Respiratory Nurse Practitioner | Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The Liverpool Community Respiratory Team hosts the Acute Respiratory Infections Virtual Ward, delivering hospital admission avoidance and early supported discharge for patients with COPD exacerbations, bronchiectasis, community-acquired pneumonia, and viral lower respiratory tract infections. We also provide nurse-led respiratory optimisation in homes and clinics, following NICE and local guidelines. Medical leadership is supported by a Respiratory Consultant and two Advanced Clinical Practitioners, alongside a multidisciplinary team including a team leader, Band 6 and 7 specialist nurses, physiotherapists, an assistant practitioner, and admin staff.

This role involves assessing patients in two local hospitals for safe early discharge and delivering hospital-level care at home. Responsibilities include home visits to monitor health and treatment during exacerbations, holistic assessments, and optimisation of respiratory management. Strong communication skills and the ability to make autonomous clinical decisions at pace are essential. A commitment to audit, research, and understanding national and local respiratory priorities is required. The service operates 8am-8pm, seven days a week, across multiple community locations, so flexibility and mobility are vital.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative team improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital pressures. Clinical decision-making is required for this post. Therefore sound theoretical and practical knowledge relating to this speciality is required from a practitioner who strives to maintain clinical excellence. Practice autonomously and demonstrate evidence-based clinical decision making, within the hospital setting and patients' homes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis: Conduct full patient assessments (history, physical exams, spirometry, blood gases), analyse diagnostic tests (pathology, imaging) and determine suitable care settings (clinic, home, virtual).
• Care Planning & Delivery: Develop and implement personalised care plans (medication review, oxygen therapy, inhaler training), manage exacerbations in the community (COPD, pneumonia), and support early discharge schemes.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation & Self-management Support: Refer to pulmonary rehabilitation programmes; provide education on disease self-management, inhaler technique, smoking cessation, and prevention strategies.
• Virtual Ward & Telehealth Care: Participate in virtual models or ARI early supported discharge service, conducting remote patient monitoring and telephone triage.
• Education, Training & MDT Collaboration: Provide specialist advice to colleagues, train nursing and therapy staff, contribute to local guidelines, clinical audits, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Clinical Governance & Quality Assurance: Maintain comprehensive patient records, participate in national audits, monitor KPIs, and engage in service evaluation and research.
• End-of-Life Care & Advanced Care Planning: Collaborate with palliative care teams to deliver advance care planning and symptom management in advanced respiratory disease.

Essential Skills & Qualities:

• Clinical Expertise: In-depth understanding of respiratory pathophysiology, pharmacology, diagnostic interpretation (e.g. spirometry, arterial blood gases, chest imaging).
• Decision-Making & Autonomy: Ability to independently assess, triage, and manage complex cases in non-acute settings.
• Communication & Education: Strong communication with patients, carers, and MDT; proficient in conveying medical information clearly and supporting behavioural change.
• Interprofessional Collaboration: Works effectively within MDTs and fosters relationships across community, acute, and primary care sectors.
• Organisational Skills: Capable of managing a caseload across multiple delivery modes - home visits, virtual wards - while maintaining documentation and governance standards.
• Adaptability and Mobility: Willingness to travel across community sites, sometimes working as a lone practitioner within specified policies.
• Compassion & Patient-Centered Care: Values holistic approaches, supports long-term self-care, and demonstrates empathy – especially in chronic and palliative contexts.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.