Registered Nurse - Community Palliative Care

Overview

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational and Clinical Practice

• To give skilled nursing care, based on principles of best practice and clinical evidence. This includes end of life care, chronic disease management, symptom control management and continence promotion.
• Specific skills include administration of medication via syringe drivers and intravenous therapy, PEG management, and urinary catheterisation.

Responsibilities

• Under supervision of the Team Lead take continued responsibility for the holistic health needs assessment including care planning, evaluation and appropriate implementation of care and ensuring continuity following referral from acute care, GPs and other agencies.
• Undertake comprehensive assessment of the physical, psychological and social care needs of patients including the needs of the patients' loved ones and carers.
• Provide individualised and person-centred care plans that provide monitoring and promotion of self-care to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Act as the patients' advocate and facilitate the patients' own choices with regard to nursing care, promoting informed patient preferences.
• Provide information and support to patients and their loved ones at end of life, ensuring they are helped with the practical, emotional and financial impacts of supporting someone who is dying.
• Advise patients and their loved ones and support them in times of stressful and emotional events which are frequently emotionally demanding to the nurse and demanding on their time.
• Be alert to the needs of vulnerable adults including risk assessment and taking appropriate action when required.
• Support patients and their carers with managing their medicines and undertaking medicines management reviews as directed.
• When appropriate, teach and support carers to give subcutaneous medications.
• Provide care to people with long term conditions undertaking reviews in accordance with the individual patient care plan and with support of more experienced colleagues as required.
• Organise and prioritise own work without direct supervision, reporting any issues, concerns or personal limitations to the Team Lead.
• Participate in the supervision and co-ordination of the work of junior staff on a day to day basis and in the absence of the Team Lead.
• Be responsible for the care and safe keeping of equipment issued for personal and team use and report any defect or loss.
• Ensure you apply inclusive practice considering the individual needs of patients, their loved ones and colleagues.
• Ensure the safe handling of body fluids and contaminated sharps.

Administration

• Identify and record new problems and other relevant information reporting back to the Team Lead as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous records in accordance with St Wilfrids Hospice and NMC guidelines.
• Where appropriate initiate referrals, to ensure adequate care and support to patients and their loved ones.
• Take appropriate action in regard to any accident or incident to patient, staff or visitor within the scope of the post holder's responsibility and in line with St Wilfrids Hospice guidelines.

Communication and Team Work

• Have knowledge of, and be able to effectively use local services and resources to promote patient care, for example specialist services such as NRS Healthcare.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with patients, carers and the multi-disciplinary team in order to facilitate patient choice and independence.
• Effectively communicate complex and sensitive patient information to colleagues within the primary healthcare team and to multi-disciplinary team members involved with patient care.
• Maintain positive and effective communication and working relationships with patients, their loved ones and all other professionals to enhance a dignified and high standard of care provision.
• At all times have an awareness of potential barriers to communication and an understanding of how to overcome these barriers to ensure effective communication occurs, maintaining equity of service provision.
• Communicate effectively through IT systems.
• Attend and participate in team, Locality and other relevant meetings.
• Be a member of working parties and groups considering aspects of the service and professional practice as required.

Continuing Professional Development

• Develop and utilise specialist nursing skills such as syringe driver set up, palliative care, continence assessment, and intravenous drug administration.
• Participate in service development activities, identifying areas for improvement as appropriate.