Specialist Respiratory Integrated Nurse/AHP in Plymouth

The Band 6 Staff Nurse within the Acute Respiratory Assessment Unit (ARAU) will provide high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to patients with acute and complex respiratory conditions. The postholder will act as a role model and clinical leader, supporting the Band 7 in the day-to-day management of the unit, supervision of junior staff, and co-ordination of patient care.

The role involves expert assessment, initiation and monitoring of treatment plans for patients presenting with respiratory failure, COPD exacerbations, asthma, pneumonia, and other acute respiratory presentations. The Band 6 nurse will support non-invasive ventilation (NIV), oxygen therapy, and contribute to early recognition of deterioration and escalation of care.

The post holder will liaise with the referring clinician, therapy Lead and will take responsibility to effectively assess, develop, implement, monitor and evaluate patient care. As part of the role, you will assist in the day-to-day management of the service, providing specialist nursing input to assist in a multi-disciplinary team approach. The post holder will assess and triage the suitability of referred patients for admission to the services and arrange seamless transfers between care settings. The Teams work on a flexible rota shift system. The service covers 8am-8pm, seven days a week.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver and coordinate safe, effective, and compassionate care to patients in the Acute Respiratory Assessment Unit.
• Undertake comprehensive respiratory assessments, including oxygen saturation monitoring, arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation, and lung auscultation.
• Initiate and titrate oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) as per protocol.
• Monitor patients for signs of deterioration and escalate promptly according to local escalation procedures.
• Support timely patient flow through admission, assessment, treatment, and discharge planning.
• Liaise effectively with the multidisciplinary team, including respiratory physicians, physiotherapists, and community services, to ensure seamless care transitions.
• Administer and monitor prescribed medications safely in line with Trust policy.

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment.

We recognise that work-life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Deliver specialist respiratory care within the Acute Respiratory Assessment Unit and/or community settings.
• Provide clinical assessments of patients with respiratory issues, including physical examination, ordering and interpreting investigations, and developing individualised patient-centred treatment plans.
• Willingness to work towards / act as an independent prescriber, initiating and adjusting treatment plans in line with clinical guidelines and capabilities.
• Support admission avoidance strategies and facilitate early supported discharge.
• Provide respiratory education, self-management plans, and personalised care planning for patients and their families.
• Support the coordination of patients within the ARAU and throughout their journey back into the community.
• Deliver evidence-based care, including non-pharmacological interventions such as pulmonary rehabilitation support, and oxygen management.
• Work in partnership with hospital teams, GPs, community services, and other allied health professionals to ensure continuity of care.
• Act as patients' advocate in raising concerns around health and social care when required.
• Ensure documentation is accurate and up to date, recording all activities and communications.
• Be responsible for and facilitate others in the knowledge and awareness of appropriate use of digital health/care solutions for patients with long-term conditions.
• Advise and support other staff in their planning of patient care.
• Provide support and advice to patients’ carers and relatives (with consent) on patients’ conditions and prognosis where appropriate.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team lead on service development initiatives and contribute to quality improvement projects.
• Communicate effectively with all staff across the MDT, community teams and patients.

Management and leadership

• Have ongoing responsibility and duty of care for patients, staff, self and others in all aspects of Health, Safety and Risk.
• Act as a role model, promoting good performance and practice.
• Report all incidents and near misses.
• Support team manager in investigations of incidents.
• Inform managers of any ongoing nursing/management issues affecting patient care or working capacity.
• Deputise for line manager in absence.
• Place the patient’s experience at the core of service delivery through implementation and continued monitoring of Essence of Care Standards, Patient Involvement & Experience Strategy and Patient Satisfaction Surveys.

Professional

• Work within the NMC code and or HCPC code of practice.
• Remain updated and competent and ensure that clinical practice is evidence-based.
• Have an up-to-date personal development plan and professional portfolio.
• Participate in an annual appraisal of their work in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) where the job description will be reviewed and objectives set.
• In line with the annual development plan, the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfil their role.

Education and training

• Support the team manager in providing and maintaining a learning environment and maximise opportunities for education and development in the clinical area to enhance individual development and performance in the delivery of high standards of care.
• Take responsibility for your own personal and professional development; maintain competence, knowledge and skills commensurate with role.
• Maintain attendance at mandatory and statutory training as per organisation guidelines.
• Integrate theory into practice by bringing new knowledge around acute care from training into the practice environment.
• Act as a mentor for students and fulfil requirements of a practice placement.
• Facilitate induction for new members of the team.
• Act as a link nurse for speciality to enhance team education.

Research

• Actively participate in audit and research as directed by the Team Lead.
• Collect, collate and evaluate a range of information to support clinical and service audit.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, databases and specialist reporting in accordance with organisation policy and professional guidance.
• Support the team manager in working towards the achievement of specific performance targets related to the team.

Communications & Working Relationships

• Use a high level of communication skills on a daily basis with patients, carers and relatives to encourage concordance with care planning and agreed outcomes.
• Use a high level of communication/negotiation skills on a daily basis with other health and social care professionals.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Post registration experience in respiratory nursing across acute and/or community settings.
• Understanding of Clinical Governance.
• Proven ability to work autonomously and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in managing long-term conditions such as COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis.
• Understanding of integrated care models and admission prevention strategies.
• Clinical and/or line management experience.
• Knowledge of Oxygen assessments.
• Knowledge of Secondary & Primary Care Sector.
• Willingness to undertake respiratory management including ability to undertake ABGs, spirometry, FENO.
• Understanding or previous involvement in early supported discharge, or admission avoidance pathways.

Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse (Adult) or HCPC Registered Paramedic.
• Recognised teaching or mentorship qualification.
• Degree (or working towards) in healthcare.
• Completion of or working towards completion of respiratory assessment module/s, for example: Diploma module in asthma / Diploma module in COPD.
• Non-medical prescribing (or willingness to work towards).
• Highly effective communication skills – verbally and written to staff, patients and relatives, including in situations of conflict or distress.
• Information technology skills.
• The ability to work well in a busy environment.
• Ability to lead and have clinical management skills.
• Ability to act as facilitator, mentor and supervisor to colleagues/students.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to discuss complex patient care with senior clinicians.
• Able to assist on and implement improvements to the quality and efficiency of care for patients in department.