Osteoporosis Specialist Nurse

Overview

The Osteoporosis Service is part of the Rheumatology department. The service is primarily nurse led, with oversight from two Rheumatology consultants and supported by secretarial staff.

To provide diagnostic and management clinics for patients being referred to the Osteoporosis service. To provide education, advice and support to patients and health professionals in the management of bone health. To assess bone density by use of a bone density scanner (DXA scan).

Working for our organisation

Our Specialist Nurses carry out Osteoporosis Management clinics at Torbay Hospital and Paignton HWBC both in person and on the telephone. We have regular MDT meetings for discussion of complex patients. DXA scans are also carried out at Paignton HWBC by Specialist Nurses who have been trained in this role.

Responsibilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to ensure that correspondence is of a high standard.
• Maintain effective communication with a range of people across all levels, both within and outside the organisation.
• To liaise and work collaboratively with colleagues within the department.
• Deliver information to patients in an appropriate format at a level understood by the patient.
• Ability to take a medical history and decide with the patient on the most appropriate course of action/treatment for their bone health in a clinic situation.
• Recognise when a condition is outside of the scope of the role/knowledge/experience and seek appropriate advice.
• To ensure DXA scans are acquired to a high standard to allow appropriate diagnostic reporting of bone density results.
• To analyse bone density examinations using manufacturer specific software or in-house analysis techniques according to departmental protocols or as instructed.
• Undertake independent Osteoporosis Management Clinics.
• Prioritise and adapt approach to situations as they arise.
• Undertake unsupervised and be accountable for, bone density scans of patients and maintain the highest possible standard of radiography.
• Able to exercise initiative and act with autonomy when dealing with issues within own specialist areas of competence.
• Be able to travel between Torbay Hospital and Paignton Health and Wellbeing Centre.
• Assist patients onto and off the scanner bed.
• Regular need to move and position patients when performing bone density scans as a single operator.

Qualifications and skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to ensure that correspondence is of a high standard.
• Maintain effective communication with a range of people across all levels, both within and outside the organisation.
• To liaise and work collaboratively with colleagues within the department.
• Deliver information to patients in an appropriate format at a level understood by the patient.
• Ability to take a medical history and decide with the patient on the most appropriate course of action/treatment for their bone health in a clinic situation.
• Recognise when a condition is outside of the scope of the role/knowledge/experience and seek appropriate advice.
• To ensure DXA scans are acquired to a high standard to allow appropriate diagnostic reporting of bone density results.
• To analyse bone density examinations using manufacturer specific software or in-house analysis techniques according to departmental protocols or as instructed.
• Undertake independent Osteoporosis Management Clinics.
• Prioritise and adapt approach to situations as they arise.
• Undertake unsupervised and be accountable for, bone density scans of patients and maintain the highest possible standard of radiography.
• Able to exercise initiative and act with autonomy when dealing with issues within own specialist areas of competence.
• Be able to travel between Torbay Hospital and Paignton Health and Wellbeing Centre.
• Assist patients onto and off the scanner bed.
• Regular need to move and position patients when performing bone density scans as a single operator.

Other information

You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.

If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a \’Staff Carers\’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer\’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
• Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
• Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role. Step into Health guidance can be found on our NHS Employers website.
• Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you check your email and Trac account regularly.
• Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band.
• If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
• It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.

The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity. No person (staff, patient or public) will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.