NHS Forth Valley Staff Bank Service
Bank Acute Care Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Band 7, Salary: £30,764 to £40,558 per annum, pro rata
An exciting opportunity has arisen for highly motivated nurses to join our Advanced Nurse
Practitioner Acute Care Service to support emergency and unscheduled care in NHS Forth
Valley Royal Hospital.
We are seeking to recruit registered nurses who are educated to degree level and working
towards master’s level with a minimum of 5 years current experience working in an acute or
critical care setting.
Applicants should be Advanced Life Support providers (RCUK approved) and have
undertaken accredited courses in Non-medical Prescribing and Clinical Examination.
Completion of an accredited course in Recognition and Management of Acutely Unwell Adults
would be desirable.
The successful candidates must be able to work autonomously and demonstrate excellent
communication and decision making skills.
Successful applicants must be able to work dayshift or nightshift and manage an
unpredictable workload.
For further information or informal discussion, contact FVRH on 01324 566000 and page
1001 for Marjory Gardiner or Margaret Marshall, or Sharon Oswald on page 1953.
Application forms and job descriptions (quoting post title) are available by e-mailing fvuhb.forthvalleystaffbank@nhs.net or by telephoning the Staff Bank Office on 0845 130
3855 (option 3)
Closing Date: Friday 19th July 2013
Insertion:
Internal - Job Shop
External – SHOW
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
Job Title:
Bank Acute Care Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Responsible to:
Staff Bank Manager / Deputy
Department:
Staff Bank Service
Directorate:
FV Facilities
Operating Division:
NHS Forth Valley
Job Reference:
2. JOB PURPOSE
The Bank Nurse Practitioner will:

Assess, diagnose and treat patients presenting with a variety of illnesses and be
responsible for maintaining appropriate records.

Work independently and autonomously without supervision. He/she will have the
authority either to refer to tertiary centre, discharge or treat patients as clinically
necessary in the Acute Care setting.
3. DIMENSIONS
The Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) role forms part of a multi-skilled professional team,
providing emergency medical services within the Acute care setting to adult patients within Forth
Valley.
The Bank Acute Care Advanced Nurse Practitioner is expected to provide cover during periods
of absence or vacancy. This requires adaptability and the knowledge and skills to carry out
tasks to maintain the smooth running of the service/ department.
The specific requirements will vary between services/ departments but the type and level of
duties and tasks will be commensurate to the level of the post.
The post holder contributes to the clinical management of the acutely unwell adult for the patient
population of Forth Valley. The post holder has responsibility for the safe storage and use of
equipment and supplies within the service, including the reporting of any faults or deficits,
rectifying these where possible.
4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
Staff Bank Manager
Deputy Staff Bank Manager
Out of Hours Service Manager
Bank Advanced Nurse Practitioner
The post holder is responsible to the Acute Care Team whilst on duty. The post holder is line
managed by the Bank Staff Manager and professionally accountable to the OOH Service
Manager.
5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT
To provide a supplementary staffing service to clinical areas across NHS Forth Valley.
6. KEY RESULT AREAS
The Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) will at all times ensure the interests and well being
of individual patients are met, through safe practice within the legal and ethical frameworks
as established by:
NMC Code of Professional Conduct
NMC Standards for conduct, performance and ethics
NMC Guidelines for Records and Record Keeping
NMC Standards for Prescribing Practice
National, organisational and local Policies, Guidelines and Procedures
Data Protection Act (1984, revised 1998) the Copyright, Designs and Patient Action
(1988) and
the Computer Misuse Act (1990)
Specialist Clinical Duties

The ANP will undertake a full systematic assessment and physical examination of
patients who present with undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems. He/She will make
an assessment of each patient’s needs and treat accordingly utilising evidence based
practice. This will involve highly developed clinical knowledge and advanced decision
making skills to facilitate a full analysis and interpretation of the patient’s history,
presenting symptoms and results of clinical examination to ensure an accurate diagnosis
and the subsequent management of the patient, i.e. whether to treat, admit or refer the
patient.

