AGENDA FOR CHANGE
NHS JOB EVALUATION SCHEME
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
Job Title: Staff Nurse
Reports to: Senior Charge Nurse
Department: Diagnostics
Division: Clinical Services & Support
Job Reference: SSMEDDRAIGDIAG08
No of Job Holders: 5
Last Update 1st May 2014
2. JOB PURPOSE
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On a daily basis is responsible for the assessment, organisation and implementation of the nursing
care of patients attending the area in which they are working.
DIMENSIONS
1. Nursing care and management of patients attending the Diagnostic Area for investigative tests or
interventional procedures.
2. The Diagnostic Area incorporates Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Measurement, Ultrasound and
Radiology, including cross sectional imaging.
3. The patient population covers all ages from infancy onwards; in-patients, out-patients, surgical,
medical and emergencies.
4. Care of the terminally ill patient attending for a procedure
5. Care of patients attending from other hospitals
6. Infection Control
7. Assisting with the ordering of non-stock items and the maintenance of the inventory.
8. Ordering of Pharmacy and ensuring rotation of drug stock.
9. Liaising with the store person with regard to ordering supplies..
10. Staff management/supervisory responsibilities of approximately 2 N/A’s on a shift by shift basis.
4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION – MEDICAL DIRECTORATE
Divisional General Manager
Divisional Nurse Manager
Senior Charge Nurse (Diagnostics/Interventional)
Senior Staff Nurse / Deputy Charge Nurse (Diagnostics/Interventional)
Staff Nurses (Interventional)
Staff Nurse (this post)
Auxiliary Nurses
5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT
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The Diagnostic Area includes the following departments: Radiology – incorporating screening and
cross sectional imaging, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Measurement.
The role of the department is to perform diagnostic tests and interventional procedures on both inpatients and out-patients.
The Diagnostic nursing group has links with the nursing group in the Interventional Unit.
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6. MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Works as a practitioner within the statutes and guidelines laid down by the NMC
2. Is involved in setting and maintaining standards of care within the agreed guidelines of NHS
Highlands policies and procedures to ensure adherence to and delivery of a high quality service.
3. Provides support and advice to patients and their families/carers giving the knowledge required to
help them understand and cope with their condition
4. Using evidence based practice continuously improves and develops own knowledge and acquires,
within 6 months of qualifying as RN, skills such as venepuncture, cannulation, ECG recording, giving
IV drugs, catheterisation etc.
5. Maintains effective communications with patients, families/carers and other members of the
multidisciplinary team to ensure that information is shared and patient needs are met.
6. Leads and supervises less experienced staff/students who are providing care to patients and act as
a source of advice to ensure their educational needs are met
7. Assists with teaching colleagues and other members of the multidisciplinary team and is involved in
staff PDPs to facilitate ongoing development.
8. After being qualified and supervised for a period of up to 6 months, organises own workload,
prioritising and adjusting priority in the face of changing demands to ensure all needs are met
9. Is responsible for maintaining patient records within agreed standards
10. Maintains ward stock levels, through ordering of stores, ensuring the economic use of all resources
11. Plays an active role in the continuing development of the department undertaking various aspects of
clinical audit as designated by the ward manager.
12. Attends and participates in meetings, promoting and maintaining good relationships within the ward
and with staff of all disciplines throughout NHS Highland
13. Assists in promoting the health and safety of patients, visitors and staff within the department.
14. Assists in health promotion issues in the department.
15. Is responsible for the assessment of the care needs of patients undergoing diagnostic
tests/interventions, delivers a high standard of care and evaluates its efficacy.
16. Works within the regulations concerning radiation protection contained in the Local Rules. The
nurse must also demonstrate a working knowledge of the risks of exposure to radiation and an
understanding of the safe use of radioisotopes.
17. Demonstrates an understanding of their role within IRMER (Ionising Radiation Medical Examination
Regulations)
18. Provides nursing care for any patient attending the department for a diagnostic or interventional
procedure. This ranges from out patients who are attending for diagnostic imaging, to in patients
who are undergoing biopsies, drainages or other interventional procedures within the department.
