patient, family and/or carer. Indirect care relates to activities that influence and support the provision of direct care.</p> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Direct Care</ins></strong></p> <p><em>CNS will:</em></p> <ul> <li>Provide a specialist nursing service for patients with a diagnosis of <strong>cancer </strong>who require support and treatment through the continuum of care.</li> <li>Undertake comprehensive patient assessment to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care using best evidence based practice in <strong>Oncology </strong>care.</li> <li>Use the outcomes of patient assessment to develop and implement plans of care/case management in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.</li> <li>Monitor and evaluate the patient’s response to treatment and amend the plan of care accordingly in conjunction with the MDT and patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.</li> <li>Make alterations in the management of patient’s condition in collaboration with the MDT and the patient in line with agreed pathways and policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPG’s).</li> <li>Accept appropriate referrals from MDT colleagues.</li> <li>Co-ordinate investigations, treatment therapies and patient follow-up.</li> <li>Communicate with patients, family and /or carer as appropriate, to assess patient’s needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling as required.</li> <li>Where appropriate work collaboratively with MDT colleagues across Primary and Secondary Care to provide a seamless service delivery to the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.</li> <li>Participate in medication reconciliation taking cognisance of poly-pharmacy and support medical and pharmacy staff with medication reviews and medication management.</li> <li>Identify and promote specific symptom management strategies as well as the identification of triggers which may cause exacerbation of symptoms. Provide patients with appropriate self-management strategies and escalation pathways.</li> <li>Manage nurse/midwife led <strong>Oncology </strong>clinics with <strong>MDT </strong>input.</li> <li>Identify health promotion priorities for the patient, family and/or carer and support patient self-care in line with best evidence. This will include the provision of educational and health promotion material which is comprehensive, easy to understand and meets patient’s needs.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Indirect Care</ins></strong></p> <p><em>CNS will:</em></p> <ul> <li>Identify and agree appropriate referral pathways for patients with <strong>cancer</strong>.</li> <li>Participate in case review with MDT colleagues.</li> <li>Use a case management approach to patients with complex needs in collaboration with MDT in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.</li> <li>Take a proactive role in the formulation and provision of evidence based PPPGs relating to <strong>Oncology </strong>care.</li> <li>Take a lead role in ensuring the service for patients with <strong>Oncology </strong>condition is in line with best practice guidelines and the Safer Better Healthcare Standards (HIQA, 2012).</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Patient/Client Advocate</ins></strong></p> <p><em>CNS will:</em></p> <ul> <li>Communicate, negotiate and represent patient’s family and/or carer values and decisions in relation to their condition in collaboration with MDT colleagues in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.</li> <li>Develop and support the concept of advocacy, particularly in relation to patient participation in decision making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.</li> <li>Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient, family and/or carer.</li> <li>Establish, maintain and improve procedures for collaboration and cooperation between Acute Services, Primary Care and Voluntary Organisations as appropriate.</li> <li>Proactively challenge any interaction which fails to deliver a quality service to patients.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Education &amp; Training:</ins></strong></p> <p><em>CNS will:</em></p> <ul> <li>Maintain clinical competence in patient management within Oncology<strong> </strong>nursing/midwifery, keeping up-to-date with relevant research to ensure the implementation of evidence based practice.</li> <li>Provide the patient, family and/or carer with appropriate information and other supportive interventions to increase their knowledge, skill and confidence in managing their Oncology<strong> </strong>condition.</li> <li>Contribute to the design, development and implementation of education programmes and resources for the patient, family and/or carer in relation to <strong>Oncology </strong>thus empowering them to self-manage their condition.</li> <li>Provide mentorship and preceptorship for nursing colleagues as appropriate.</li> <li>Participate in training programmes for nursing/midwifery, MDT colleagues and key stakeholders as appropriate.</li> <li>Create exchange of learning opportunities within the MDT in relation to evidence based <strong>Oncology </strong>care delivery through journal clubs, conferences, etc.</li> <li>Develop and maintain links with Regional Centres for Nursing &amp; Midwifery Education (RCNMEs), the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Units (NMPDUs) and relevant third level Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in the design, development and delivery of educational programmes in <strong>Oncology </strong>care.</li> <li>Be responsible for addressing own continuing professional development needs.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Audit &amp; Research:</ins></strong></p> <p><em>CNS will:</em></p> <ul> <li>Establish and maintain a register of patients with <strong>Oncology </strong>within Clinical Nurse Specialist Caseload.</li> <li>Maintain a record of clinically relevant data aligned to National Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) as directed and advised by the DoN.</li> <li>Identify, initiate and conduct nursing and MDT audit and research projects relevant to the area of practice.</li> <li>Identify, critically analyse, disseminate and integrate best evidence relating to care in practice.