Band 5 Cardiac Specialist Nurse | Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Sutton Coldfield

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dedicated and motivated registered nurse to work within the Cardiac Services of BCHC. Under the direction of senior registered professionals, you will be required to work multi-professionally as part of the Cardiac Service providing care for individuals requiring management of their Heart Failure. You will be required to support patients within their own homes, community clinics, and virtual clinics. You will be expected to deliver and maintain a high standard of clinical care and education.

You will also be required to have good communication and computer skills, and are able to utilise excellent time management and organisational skills. You will ensure that clinical observations are recorded accurately and in a timely manner and will keep team members fully informed at all times. The successful applicant will be required to work 28 hours per week across all commissioned localities where required. Consideration will be given to flexible working hours that meet the needs of the service.

Main Duties

Professional

• To participate in the implementation and monitoring of the Trust’s clinical and operational guidelines and policies.
• Be aware of, and act in accordance with, the Trust’s Organisational and Clinical Guidelines and Policies.
• To be aware of, and act in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and other professional Guidelines.
• Maintain appropriate and up-to-date knowledge and skills by undertaking continuing education in accordance with personal and service needs.
• To be responsible for own professional development through active learning and reflective practice.
• Apply a problem-solving approach to practice, seeking resolution to problems with an awareness of own personal limitations of knowledge and practice.
• Maintain high professional standards acting as a positive role model for the profession and service.
• To be courteous and respectful to patients and colleagues including adhering to a dress code appropriate to the work situation.

Clinical

• To give skilled nursing care, based on principles of best practice and clinical evidence.
• This includes chronic disease management, palliative care, specific skills include phlebotomy and recording electrocardiograms, with the identification of abnormalities and escalation to a senior Heart failure specialist nurse.
• Responsibility for the holistic health needs assessment including care planning, evaluation and appropriate implementation of health care and ensuring continuity of care following referral from acute care, rehabilitation units, GPs and other agencies.
• Undertake comprehensive assessment of the physical, psychological and social care needs of patients using the Single Assessment Process and including the needs of carers.
• To provide individualised and person-centred care plans under the supervision of a Heart failure Specialist nurse that provide monitoring and promotion of self-care to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Act as the patient’s advocate and to facilitate the patient’s own choices regarding nursing care, promoting independence and self-care, as appropriate.
• To identify and record new problems and other relevant information reporting back to the team as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous records in accordance with Trust and NMC Guidelines.
• Liaise with, and where appropriate initiate referrals, to ensure adequate care and support to patients and carers.
• To provide information and support to patients, relatives and other carers that promotes and optimises positive health.
• To have knowledge of and be able to effectively use local services and resources to promote patient care.
• To ensure the safe handling of body fluids and contaminated sharps.
• Be alert to the needs of vulnerable adults including risk assessment and taking appropriate action when required.
• To develop and utilise specialist nursing skills such as physical assessment of a Heart Failure patient and palliative care.
• Support patients and their carers with managing their medicines and undertaking medicines management reviews as directed.
• To provide care to people with Heart Failure undertaking reviews in accordance with the individual patient care plan and with support of more experienced colleagues as required.