Senior Staff Nurse (BAND 6) - MDU Kingston in Kingston upon Thames

Opportunity for Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse Medical Day Unit 9 (MDU) Kingston. The Royal Marsden is the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, one of the top ranked NHS Trusts in the country, recognised worldwide for the quality of our services. We believe it is only by having the very best nurses and helping them improve that we can deliver the highest standards of care to our patients.

You will need to be a 1st level registered nurse. Demonstrable post registration and experience in the administration of IV medications including chemotherapy is essential. IV cannulation and venepuncture are desirable, however full training will be given. In addition you will possess excellent oral and written communication skills, be a reliable, enthusiastic and effective team member, and be committed to providing the highest level of service to our patients. The successful candidate will demonstrate clinical leadership and sound decision making skills. This role will include involvement in the development of Nurse Led chemotherapy clinics.

Main duties of the job:

• To coordinate and supervise a shift, communicating effectively with members of a multidisciplinary team to deliver high quality, evidence led care to patients.
• To exercise clinical judgment and decision making about patient needs in terms of long term goals or plans.
• To participate fully in the day to day organisation and running of clinical trials including the recruitment, education and monitoring of patients entering a clinical trial and liaison as required with trial sponsors.
• To assume personal accountability for nursing care delivered to a patient in accordance with the NMC code of conduct.
• To promote a safe clinical environment for all patients, visitors and staff.
• To participate in Trust initiatives around infection control and care quality indicators.
• To assist with any local or trust initiatives to ensure the continuous improvement of the quality of services and safeguarding of high standards of care.
• To be aware of all hospital policies and procedures and collaborate with other health care professionals to ensure that these are observed.
• To help foster a supportive working environment and maintain staff morale.

Job responsibilities:

• To complete the first level assessment of patients with cancer and their families to gain an understanding of their physiological, psycho social, spiritual and cultural needs and to develop a positive, realistic and supportive attitude to ensure that these needs are met.
• Countercheck patients' vital signs, blood results, patient body surface area, chemotherapy prescription and consent before administration of treatment.
• Educate patients on their treatment such as indications and side effects.
• Ensure necessary medication and follow up appointments are obtained.
• Plan, document, deliver and evaluate care plans from admission through to discharge or transfer, discussing this with the patient, their family and multidisciplinary teams and alerting the Sister/Charge Nurse of any changes.
• Set goals for each of the identified nursing issues and encourage/teach other nursing staff to do the same.
• Help the patient achieve set goals through care planning.
• As a specialist cancer nurse, assess the educational and informational needs of the patient and family.
• Produce and use appropriate materials to ensure optimum understanding of nursing care and the likely outcome.
• Provide skilled care and expertise in venepuncture and/or cannulation.
• Assess patients for a suitable central venous access device.
• Provide education to patients on the care and management of central venous access devices and adopt a problem solving approach to managing complications with all vascular access devices.

Person Specification:

• NMC Registration
• Qualification in oncology or specialty
• Diploma or Degree level study (or equivalent)
• Recognised teaching qualification
• RMH Certificate in Intravenous Drug Administration or to be obtained within three months of appointment
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Experience:

• Experience in intravenous drug administration
• Sufficient post registration nursing experience in oncology or specialty to be confident and competent in using the required skills to do the job
• Experience in chemotherapy administration
• Experience in clinical management
• Evidence of relevant teaching experience
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical trials management

Skills, Ability & Knowledge:

• Experience in oncology or area of specialty
• Venepuncture and/or cannulation skills
• Computer Literacy (e.g. use of Microsoft Word and Outlook)
• Effective interpersonal skills with particular ability to liaise with multidisciplinary team members
• Working cooperatively in a team
• Self motivation (working with minimal supervision)
• Accuracy and reliability under pressure
• Decision making, organisation and prioritisation
• Commitment to customer care initiatives
• Knowledge and understanding of quality issues
• Ability to coordinate as shift/department
• Understanding of the NHS Plan and current NHS issues
• Flexibility to meet the needs of the service (e.g. shift work)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.