Nurse Co-Ordinator
Croí ‘MyAction’™ Programme
A Community Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Initiative
Croí ‘MyAction’™ is a cardiovascular disease prevention programme,
targeting high-risk individuals and providing them with intensive risk factor
management and lifestyle modification. This Programme is a first in Ireland
and utilises the principles and protocols of ‘MyAction’™.
‘MyAction’™ is a multidisciplinary, nurse-led, family based, vascular
prevention programme, integrating the care of individuals and their families at
high risk of developing Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Peripheral
Vascular Disease (PVD) in a community setting. High-risk individuals
participate in a 16-week intensive lifestyle modification programme, working to
achieve targets across risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure,
physical activity, weight and smoking cessation.
‘MyAction’™ emerged from a European Society of Cardiology, transEuropean project in preventive cardiology called “EuroAction” (Lancet, 2008).
Findings demonstrated that a nurse-managed, multidisciplinary team
approach, coupled with the support and involvement of a patient’s partner and
family, yielded significant lifestyle improvements and risk factor reductions in
coronary patients and individuals at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Croí is a registered Irish heart charity, dedicated to reducing the impact of
cardiovascular disease on families living in the West of Ireland. The Croí
‘MyAction’™ Programme is a collaboration with HSE West, Galway PCCC
(Primary Community & Continuing Care) and the Department of Cardiology at
University Hospital Galway.
Primary Role
To provide specialist clinical advice and support to participants and their
families. The post holder will lead a multidisciplinary team in the development
and delivery of the “Croí MyAction”™ prevention programme which will be
based in a community setting in Galway City.
Principle Duties and Responsibilities
 Effectively and efficiently lead & manage the Croí ‘MyAction’™ Team in
the delivery and development of the ‘MyAction’™ Programme;
 Liaise with General Practices, local hospitals and health professionals
in identifying, recruiting and referring patients and their families;
 Deliver to an established protocol, full clinical assessment,
management and evaluation of client and families, providing expert
nursing advice, support and counselling where necessary;
 Act as the Smoking Cessation lead for the Croí ‘MyAction’™
Programme;
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Co-ordinate and deliver health promotion information sessions and
interventions to Programme participants;
Facilitate behaviour change using motivational interviewing, brief
intervention techniques and goal setting;
Participate in research and clinical governance audit;
Manage your own ongoing education and training, as well as that of the
other team members where necessary;
Actively lead the multidisciplinary team in service delivery,
development and programme promotion.
Skills and Competencies
The post holder will be required to demonstrate:
 A proficient knowledge of current developments in cardiology, cardiac
rehabilitation and the prevention and management of cardiovascular
disease;
 Effective communication and interpersonal skills;
 The ability to work autonomously and as part of a team to achieve key
performance outputs;
 Initiative and motivation in service delivery;
 Confidence, assertiveness and flexibility;
 Enthusiasm for the development of the Croi ‘MyAction’™ Programme;
 Excellent IT skills to include use of Email, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint
and Access;
 Excellent organisational skills with an aptitude for effective time
management, problem solving, project planning, delivery and
execution;
 Advanced clinical reasoning;
 A commitment to quality measurable through audit and research.
Requirements
The post holder must be suitably qualified as follows:
 Be registered with An Bord Altranais;
 Have at least 5 years relevant post registration experience, two of
which must involve working with cardiac patients;
 Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to fulfil the
functions of the role;
 Demonstrate evidence of a commitment to continuing professional
development.
Experience in the area of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Health Promotion as well
as a postgraduate qualification in any of the following is desirable:
 Cardiac Nursing
 Cardiac Rehabilitation
 Diabetes
 Health Promotion
 Health Psychology
Remuneration
This appointment will be made as a fixed term contract of 12 months.
Salary will be commensurate with experience.
Applicants must be available to commence employment immediately.
This job profile will be subject to review in accordance with service
developments and is neither restrictive nor definitive, but rather a guide
to the general range of duties required.
The deadline for applications is Friday 7th January 2011 at 5pm