MEDICAL DIRECTORATE
GASTROENTEROLOGY NURSE SPECIALIST
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB PURPOSE:
1. Working within the multiprofessional team to
develop additional nurse led clinics for
Gastroenterology patients
2. To support the development of familial
screening clinics for GI malignancies
ROLE:
To undertake gastroenterological investigations
and offer specialist nursing advice
GRADE:
G/H Nursing Grade or equivalent (Subject to
AFC)
ANNUAL LEAVE:
27 days plus 8 public holidays
HOURS:
37.5 hours per week
SUPERANNUATION:
6% of salary (optional)
LOCATION:
Medical Directorate – Whittington Hospital
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
This post is in accordance with the Trust Terms
and Conditions of employment as laid down in
the relevant Trust Handbooks
PROFESSIONALLY
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Divisional Manager – Acute Medical Services
Consultant Nurse - Cancer Care
Senior Gastroenterology Nurse Specialist
CLINICALLY
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Consultant Physicians in Gastroenterology
KEY WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS:
Staff in Clinical & Academic Department of
Gastroenterology; Consultant
General/Colorectal Surgeons; Consultant
Oncologists; Senior Nurses; Palliative Care
Team; other nursing and medical staff
JOB SUMMARY:
The post holder will act as an autonomous Nurse Specialist within the
Gastroenterology/Colorectal care teams, providing expert advice and care to referred
patients. Through time the post holder will develop expertise as a nurse endoscopist.
He/She will continue to develop and provide a Nurse Endoscopy service, including
rapid access for suspected malignancies, screening and working with families at high
risk of developing GI malignancies. The post holder will participate in the teaching
and training of nursing and medical staff.
1.
Clinical Responsibilities:
Dependant upon existing level of skills, knowledge and experience, the post
holder will be expected to work in a supervised or independent way. Relevant
training will be provided with a view to expanding development of the role
over a 2-3 year period which will include nurse endoscopy.
1.1
Provide, and continue to develop, nurse led clinics, adhering to protocols as
agreed with consultant physicians and surgeons, in colorectal and upper
gastrointestinal medicine/surgery. The post holder will be responsible for
assessing, monitoring and managing case-loads of patients with designated
conditions (such as dyspepsia or Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
1.2
Provide a telephone helpline service to gastroenterology/upper GI surgery
patients. This service will facilitate the post holder to give advice, information
and support over the telephone. It is anticipated that this service will reduce
outpatient attendance and improve patient access to the service whilst
improving patient satisfaction.
1.3
After development and training, the post holder will perform endoscopy with
or without biopsy, according to agreed protocols and guidelines of the
Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, British Society of Gastroenterology and
Joint Advisory Group.
1.4
The post holder will liase with medical staff reporting significant pathology
and where appropriate refer on to the medical/surgical team.
1.5
The post holder will work with colleagues to provide the highest possible
standards of clinical care for gastrointestinal patients.
1.6
The post holder will receive relevant referrals from medical and surgical staff
and act on these accordingly.
1.7
The post holder will provide support, advice and information to referred
patients and their carers regarding their illness, treatments and services
available.
1.8
The post holder will perform venepuncture and administer intravenous therapy
as required and within hospital policies.
1.9
The post holder will incorporate counselling skills within the role as and when
required.
1.10
The post holder will ensure that effective health promotion is incorporated
within the role to appropriate patients/carers.
1.11
The post holder will ensure that health promotion initiatives are implemented
at appropriate times, e.g Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, in conjunction with
other Trust staff.
1.12
The post holder will act as an expert resource within the gastrointestinal
service to provide clinical advice and support to hospital and community
based staff.
1.13
The post holder will supervise and provide a role model for junior nursing
colleagues.
1.14
The post holder will develop the nursing role in the gastroenterology team,
working alongside the gastroenterologists, surgeons and current nurse
specialists, to develop and promote the service within the hospital and primary
care.
1.15
The post holder will be involved in the development of clinical guidelines and
protocols for patients undergoing endoscopic procedures in collaboration with
other members of the gastroenterology and surgical teams.
1.16
The post holder will be required to promote research/evidence based practice
within the field of gastroenterology, and in collaboration with the
gastroenterology, surgical and oncology teams.
2.
Managerial Responsibilties:
2.1
The post holder will work closely with members of the gastroenterology team
and other clinicians, e.g colorectal surgeons, nurses and clerical staff to ensure
that the patient receives the highest standards of service possible.
2.2
The post holder will develop standards of practice within gastroenterology and
in collaboration with other members of the team in order to facilitate
measurement of quality of care.
2.3
The post holder will ensure that adequate records of all patients are maintained
and that all relevant information is documented in patients medical/nursing
notes.
2.4
The post holder will ensure that General Practitioners are informed of
appropriate/relevant details regarding patient care.
