Band 5 Staff Nurse Emergency Department in Bedford

The post holder will work as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering high-quality care to patients presenting with acute illness or injury in the Emergency Department, in line with their scope of practice. They will also participate in a structured training programme to develop the skills and competencies required to undertake the role of an Emergency Department Nurse.

Main duties of the job:

• Demonstrate empathy and compassion when caring for individuals experiencing bereavement or supporting relatives of critically ill patients.
• Assess nursing needs and plan, implement, and evaluate appropriate care, using clinical observations, patient assessment, medical requirements, and working in partnership with patients and their families.
• Carry out essential treatments and procedures, including dressings, wound closure, personal care (washing and toileting), and assisting with patient transfers in wheelchairs, on trolleys, or in beds throughout the department and hospital.
• Support patient mobility as part of routine duties.
• Coordinate discharge planning in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to ensure safe and effective patient transitions.
• Maintain a calm, professional, and non-judgemental approach when caring for patients or relatives who may be distressed, aggressive, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, experiencing mental health challenges, or presenting with poor personal hygiene or infestations.
• Manage frequent exposure to distressing or unpleasant situations, including major wounds, bleeding, emaciation, and bodily fluids.
• Organise and prioritise workload effectively in a busy, noisy environment with frequent interruptions and rapidly changing demands.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities:

• Maintain clinical competence in the use of medical devices used within the department and clinical procedures such as administration of injections.
• Ensure that the National Service Framework for Paediatric Services is adhered to and that Child Protection Policies are followed.
• Responsible for ensuring that all accidents/incidents are reported to the appropriate Manager and reported via the inphase reporting system. All employees are required & expected to participate in the Trusts accident/incident reporting system and to comply with the Trusts procedures and techniques for managing risks.
• Maintain and share up-to-date knowledge of current research relevant to emergency care.
• Responsible for regular cleaning of equipment, reporting faults to shift manager and removing defective equipment from use. This includes participation in daily checking and cleaning or equipment/drugs as per department quality book.
• Take responsibility for the safe storage of patients' valuables and property whilst in the A&E department in line with trust policy.
• It is mandated that all registered healthcare professionals nursing included, are compliant with new SSSA standards for pre registrants as practice supervisors as a bare minimum moving on to also becoming practice assessors after 12 months in the department.
• To support education, training and development of self and others in the emergency department and actively encourage to share learning and best practices in Emergency Medicine.
• To ensure you remain up to date on all core and advanced mandatory training as required for your role and area of work.
• Assist, in conjunction with the Emergency Department Matron, the Practice Development Nurse and Heads of Nursing for Emergency and Acute Care directorate, to continue to develop and set standards of care, taking into account relevant published National Guidelines and research.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: Current registration as a registered Nurse (adult Nursing) on the United Kingdom NMC register, PILS/ ILS/ SSSA/ MSPP/ ENB 998.
• Experience: Evidence of professional development, Experience of research based nursing practice, Mentoring and supporting Students.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of clinical governance, Understanding of ED performance targets, Ability to prioritise workload, Able to work in a multidisciplinary team, Ability to adapt to change.
• Personal Skills: Reliable, Adaptable, Dependable & Punctual, Team focussed, Creative and Flexible, Enthusiastic and self-aware, Open/Reflective/Warm.

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.

Address: Emergency Department, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Bedford Site)