HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE
Job Specification SOP R4
Job Title and Grade
Staff Nurse General (Medical)
Location of Post
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
Competition
Reference
OLOL 18
Closing Date
19th November 2010
Date of meeting with
receiving Service
Manager(s)
Week Commencing
Organisational Area
Dublin North East
Reporting
Relationship
Clinical Nurse Manager 2/Clinical Nurse Manager 1
Accountable to
Assistant Director of Nursing/Director of Nursing & Midwifery
Purpose of the Post
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Principal Duties and
Responsibilities
To be responsible for the assessment, planning,
implementation and evaluation of nursing care for individual
patients within the framework of a recognised evidence based
system for nursing care.
To share responsibility with the nursing team for the
management of nursing care, the patient’s environment and
any other factor that may impact on patient care and
outcomes under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager
2/Clinical Nurse Manager 1.
To develop and maintain clinical expertise, leadership and
teaching skills through nursing practice and to maintain a high
standard of professional and ethical responsibility.
Rotating to other departments may be required to enhance
experience, meet personal development needs.
Redeployment to other departments may be necessary to
facilitate service requirement.
Professional:
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Practices in accordance with legislative requirements for
nursing practice and the guidelines from An Bord Altranais,
such as the Code of Conduct, Scope of Professional
Practice Framework for Nurses.
Adheres to Health Service Executive and hospital policies,
clinical guidelines and procedures.
Practices within the limits of own competence and take
measures to develop own competence as guided by the
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scope of professional practice and other An Bord Altranais
guidelines and codes..
Contributes to continuous quality improvement in nursing
through involvement in unit and hospital quality initiatives.
Participates in research to promote evidence based care.
Is appropriately attired in accordance with hospital dress
code.
Participates in the promotion of maintaining Hygiene &
Infection Control standards within the team and department.
Promote and support the delivery of quality improvement
plans and other components of internal and external quality
assurance programmes e.g. HIQA Programmes. e.g.
Hygiene, Infection Prevention & Control, Discharge Planning
Clinical Practice
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Conducts a systematic holistic assessment of client needs
based on nursing theory and evidence based practice.
Plans care in consultation with the client/patient taking into
consideration the therapeutic regimes of all members of the
health care team.
Implements planned nursing care/interventions to achieve
identified outcomes.
Evaluates patient’s progress toward expected outcomes and
reviews plans in accordance with evaluation data and
consultation with the client and other members of the health
care team.
Develops and documents plans of care based on patientfocused needs in collaboration with all other health team
members.
Maintain a patient centeredness by Involving patients and
relatives proactively in the planning, implementation and
evaluation of nursing care in a sensitive manner.
Works as part of the multidisciplinary team.
Educational/Self Development
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Take responsibility for own personal and professional
development.
Attend all mandatory training required by the Director of
Nursing and Midwifery Services.
Work with and supervise the care given by Student Nurses
and provide for their personal and professional
development.
Participates in Personal Development Planning.
Co-operate with colleagues and Ward Manager in providing
maximum learning opportunities for all staff and students.
Assist in the educational programme of all student nurses.
When instructing students, the nurse must ascertain the
student’s level of competency.
Use every opportunity for discussion, demonstrations and
teaching for both patients and staff.
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of nursing developments
and other relevant information of professional standards in
the clinical areas. Liaise and foster good communications
with the Nurse Education Centre.
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Participate in the orientation programmes of all new staff
within the ward/department and in-service programmes.
Keep abreast of current trends in Nursing through reading,
attending seminars and having thorough knowledge of
Nursing Policy and Standards.
Attend meetings as required.
Assist or participate in new projects.
Health & Safety
 Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional
practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to
relevant legislation, regulations and standards
 Document appropriately and report any near misses,
hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of
relevant / designated individual(s) in line with best practice
 Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the
safety of self and others
 Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take
appropriate action
 Comply with department procedures with regard to
assessment, recommendation and / or manufacturing of all
assistive devices
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Promote a culture that values diversity and respect
Essential
Qualifications and
Experience and
Knowledge
Staff members must on the latest date for receiving
Expression of Interest for the above post:
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Be registered in the General Division of the Register of
Nurses as maintained by An Bord Altranais, or be entitled to
be so registered.
And
Minimum of six months experience in the acute sector in the
last twelve months.
And
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Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to
properly discharge the functions of the role.
and
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Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional
development at the appropriate level.
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Essential Skills or
Competencies
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Planning and Managing Resources
Ability to Work Independently as well as part of a Team
Commitment to Providing a Quality Service
Evaluating Information &Judging Situations
Professional Knowledge.
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HEALTH SERVICES EXECUTIVE
Terms & Conditions
Tenure
The appointment is whole-time/part-time, permanent, and
pensionable.
Remuneration
The Salary scale for the post is: €30,234 - €42,469 LSI €43,800
Rate @ 1st January 2010
Working Week
The standard working week applying to the post is: 37.5 hrs.
Annual Leave
The annual leave associated with this grade, based on the standard
hours of attendance is as follows:
0 – 5 years service = 24 days / 5 – 10 years service = 25 days /
more than 10 years service = 27 days per completed year of
service.
Superannuation
All pensionable staff become members of the pension scheme.
Probation
Every permanent appointment of a person who is not already a
permanent officer of the Health Service Executive or of a Local
Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months as
stipulated in the Department of Health Circular no. 10/71.
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not
classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service
Superannuation Act 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new
entrant must be under 65 years of age on the day of the month in
which the latest date for receiving completed applications forms for the
office occurs.
Health
A person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of
undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health
such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render
regular and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good
character.
Training
The HSE is committed to education and life long learning which
enables staff to improve their performance and professional
competence. In this regard the HSE encourages and supports staff to
seek opportunities for their own development. In addition the HSE
provides education and training opportunities for staff on a regional
basis. The HSE’s Education/Training Guidelines sets out the range of
support available for staff undertaking further education.
Confidentiality
In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear
information concerning, the medical or personal affairs of patients
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and/or staff, or other health service business. Such records and
information are strictly confidential and, unless acting on the
instructions of an authorised officer, on no account must information
concerning staff, patients or other health service business be divulged
or discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition,
records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons
can obtain access to them and must be left in safe custody when no
longer required.
Please note the
following General
Conditions:
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Employee must attend fire lectures and drills periodically and
must observe fire orders.
All accidents within the department must be reported
immediately in line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at
Work Act, 1989, and all staff must comply with all safety
regulations.
In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 & 2004,
smoking within buildings of the Health Service Executive is not
permitted.
The Health Service Executive is not responsible for the loss or
theft of personal belongings.
Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998
As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse
Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with
Section 2 of the Act. The post holder will remain a designated officer for the duration of the
appointment to the current post or for the duration of his/her appointment to such other post as
is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. The post holder will receive
full information on his/her responsibilities under the Act on appointment.
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as
structures change the job description may be reviewed.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post
holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic
review with the employee concerned.
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