ENROLLED NURSE/NURSE ASSISTANT POSITION
DESCRIPTION
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD VISION AND
VALUES
Working together to promote wellness and independence
Integrity
Being honest and treating all people with respect and dignity, valuing individual and cultural
differences and diversity.
Professionalism
Acting with integrity and embracing the highest ethical standards and excellence.
Innovation
Constantly seeking and striving for new ideas and solutions.
Teamwork
Achieving success by working together and valuing each other’s skills and contributions.
Responsibility
Using and developing our capabilities to achieve outstanding results and taking accountability for our
individual and collective actions.
Our Values define the expected behaviour of all staff and remind us of what behaviours are important
to us as an organisation. They underpin the way we do things at Southern DHB.
POSITION PURPOSE AND MAIN OBJECTIVES
The enrolled nurse/nurse assistant carries out client/patient assessments and manages client/patient
care. This care is responsive to clients’ needs whilst working under the direction of a registered nurse.
An enrolled nurse/nurse assistant is professionally accountable to the Chief Nursing Officer and
contractually responsible to the line manager. Out-of-hours responsibility is to the Duty Coordinators.
Ultimately the enrolled nurse/nurse assistant is legally accountable for their actions and to practice
within their defined scope of practice. This scope of practice clearly outlines that enrolled nurses work
under the delegation and direction of the registered nurse.
It is expected the enrolled nurse/nurse assistant maintain a standard of practice and behaviour
consistent with professional bodies’ expectations and that they work within legislative boundaries.
Along with the Southern District Health Board’s vision and values the enrolled nurse/nurse assistant
will adhere to the Nursing Council of New Zealand Code of Conduct for Nurses (2005), Southern
District Health Board Code of Conduct and all Southern District Health Board policies and procedures
(available on Midas).
WORKPLACE CONTRIBUTION
Treaty of Waitangi
The Southern District Health Board is committed
to its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi.
All employees are required to give effect to the
principles of the Treaty of Waitangi - Partnership,
Participation and Protection.
Health and Safety
Southern District Health Board is committed to
achieving the highest level of health and safety for
its staff. All employees are expected to take
initiative, identify report and resolve issues that
may cause harm to themselves or others in the
organization. An employee of Southern District
Health Board is responsible for their own health and
safety as well as that of client/patients and
colleagues. Individuals are expected to work safely
at all times, and to actively participate in health and
safety programmes. It is expected that employees
will report all accidents or potential hazards to their
line manager.
Quality and Risk
Southern District Health Board is committed to
the concept of quality improvement. All
employees are required to actively participate in
quality improvement and risk management. Both
at a professional and service level.
Teamwork
Enrolled nurses/nurse assistants are employed by
the Southern District Health Board, which means
they may be required to work in any area of the
DHB where there is a need, and the work
involved is within each nurse’s scope of practice.
Enrolled nurses/nurse assistants are also required
to participate in quality and risk programmes as
an integral part of the position.
All enrolled nurses/nurse assistants are expected
to be a co-operative team member who actively
contributes to team goals and meetings.
It is also expected that each nurse will challenge
and contribute in a positive manner.
Leadership
Leadership is a key competency for all nurses,
therefore it is important that they readily share
knowledge, skills and provide guidance and
coaching to new staff, less experienced nurses and
students.
All enrolled nurses/nurse assistants will be selfmotivated, and consider the wider impact of their
decisions and actions.
A Collaborative Model of Nursing Care has been
implemented at Dunedin and Wakari Hospitals to
ensure patients receive a high standard of nursing
care. Nurses working in these hospitals are to
adhere to the principles and processes of the
Model of Care.
Work and Professional Approach –
Under the Health Practitioners Competence
Assurance Act 2004, all registered nurses are
required to hold an Annual Practising Certificate.
This requires the enrolled nurse/nurse assistant to
be competent and fit to practice under a defined
scope of practise. If there are any limitations on
your scope of practice, alert the line manager
immediately.
As a nurse employed at the Southern DHB it is
important to maintain a positive approach to
clients/patients, colleagues and the organisation.
This attitude is to be role modelled to all people
during the course of a workday.
It is an organisational and professional
expectation that a professional portfolio is
maintained and there is active engagement in
mandatory annual performance appraisals.
RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to
Identified line manager
Internal Relationships
Client/patients/ Family/ Whanau/ Caregivers
Nursing staff
Clerical staff
Service Manager
Multidisciplinary team
Nurse Directors
DOMAINS OF COMPETENCE
Domain One:
Professional Responsibility
Supervision of
Nil
External Relationships
Services from the community
1.
-
Accepts responsibility for ensuring that
his/her nursing practice and conduct
meet the standards of the professional,
ethical and relevant legislated
requirements
-
-
2.
3.
4.
