Staff Nurse

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

This job description outlines the core requirements expected of a Band 5 nurse. As such the list below is not exhaustive. Specific requirements related to any specialist area of practice will be outlined with the prospective post holder and included as an addition to these generic descriptors as role specific prior to employment. 

Patient Care

• Demonstrate and promote a patient and family centred style of clinical practice.
• Be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care from admission to discharge.
• Accurately document and report to other members of the nursing team and multi-disciplinary team information regarding the care given to patients, communicating changes as they occur.
• Respond to emergency situations with composure, maintaining patient safety and seeking immediate support, and supporting the patient, family and other staff as required.
• Identify and discuss patient needs with the team/staff, patients, carers and the multi-disciplinary team. Be able to plan own workload.
• Demonstrate a problem solving approach to effectively execute planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised plans of care based on a holistic model of care.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers and other staff, overcoming barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events
• Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality at all times.

Professional Practice

• Ensure clinical practice is evidence based or peer reviewed “best practice”.
• Develop and maintain clinical skills and knowledge necessary to provide holistic, evidence based nursing care.
• With supervision and assistance, take on increased responsibility (for example being a named nurse), recognising own limitations and seeking help appropriately.
• As negotiated with Sister/Charge Nurse set and maintain standards of practice, conduct and decision making.
• Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust IT systems including the use of electronic patient records, (EPR) , email and associated professional media ensuring that data is entered in an accurate and timely fashion, in accordance with Trust policy and procedure.
• Engage in and promote a paper light approach to information management.
• Maintain regular use of email and other modes of communication in order to keep abreast of information disseminated across the Trust
• Adhere to the NMC Code at all times and practice within the NMC Scope of Professional practice, maintaining patient confidentiality at all times.
• Adhere to the Data Protection Act.
• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of Accountability, Responsibility and Duty of Care and work towards the provision of support and education for less experienced and non-registered staff on the implications for practice.

Leadership and Management

• Undertake the responsibilities associated with being the Team Co-ordinator (in rotation with other staff) to manage allocated resources effectively and efficiently. This includes inputting into electronic patient acuity and dependency and safe staffing tools on a daily basis
• Ensure that prescribed treatments and plans are in the patient’s best interests and are carried out as appropriate, and that multidisciplinary team members are informed of changes in the patient’s condition.
• Ensure compliance with the Health and Social Care Act regulations 2010 by adhering to the Care Quality Commission standards at all times raising concerns to Sister/charge Nurse or an appropriate senior person.
• Contribute toward projects and audits being undertaken in the department, as directed by Ward Manager or deputies.
• Ensure the appropriate management of clinical and general waste and that staffing resources are used appropriately when prescribing and implementing care and treatments.
• Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors as detailed in departmental and Trust protocols and procedures, assist the Sister / Charge Nurse Manager in investigating incidents as required. Be proactive in seeking a response to the issues raised in order to disseminate the actions identified and provide own account of events if asked to support an investigation.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and compliance with Health and Safety Regulations that apply to staff and patients. To escalate concerns to senior staff in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Be familiar with the Oxford Model of Exemplary Nursing and Midwifery Practice and ensure that key performance indicators are met.
• Maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with team leaders/ward manager/unit co-ordinator.
• Discuss personal and professional development needs during an annual appraisal, developing, agreeing and documenting action points in the electronic recording and personal development plan.
• Ensure that a smart, professional image that enhances the public perception of the Trust and the professionalism of its staff is portrayed.

Education and Training

 

• Be actively involved in, and support departmental education programmes.
• Complete or be working towards any local and Trust competency frameworks within a time frame agreed with the Sister/ Charge Nurse and with the support of a named mentor.
• Take all opportunities to contribute to the education and practical training of learners and less experienced staff in order to provide uniformity and promotion of professional standards.
• Develop the skills to supervise, mentor, support and educate less experienced and non-registered staff in the clinical practice setting
• Undertake all relevant Statutory and Mandatory (SME) training using the Trust E-Learning packages and study opportunities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to research based practice and clinical excellence and play an active part in the introduction of research-based change to improve patient centred care.
• Undertake the responsibilities of a mentor participating in induction and orientation programmes, guiding practice, assessing competence, enabling and supporting learning.

 

Improving Quality and Developing Practice

 

• Comply with PREP (in full) requirements for NMC Revalidation, identifying own learning needs and ensuring own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments.
• Demonstrate a commitment to evidence based practice and clinical excellence. Using these skills works collegiately to promote innovation and work within the nursing team in the provision of an excellent standard of patient care in line with Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) values and The Oxford Model of Exemplary Nursing and Midwifery Practice.
• Develop and share own clinical knowledge with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and as relevant with practitioners both locally and nationally.
• Act as a role model for the nursing/midwifery team promoting consistent professional and clinical excellence.
• Provide support to less experienced staff.
• Engage in Clinical Supervision in order to gain an appreciation of its value in clinical practice.
• Identify own development needs, aligning these to service requirements and personal aspirations. Proactively develop and improve own practice using all available resources.
• Understand and contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/protocols/guidelines relevant to the specialist area.
• Participate in the OUH culture of audit and research in practice
• Keep up to date with professional issues that influence nursing practice relating to the area of clinical practice, management education and research.
• Promote and practice, evidence based nursing care, embracing new ideas and changes for the benefit of patient care.
• Openly question and challenge nursing practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.