The ANP will make professionally autonomous decisions and will be accountable for the
direct delivery of care, exercising judgement on the parameters of safe practice and will
be guided by broad policies e.g. NICE or SIGN guidelines. The ANP is accountable for
his/her actions or omissions. The ANP can discuss / refer to other members of the
multidisciplinary team in circumstances where this is necessary and appropriate.

The ANP is an independent/ supplementary prescriber. This involves the post holder
carrying out a complete and thorough assessment of the patient and their condition;
considering the efficacy and appropriateness of medication as part of a clinical
management plan; obtaining consent from the patient and prescribing/ dispensing/
administering within current legislation

The ANP will prioritise health problems and intervenes appropriately including the
initiation of effective emergency care.

The ANP will provide highly specialised advice to patients, carers and relatives to ensure
compliance with the diagnosed condition and treatment. The ANP will advise on health
promotion and prevention of disease in accordance with the Public Health Agenda in
order to achieve optimum health and independence.

The ANP will exercise highly developed skills to identify patients who may be at potential
risk from others e.g. non accidental injury in children or abuse of the elderly. The NP will
act accordingly within guidelines to safeguard their well being.

The ANP will demonstrate an understanding of equal opportunity principles and
organisational policies taking into consideration the lifestyle, gender and cultural
background of the patient.

The ANP will be a role model through the provision of professional leadership and
demonstration of competent and effective practice.
Professional / Educational / Audit Responsibilities

The ANP will provide leadership and mentorship to all trainee practitioners, providing
specialist training relevant to the NP role

The ANP will attend meetings that support effective communication.

The ANP will attend all mandatory training.
7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY
The ANP is expected to have a knowledge of all equipment used in the clinical area however
may not have daily involvement. Examples of equipment and machinery used:
Specialised:
Diagnostic equipment e.g. auriscope ophthalmoscope
Syringe drivers.
NIV ventilation systems
ABG analysers
Enteral feeding tubes and pumps.
Defibrillator and resuscitation equipment
Suctioning equipment.
ECG monitors.
Bladder scanner.
Tracheostomy tubes
Cardiac monitor/telemetry
Sono right
Generic:
Range of hoist and other manual handling equipment.
Pressure reducing / relieving mattresses, static and electrical.
Wheelchairs and specialist seating.
Syringes / needles / intravenous infusions
Thermometers / sphygmomanometer.
Urinary catheters, continence products.
Wound dressings.
Medical gas delivery systems and oxygen saturation monitors.
Blood glucose monitors.
Weighing scales.
IT equipment.
7b. SYSTEMS
Maintenance of patient records and reports.
Patient dependency monitoring.
Audit / questionnaire completion.
Responsible for recording all activity on the appropriate local information system.
Responsible for inputting, updating and maintaining a range of information databases e.g. local
GP system, and involves sharing information with colleagues both internal and external to the
organisation.
8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
 The workload is generated via GP; Minor Injuries Unit; Accident and Emergency Dept; other
health care professionals, Clinical Assessment Unit, Admissions Unit, other wards.
 The ANP is autonomous and accountable for their professional practice.
 The ANP is guided by clinical guidelines and broad policies. Clinical advice and guidance is
available from medical staff and senior nursing colleagues working in other specialties.
9. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
Being required to work, often at short notice, in a range of clinical areas / locations / community
bases, often at times of increased activity or staff shortage and integrating and establishing
professional credibility within the team.
Managing the demands of direct and indirect patient care within available resources. To
consistently negotiate and balance the different and unpredictable priorities and demands from
a wide range of professionals and agencies to ensure optimal care is delivered.
Seeking local resolution to complaints from patients and relatives and advising on the formal
complaint procedure if required.
10. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
The ANP will be expected to communicate and liaise with the patient, their relatives or their
carers and members of the multidisciplinary team involved in the provision of care.
The ANP will communicate highly sensitive/ complex information to patients/relatives often in
difficult circumstances and within the limited consultation time available. The ANP will deal with
patients from a cross-section of the community and will communicate with people who have
difficulty understanding due to disability, impairment, injury or illness. The ANP will require
developed communication skills, involving empathy, reassurance and counselling, to ensure the
patient/relatives understand, agree and co-operate with the prescribed course of action. This
can include breaking bad news
Examples:
 Face to face, on the telephone or in writing with members of the public (patients, their
relatives or carers).
 Dealing effectively with barriers to communication.
 Having the ability to recognise and defuse potentially contentious situations using conflict
resolution and de-escalation skills.
 Promoting and maintaining effective communications and good working relationships with
all members of the public and the multidisciplinary team.
 Maintaining patient confidentiality at all times.
 Ensuring consent is obtained from patients (or relatives if appropriate) prior to carrying
out any procedures, examination or investigations.
 Taking, transcribing and disseminating minutes of nurse practitioner meetings.
Internal
General Practitioners
Other Nurse Practitioners
Consultants
Middle grade doctors
District Nurses
A&E staff, Bed Manager, hospital medical staff from other specialities (e.g. Surgical, Medical,
Urology, Ophthalmology, ENT)
Support and Ancillary Service Staff e.g. Central Stores, Pharmacy, IT Dept, Health and
Safety, Portering and Domestic services.
External
NHS 24
Other NHS organisations or hospitals
Social Work Services
Scottish Ambulance Service
Police
Voluntary/private organisations
Educational institutes and staff training organisations
Community and practice staff
Patients
Relatives / carers
General public
11. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Physical Skills:
The duties of the ANP require developed physical skills where accuracy is essential.
example:






