Skull Base Specialist Nurse

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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, by demonstrating a collaborative approach through effective communication and decision making between the multi-professional team, patients and significant others
• