Nursery Nurse- SCBU/Transitional Care/Post Natal

Nursery Nurse – SCBU / Transitional Care / Post Natal

Closing date: 07 May 2026

We are looking for dedicated Nursery Nurses to join our brand‑new purpose‑built unit. The post holder will deliver high‑quality neonatal care to infants requiring transitional care, special care, and post‑natal support, working under the supervision of a registered nurse/midwife within a holistic, family‑centred model of practice.

Main duties of the job

• Provide individual patient care under the supervision of a trained nurse.
• Implement and evaluate the agreed plan of care, reviewing and updating it as needed.
• Assess and monitor infant hygiene, nutrition, thermoregulation and vital signs.
• Carry out daily checks and cleaning of specialised feeding equipment.
• Prepare and record infants’ feeds, including management of naso‑oedema gastric tube feeding.
• Support and assist mothers with breastfeeding, expressing and education.
• Maintain cleanliness and temperature compliance of milk fridges and freezers.
• Care for stable infants on low‑flow oxygen and monitor observations.
• Provide care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
• Report changes in infant condition to appropriate staff and implement care changes.
• Participate in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Ensure the nursery is adequately stocked and resources are managed.
• Advocate for infants, liaise with parents and report nursing or social issues to registered nurses.
• Work collaboratively with midwives in transitional care.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child protection legislation and participate in social care meetings.
• Engage carers in planning and care delivery, facilitating a smooth transfer of care.
• Teach parent craft education in preparation for discharge to home.
• Undertake parent IBLS training.
• Maintain accurate patient records and uphold confidentiality.
• Assist in transferring infants to other wards or the community.
• Accept guidance and supervision from senior nursing staff for professional development.
• Ensure a high degree of safety at all times.

Education and Training

• Complete the Transitional Care training programme.
• Engage in personal development review plan and practical application of knowledge.
• Share knowledge, skills and attitudes within the team.
• Stay updated with changing practices and attend mandatory training and updates.
• Participate in research and contribute to evidence‑based care guidelines.

Communication

• Liaise and negotiate effectively with all professional disciplines and ancillary departments.
• Attend and contribute to staff meetings.
• Provide concise verbal accounts of child care to the nurse in charge.

Legal and Professional Requirements

• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Know unit/hospital emergency procedures.
• Notify any difficulties arising from patient treatment or accidents.
• Assist in completing relevant forms.
• Keep updated on local policies: health & safety, data protection, disciplinary and grievance procedures, complaints, uniform, security, leave, equality, IPR.
• Use and store equipment safely.
• Share knowledge of infant care with other staff.
• Continuous improvement through private and organised study days.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ 3 or equivalent qualification in early years child care or related field.
• Recent and relevant evidence of practice.
• Basic Life Support certification.
• NNEB Advanced Practice qualification.

Communication Skills

• Ability to work and communicate with a multidisciplinary team.
• Legible, accurate and concise handwriting and IT skills.
• Knowledge of SBAR communication.

Experience

• Experience caring for newborn infants.
• Recognition of healthy and deteriorating babies.
• Recent experience of newborn care in a hospital setting.

Skills

• Ability to assess situations, identify risks and act appropriately.
• Parent craft teaching experience.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.