</li> <li>Contribute to nursing research on all aspects of Oncology care.</li> <li>Use the outcomes of audit to improve service provision.</li> <li>Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through use of audit data and specialist knowledge.</li> <li>Monitor, access, utilise and disseminate current relevant research to advise and ensure the provision of informed evidence based practice.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><em><ins>Audit expected outcomes including:</ins></em></strong></p> <ul> <li>Collate data (insert agreed KPIs/clinical targets) which will provide evidence of the effectiveness of Clinical Nurse Specialist interventions undertaken 3 or 4 - Refer to the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery final report - <em>Evaluation of Clinical Nurse and Midwife Specialist and Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioner roles in Ireland </em>(SCAPE Report, 2010) and refer to the National KPIs associated with the speciality. They should have a clinical nursing focus as well as a breakdown of activity - patients seen and treated.</li> <li>Evaluate audit results and research findings to identify areas for quality improvement in collaboration with nursing management and MDT colleagues (Primary and Secondary Care).</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Consultant:</ins></strong></p> <p><em>CNS will:</em></p> <ul> <li>Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for <strong>Oncology </strong>practice.</li> <li>Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines and support implementation.</li> <li>Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance generalist nursing practice.</li> <li>Develop collaborative working relationships with local Oncology<strong> </strong>Clinical Nurse Specialist’s/Registered Advanced Nurse/Midwife Practitioner/MDT colleagues as appropriate, developing person centred care pathways to promote the integrated model of care delivery.</li> <li>With the support of the Director of Nursing, attend integrated care planning meetings as required.</li> <li>Where appropriate develop and maintain relationships with specialist services in voluntary organisations which support patients in the community.</li> <li>Liaise with other health service providers in the development and on-going delivery of the National Clinical Programme model of care.</li> <li>Network with other Clinical Nurse Specialist in <strong>Oncology </strong>and in related professional associations.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Health &amp; Safety:</ins></strong></p> <p>These duties must be performed in accordance with local organisational and the HSE health and safety polices. In carrying out these duties the employee must ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply with the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act (2005). Staff must carry out their duties in a safe and responsible manner in line with the local policy documents and as set out in the local safety statement, which must be read and understood.</p> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Quality, Risk and Safety Responsibilities</ins></strong></p> <p>It is the responsibility of all staff to:</p> <ul> <li>Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to quality, risk and safety.</li> <li>Participate and cooperate with local quality, risk and safety initiatives as required.</li> <li>Participate and cooperate with internal and external evaluations of the organisation’s structures, services and processes as required, including but not limited to, The National Hygiene Audit, National Decontamination Audit, Health and Safety Audits and other audits specified by the HSE or other regulatory authorities.</li> <li>Initiate, support and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with local organisational quality, risk and safety requirements.</li> <li>Contribute to the development of PPPGs and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.</li> <li>Comply with Health Service Executive (HSE) Complaints Policy.</li> <li>Ensure completion of incident/near miss forms and clinical risk reporting.</li> <li>Adhere to department policies in relation to the care and safety of any equipment supplied and used to carry out the responsibilities of the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist in Oncology care.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p>Specific Responsibility for Best Practice in Hygiene</p> <ul> <li>Hygiene is defined as: “The practice that serves to keep people and environments clean and prevent infection. It involves the study of preserving ones health, preventing the spread of disease, and recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards. In the healthcare setting it incorporates the following key areas: environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, management of laundry, waste and sharps, and equipment” (HIQA, 2008; P2). It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure compliance with local organisational hygiene standards, guidelines and practices.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong><ins>Management/Administration:</ins></strong></p> <p><em>CNS will:</em></p> <ul> <li>Provide an efficient, effective and high quality service, respecting the needs of each patient, family and/or carer.</li> <li>Effectively manage time and caseload in order to meet changing and developing service needs.</li> <li>Continually monitor the service to ensure it reflects current needs.</li> <li>Implement and manage identified changes.</li> <li>Ensure that confidentiality in relation to patient records is maintained.</li> <li>Represent the specialist service at local, national and international fora as required.</li> <li>Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records and data on all matters pertaining to the planning, management, delivery and evaluation of care and ensure that this service is in line with HSE requirements.</li> <li>Contribute to the service planning process as appropriate and as directed by the DoN.</li> <li>Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc<em> </em>and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.</li> <li>To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong>The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.</strong></p>