Senior Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

STRATEGIC

• The post holder is required to deliver an advanced level of clinical practice within the field of neonatal care working on the tier 2 level of the medical rota.
• Working within agreed protocols and guidelines, the Senior ANNP exercises independent judgement to assess, investigate, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate the clinical care and management of premature and sick babies and their families in conjunction with the neonatal MDT.
• Supervising those on the tier 1 rota and new to tier 2 rota medics.
• Support the education and development of both nursing and medical colleagues.
• Allocate dedicated time to pursue and enhance an area of special interest within the scope of the role.
• Lead in reviewing cases following the PSIRF process and completion of investigations using the inPhase system.
• Work closely with the medical and nursing teams to ensure that learning following incidents is disseminated to the entire team.
• Support weekly multidisciplinary risk meetings to ensure incidents are reviewed and information is disseminated in a timely manner.

OPERATIONAL

• Provide specialised clinical care at an advanced level to neonates and families, making autonomous diagnosis and management decisions about patient care, utilising advanced skills and knowledge.
• Act as an educator, specialised clinician and auditor.
• Provide specialised advice and support within the neonatal sphere by supervising and coaching resident doctors and nursing staff.
• Participate in the formulation and updating of Neonatal guidelines.
• Demonstrate and maintain advanced new-born life support resuscitation skills by acting as a member of the neonatal resuscitation team, taking lead role as required.
• Advise resident medical staff, midwifery/nursing staff, medical, nursing and midwifery students acting as an educational resource ensuring that evidence based practice is promoted.
• Establish interchanging roles with resident medical staff on a regular, planned basis by working in partnership to ensure neonates receive the most appropriate specialist care.
• Where applicable, participate in the safe transfer of Neonates.
• Participate in meetings at Unit, Directorate and Senior Management Level at the request and on behalf of the Neonatal Management team.
• Provide specialist advice to the multidisciplinary team.
• Support mother/families with complex health or social issues which may impact on the neonate's care and make appropriate safeguarding referrals as appropriate.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Utilise highly specialised clinical and theoretical knowledge to undertake a comprehensive health history and examination of any neonate in order to diagnose and treat the neonate (including the prescription of drugs as necessary).
• Attend high risk deliveries and perform resuscitation/advanced resuscitation of the new-born infant.
• Participate and lead in the management and continuity of care for babies requiring intensive care, high dependency, special care, transitional care and postnatal care.
• Manage ventilator support for babies requiring intensive care.
• Participate on/or lead ward rounds, evaluating the setting in which the care is given, liaising with medical and nursing staff and making recommendations plans of care to facilitate a family centred patient focus concept.
• As an autonomous practitioner using specialist skills, perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Respond to emergency situations and initiate appropriate management within agreed protocols, utilising clinical judgement, decision making and analytical skills.
• Working under the guidance/supervision of Consultant Neonatologist/Paediatrician, develop patient management plans for a case load of babies.
• Participate/lead on wards rounds, evaluating the setting in which the care is given, liaising with the medical and nursing staff, making recommendations for change and evaluating outcomes to improve infant and family care.
• Regularly weigh up differential diagnosis and the potential range of treatment options.
• Use specialised clinical and theoretical knowledge to assess the immediate health status of the neonate.
• Review identified/perceived problems, analyse complex information and take responsibility for decisions made ensuring that the care provided to all neonates is safe and effective.
• Plan medical treatment for babies including calculating, prescribing, administering and evaluating the effects of drug and fluid therapies in accordance with local policies.
• Undertake daily assessment of the neonates admitted to the unit with other colleagues, including nursing and medical.
• Lead discharge planning; produce discharge summaries and liaise with general practitioners and other members of the multidisciplinary team when appropriate.
• Perform discharge examinations and request follow-up appointments as required.
• Initiate and authorise blood transfusions and volume expanders as clinically indicated, in accordance with local policies.
• Order and interpret x-rays and diagnostic investigations to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment of the neonate.
• Act on results and develop management plans.
• Participate in the stabilisation, transfer and admission of the extremely ill neonate to or from the neonatal unit.
• Ensure that parents are aware of their baby's condition and provide complex communications and support to parents.
• Participate in palliative care for neonates, leading to a pain free, dignified ending to life.
• Provide intensive support, advice and care for families of neonates who are receiving terminal care.
• Co-ordinate referral to other services, e.g. physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietician, surgeon, cardiologist or any other service which is vital to the appropriate care of the neonate.
• Contribute to health promotion activity, raising awareness of health and well-being to promote healthy lifestyle choices for the benefit of neonates and their families.
• Undertake parental counselling of families facing possible preterm birth.

Non-Medical Prescribing

• As an independent nurse prescriber, initiate drug therapy and intravenous fluids, including parenteral nutrition and blood and/or volume expanders.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse Adult, or Registered Nurse Child, or Registered Midwife, on live NMC register part 1 and/or 2.
• Neonatal Qualified in Speciality.
• Qualified ANNP at masters level.
• Non-medical prescriber.
• Completion of all competencies required to work on a tier two medical rota in a NICU.

Experience

• Significant experience as an ANNP on tier 1 medical rota in a tertiary NICU.
• Experience of neonatal outpatient clinics and patient management in outpatients.
• Robust and up to date clinical knowledge.
• Aware of current neonatal research.

Knowledge

• Robust and up to date clinical knowledge.
• Aware of current neonatal research.
• Awareness of Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults framework.

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the-art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.