For
Advanced physical examination skills i.e. cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory,
abdominal, ear, eye, throat, musculoskeletal and dermatological
Prescribe and administer medicines, injections, syringe drivers, intravenous infusions and
blood transfusions.
Wound assessment and treatment
Manual handling techniques.
Keyboard skills.
ALS provider
Physical Demands:
In the course of carrying out assessments the ANP will bend, kneel, stoop and manoeuvre
patients for short periods of up to 20 minutes frequently throughout the shift. This may
sometimes involve the use of mechanical aids e.g. wheelchair, hoist.
Mental Demands:
The ANP has to concentrate in a number of situation specific to their role:
 when assessing and diagnosing patients; deciding whether to prescribe or not and deciding
whether it is safe to discharge or refer on to another member of the multidisciplinary team
 when prescribing medication/ checking instructions and documentation of consultation within
patients’ notes – whilst conversing with the patient and family
 Calculating and checking drug doses
 Communicating with the multidisciplinary team when referring a patient to medical staff
Emotional Demands:
Due to the unscheduled nature of the service provided, the ANP will regularly communicate with
distressed, anxious or worried patients and/or relatives. On occasion, the ANP will give patients
bad or unwelcome news in relation to clinical deterioration or the requirement for further
investigation admission.
Working Conditions:
Exposure to body fluids, faeces, emptying bed pans/urinals, catheter bags (during patient
assessment, examination and treatment)
Exposure to verbal and physical aggression from patients and relatives on occasion
12. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
Essential
 1st level Registered Nurse with experience of working autonomously at a senior level in a
relevant specialist area of nursing practice (e.g. A&E, MIU, acute critical illness,
Unscheduled Care, Health Centre, PCEC).

Successful completion of accredited courses:
o Acute Illness Course (6 month course SCQF Level 9) or Advanced Clinical
Examination Course (including Minor Illness component) (12 month course at SCQF
Level 10)
o Nurse independent/ supplementary prescribing course (6 month course at SCQF
Level 9)
o Advanced Life Saver provider
As the post holder will work autonomously providing a comprehensive, holistic assessment and
an appropriate diagnosis for patients within Forth Valley, they will be a highly skilled and
knowledgeable clinician and be able to demonstrate evidence of:
 Advanced clinical problem solving and decision making skills
 Advanced personal and interpersonal communication and organisational skills
 Time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload and work
well under pressure
 Clinical leadership skills
 IT skills
Desirable
Recognition and Management of Acutely unwell Adult (SCQF Level 10)
Knowledge of national and local initiatives including management of unscheduled care, National
Patient Safety Programme and HEI.
13. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT – As this is a bank staff job description signature is
not relevant