Demonstrates the ability to apply the
principles of the Treaty of Waitangi/ Te
Tiriti o Waitangi, to nursing practice
-
Recognises own scope of practice and
the registered nurse responsibility and
accountability for delegation of nursing
care
-
Demonstrates accountability and
responsibility within the health care team
when assisting or working under the
direction of the registered nurse
Understands the relevance of the Treaty to the
health of Maori in Aotearoa/ New Zealand
Applies the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o
Waitangi to nursing practice
-
Demonstrates knowledge of relevant
legislation pertaining to the delivery of
client/patient care
Ensures practice is within the scope of practice
and adheres to legislated requirements and
relevant policies and procedural guidelines
-
-
-
5.
Promotes an environment that enables
client/patient safety, independence,
quality of life and health
-
6.
Participates in ongoing professional and
educational development
-
-
7.
Practises nursing in a manner that the
client/patient determines as being
culturally safe
-
8.
Practises in a way that respects each
client’s dignity and right to hold personal
beliefs, values and goals
Accepts responsibility for actions and
decision making within scope of practice
Identifies breaches of law that occur in
practice and reports them to the registered
nurse/manager
Seeks clarification of legal implications of
policies and procedural guidelines from the
registered nurse
-
Understands the nurse assistant and the
enrolled nurse role and boundaries in relation
to the scopes of practice and within the
registered nurse’s delegation
Appropriately challenges practices that
compromise client/patient safety, privacy or
dignity
Identifies and reports situations that affect
client/patient or staff members’ health and
safety
Adjusts the physical and social environment
in order to maximise client/patient wellbeing
Maintains infection control principles
Performs basic first aid and emergency
procedures
Demonstrates an understanding of the role of
members of the health care team in achieving
health care outcomes
Seeks additional knowledge information
when presented with unfamiliar situations
Identifies learning needs through
consideration of practice in consultation with
colleagues
Maintains currency of own practice
Demonstrates an awareness of cultural safety
through effective relationships with clients
and their families and whanau
Reflects on own practice and values that
impact on cultural safety
Avoids imposing prejudice on others and
reports any occurrences of prejudice to the
registered nurse
- Supports the right of clients to maintain
independent lifestyles with dignity in their
own environment
Understands therapeutic relationships and
professional boundaries
Domain Two:
Management of Nursing Care
1.
Provides planned nursing care under the
direction of a registered nurse
-
2.
3.
Is accountable for ensuring that nursing
care provided to clients is within scope
of practice and own level of competence
-
Demonstrates practice that supports best
health outcomes for clients
-
-
-
4.
Ensures documentation is accurate and
maintains confidentiality of information
-
Assists the registered nurse in the planning of
care
Undertakes practice procedures and skills in a
competent and safe way
Administers interventions and medications
within legislation, scope of practice and
according to authorised prescription,
established policy and guidelines
Practises in accordance with nurse assistant
and the enrolled nurse/nurse assistantscopes
of practice
Assists clients to undertake activities of daily
living, such as nutrition, elimination,
hydration, mobility, social functioning and
personal hygiene
Assists the registered nurse to enhance the
ability of clients to achieve their health
potential
Communicates observations to the registered
nurse and appropriate members of the health
team
Assists with routine examinations and
routine diagnostic investigations
Prioritises and manages time
Undertakes observation, reporting, recording
and documentation of health status
Records information in a systematic way that
is in line with organisational guidelines and
procedures
Ensures written communication is
comprehensive, logical, legible, clear and
concise, using acceptable abbreviations
Maintains confidentiality of
documentation/records and interactions with
others
Domain Three:
Interpersonal Relationships
1.
Establishes, maintains and concludes
therapeutic interpersonal relationships
-
Communicates appropriately and effectively
Initiates, maintains and concludes
interpersonal interactions appropriately
Demonstrates respect, empathy and interest
in client
Establishes rapport and trust with the
client/patient
Domain Four:
Interprofessional Health Care and Quality Improvement
- Documents appropriate nursing information
1. Collaborates and participates with
and communicates this to the registered nurse
colleagues and members of the health
Collaborates with client/patient and other
care team to deliver care
health team members and relays information
to the registered nurse that will contribute to
the development of an individualised plan of
care
- Relays information to the registered nurse
2. Contributes to the evaluation of
that will contribute to the evaluation of
client/patient care
client/patient care
-
Contributes to discussion related to nursing
practice, systems of care planning and
quality improvement
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Work experience/Qualifications
Enrolled nurse/nurse assistant with current Annual Practising Certificate
Skills/Knowledge
Excellent communication skills
Demonstrated time management skills
Demonstrated ability to work within a team
Demonstrated competence with computers
Completed self learning packages required for the area within agreed timeframe with the line manager
and/or organisational policy
Tikaka Orientation assessment
Knowledge of adult teaching and learning principles
A reasonable level of fitness is required to cope with the demanding physical requirements of the job.
The following denote the key physical requirements for the job standing, walking, bending, sitting,
stairs, simple grasping, fine manipulation, operating machinery / equipment, lifting, overhead reaching,
carrying, pushing / pulling, twisting, climbing / balancing, crouching / squatting, manual handling of
people, other reaching, and ability to participate in personal restraint if required.