Delivers intravenous sedation under instruction from medical staff and can recognise and respond
appropriately to any adverse reactions to medication or contrast, initiating resuscitation procedures
where required.
19. Cares for cardiac in-patients during echocardiography sessions including transoesophageal
and contrast echoes.
20. Carries out nursing care of patients undergoing cystometrograms – bladder pressure measurements
– requiring catheterisation of the patient, passing of a rectal tube and supporting the patient
throughout the test by explaining what is happening and why it is being carried out.
21. Demonstrates a working knowledge of ECGs and can perform a 12 lead ECG.
22. Cannulates and administers IV radioisotopes to patients attending for Nuclear Medicine
tests/procedures and works within the multi disciplinary team to ensure the test/procedure
progresses smoothly.
23. Disposes of radioactive waste within the Nuclear Medicine departments as stipulated within the
departmental guidelines.
24. Uses a Geiger counter to monitor waste bags for radiation and disposes of them as per
departmental guidelines.
25. Cares for patients receiving blood products – carries out and records necessary observations.
26. Documents care given during any interventional procedure.
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27. Through a detailed knowledge of the test/procedure to be carried out, is capable of giving the patient
accurate information prior to the test and ensuring that any necessary aftercare is understood.
28. Careful checking of patient details to ensure that the correct patient undergoes the correct
test/procedure.
29. Organises the transport of patients between the wards and department.
30. Liaises with other hospitals concerning the care and transport of their patients to the diagnostic area.
31. Carries out any other task deemed necessary by the Charge Nurse to meet service needs.
32. May train in the application of compression bandages.
33 May get the opportunity to train to perform Hysterosalpingograms: this involves training under
medical guidance in the insertion of specula, the theory and practice of hysterosalpingography with its
associated risks and how to work in conjunction with the radiographer to acquire the necessary images.
7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY
Utilise technical clinical equipment, calibrating when required, checking for faults and ensuring regular
maintenance. Is expected to have knowledge of all equipment used in the ward and will use equipment
once provided with training, however may not have daily clinical involvement.
Equipment
Various Intravenous pumps
Syringe Drivers
Intravenous lines, venflons
Butterfly devices, syringes, needles
To deliver prescribed drugs/ fluids safely
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Monitoring equipment for –
Blood pressure, temperature, pulse, oxygen
saturations, blood glucose
To measure and observe patients condition and
act appropriately on changes in condition
Oxygen equipment – flowmeters, masks, nasal
cannulae
To give correctly prescribed O2 concentration
Nasogastric tubes/PEG tubes
To drain gastric contents or to feed into stomach
Drains – Chest, paracentesis, Various devices
To drain fluid/air from various parts of the body
Urinary Catheters – suprapubic , urethral
To drain urine
Various hoists, slide sheets, “PAT” slide, turn table,
slide board, blocks
To move patient safely
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Wheelchairs
Safe movement of patients
Resuscitation equipment including
Defibrillator
To resuscitate and administer shock following
cardiac arrest. To ensure working order.
ECG machine
Recording heart rhythm
Glucose Monitor
Monitor of patients blood glucose
Computers (Intranet, Internet, Word)
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Changes portable oxygen cylinders as required.
Checks and can operate the portable suction machines.
Ultrasound Machines – superficial checks, cleaning of filters, care of the transducers during the
list, entering patient details, filing cassettes and renewing paper as required.
Use of syringe shields, lead boxes for isotope injections.
Chair/bicycle for radioisotope stress tests.
Patient trolleys – checking oxygen cylinders to ensure that they are in working order and contain
a sufficient amount of oxygen.
Hoist
Geiger counter – to check waste bags in Nuclear Medicine prior to disposal.
7b. SYSTEMS
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Maintains patients records in accordance with NMC guidelines and NHS Highland standards
Use of hospital intranet to book places on courses and study days
Personal development plans
Department communication systems
8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
1. The Staff nurse will refer to the Charge Nurse/Ward Manager for clinical guidance and professional
management, work review and formal appraisal of performance.
