Emergency Nurse/Paramedic Practitioner

We are looking for a nurse or paramedic practitioner who is currently undertaking some autonomous practice and is keen to expand their skills within our Emergency Department.

We are seeking a qualified nurse/paramedic practitioner to work predominantly in the Minors area of the Emergency department within Torbay Hospital and at times across the Minor Injury Units/ Urgent Treatment Centre within Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. This will encompass the ability to autonomously assess, examine, diagnose, treat and discharge patients presenting with minor injuries and illnesses within the parameters of the Trust's agreed protocols and guidelines and to make independent referrals to other professionals as necessary.

A Developmental post may be considered for candidates who have Emergency care experience or who have undertaken university training in advance practice in urgent and emergency care or minor injuries and illnesses.

Your duties and responsibilities will be undertaken on a shift and rotation basis covering our opening hours 7 days a week, 365 days of the year:

• To provide assessment, treatment management and discharge of adults and children attending the Emergency Department and minor injuries units.
• Referral of patients to senior clinicians or interdependent departments promoting professional working relationships.
• Actively identify and report any clinical risks.
• Identify educational needs of self and proactively meet these needs.
• Assess, treat and diagnose patients using nationally recognized tools, for example NEWS2 / sepsis screening.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner using competencies including Patient Group Directives.
• Make clinical decisions using evidence based knowledge.
• Offer health advice and promotion to patients and their families including education on self-management.
• Actively participate in any departmental audit both on national and local basis.
• Undertake 'link' role attending relevant meetings and sharing learning with wider team to influence and promote best practice.

The minors' team employs its own assistant practitioners with good minor injuries expertise. The team is led by a lead practitioner who in turn reports to the ED Matron. The team is responsible for the care group of minor illnesses and injuries between the hours of 0800 to 0200 although this is subject to change.

The working pattern is all days of the week working a mixture of 0800-2030, 0930-2200, 1130-0000 and 1330-0200 shifts with the 0930-2200 and 1130-0000 being the priority. The team work very closely with the medical team, community services including MIU's and UTC's, GP's and the speciality teams within the hospital.