2.5
When necessary, the post holder will liase with other specialists/ practitioners
at other Trusts to ensure the smooth management of patient care.
2.6
The post holder will efficiently utilise the available resources to meet service
objectives.
2.7
The post holder will report all accidents/incidents to the appropriate manager,
within Trust policy.
2.8
The post holder will evaluate, present and report on progress and provide
statistical submission and activity data as required.
2.9
The post holder will participate within a system of clinical supervision, this
may involve undertaking the role of supervisor.
3.
Educational Responsibilities:
3.1
The post holder will identify the training and education needs of the multidisciplinary team together with other senior staff to promote specific skills. To
work collaboratively with relevant educational staff to provide teaching
programmes to meet those needs.
3.2
The post holder will identify the specific education needs of patients/carers
and facilitate meeting those needs.
3.3
The post holder will collaborate with other nurse practitioner/specialists as
required and act as a resource for newly appointed nurse specialists.
3.4
The post holder will prepare and provide learning materials for use within the
clinical areas.
3.5
The post holder will take part in the planning and delivery of educational
programmes within the gastroenterology team/service.
3.6
The post holder will act as a resource, role model and mentor to staff,
providing informal education and support.
3.7
The post holder will attend any necessary training in the development of this
role.
3.8
The post holder will undertake appraisal and development as Trust policy.
4.
Audit and Research
4.1
In consultation with the multi-disciplinary team and collaboration with other
specialist nurses, the post holder will identify and encourage research based
practice in relation to gastroenterology and/or nursing within the Trust.
4.2
The post holder will act in a supervisory capacity in multi-disciplinary audit
and will work in conjunction with the Unit manager and Lead Clinicians to
this end.
4.3
The post holder will contribute to clinical audit as required.
4.4
The post holder will participate in nursing and collaborative research in
gastroenterology and colorectal disease.
4.5
The post holder will audit the role of the nurse endoscopist, eliciting the views
of patients, carers and professionals to ensure a high standard of service.
4.6
The post holder will work towards publication.
4.7
The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust manages all research in accordance with
the requirements of the Department of Health’s Research Governance
Framework for Health and Social Care. As an employee of this Trust you must
be familiar with the Research and Governance Framework. If you are
conducting research within the Trust you must understand your
responsibilities as a researcher under this framework and comply with all
reporting requirements, systems and duties of action put in place by the Trust
to deliver research governance. You are also required to maintain appropriate
knowledge of other relevant guidelines and regulations associated with
research. Further information on Research Governance can be obtained from
the Trust’s R&D Department.
5.
Personal and Professional Conduct:
5.1
All staff are expected to treat other members of hospital staff with courtesy
and respect. The Trusts rules and policies, including the disciplinary procedure
apply to all staff without exception.
5.2
When representing the department or Trust, to act in a professional manner
and promote a positive image of the hospital.
6
Clinical Governance:
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7
All staff with clinical responsibilities are expected to work within the clinical
governance arrangements agreed by the Trust. This is through an established
framework through which clinical staff are continuously accountable for
improving the quality of services and safeguarding high standards of care by
creating an environment in which excellent care will flourish. All clinical
staff are expected to maintain appropriate knowledge about, and involvement
in, agreed strategies and programmes to continually improve their standards of
clinical care through:
Patient and user involvement
Risk and complaints management
Clinical effectiveness and audit programmes
Continuous Professional Development.
Clinical research in accordance with DoH Governance requirements
Health and Safety:
The post holder will ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out
and will be aware of the responsibilities placed on employees under the Health
and Safety At Work Act. The post holder will maintain a safe environment for
employees and visitors.
8
Data Protection:
This post has a confidential aspect. If you are required to obtain, process/use
information held on a computer or word processor, you should do it in a fair
and lawful way. You should hold data only for the specific registered purpose
and not to disclose it in any way incompatible with such a purpose. To
disclose data only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed.
Breaches of confidence in relation to data will result in disciplinary action
which may involve dismissal.
9
Study Leave and Training:
10
Study leave is granted at the discretion of the Nursing Development Manager.
Normally up to 10 days may be granted per annum for relevant study.
Equal Opportunities:
It is the aim of the Trust to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives
less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, race, colour, nationality,
sexual orientation or ethnic origins, or is placed at a disadvantage by
conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. To this
end the Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy and it is expected that each
employee will contribute to its success.
11
No Smoking Policy:
The Whittington Hospital will be smoke free from July 4 2005. Smoking will
not be permitted anywhere on hospital premises or grounds.
12
NMC Registration:
The maintenance of registration with the NMC is a requirement of this post.
Post holders are expected to comply with the NMC Code of Professional
Conduct and other guidance issued by the Council governing professional
issues.