2. Works within the statutes and guidelines of the NMC, National, Highland and local agreed policies,
protocols and procedures
3. Workload will be assigned by the Charge Nurse/Senior Staff nurse, however the Staff nurse will
have responsibility for managing a defined workload within professional guidelines
9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
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Assesses patients condition to establish any change, involving other members of the multidisciplinary
team as required
Continuously assesses patient condition and plans, implements and evaluates programmes of care.
Prioritises workload within a fluid situation.
Supervises auxiliary staff within the area.
10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
1. The ability to give good direct patient care to all patients prioritising and re-prioritising in the face of
competing demands and within existing resources
2. Maintaining up to date clinical skills and knowledge
3. Occasionally dealing with violent, aggressive and challenging behaviour both verbal and physical
4. Maintaining knowledge and skills across a diverse range of ever changing diagnostic/intervention
procedures. Working in both Radiology and Nuclear Medicine requires the nurse to have a good
understanding of very different types of diagnostic procedures and to have the flexibility to move
between areas – often with the same day.
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5. The nature of the department requires staff to be able to assess patients rapidly and with very little
information. This demands good clinical judgement and strong interpersonal skills.
6. Working directly with nine Consultants means staff are required to be aware of the different
approaches, techniques and equipment adopted by the individual Consultants.
11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
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Communicates and listens to the patient, family/carers
Establishes and maintains professional relationships with nursing and medical colleagues, health
care professionals, voluntary services, outside agencies, other hospitals and nursing/retirement
homes to provide a planned, co-ordinated seamless service for patients
Communicates with support departments e.g. estates, supplies, human resources, health and safety
12. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
PHYSICAL
Frequently moving and handling of patients – in bed, onto trolleys, from bed to chair, assist with
walking etc.
2. Hand washing/cleansing between each patient
3. Washing and cleaning patients
4. Checking equipment attached to patients e.g. IV fluids, IV pumps, catheters, drains, syringe pumps,
ECG machines, etc.
5. Risk assess department area and be inventive in creating a safe working environment for all staff
whilst being sensitive to patients needs continuously.
6. Fine motor skills and dexterity to take blood samples, administer injections, insert venflon devices to
set up IV access and computer keyboard skills.
7. Frequently need to walk, stand and bend during shift to provide patient care.
8. Frequently transferring of patients and belongings to and from other wards and departments.
9. Occasionally assess the risk of violent/aggressive/challenging behaviour of patients and visitors, and
deal with it appropriately.
10. Wearing a heavy lead coat and thyroid collar.
11. Moving patients during examinations on x ray tables of a fixed height.
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MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL
1. Concentration required when checking patients notes/documents and calculating drug dosages, with
constant interruptions from patients/relatives/phones/colleagues etc.
2. Concentration required when observing patient behaviours which may be unpredictable
3. Recognising and dealing with violent/aggressive/challenging behaviour occasionally.
4. Recognising patients urgent health care needs.
5. Communicating with distressed/anxious/worried patients/relatives
6. Occasionally caring for patients and relatives following receipt of bad news
7. Maintaining professional standing and relationships within a large multi-disciplinary team.
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ENVIRONMENTAL
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Radiation exposure
Working in areas with high noise levels
Working in very hot conditions in the Department.
Working in areas lit by electric lights
Exposure bodily fluids.
Working all day in rooms with no natural light, little ventilation or air conditioning.
Working in dim light.
13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
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First level registered nurse
Evidence of team working skills with the ability to work using own initiative
Effective communication/listening and interpersonal skills
Time management skills
The ability to develop knowledge and clinical skills
Reads and understands the Local Rules regarding radiation protection.
Understands the risks posed by radiation.
Understands their responsibilities under IRMER.
Trains in the giving of IV radioisotopes.
Understands the concept of conscious sedation, the drugs used and the risks involved.
Understands the risks and treatment of anaphylaxis in relation to the administration of x-ray contrast.
Can effectively monitor a patient’s condition.
JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
I agree that the above Job Description is an accurate reflection of my duties and
responsibilities at the date of signing.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Date:
Manager’s Signature:
Date:
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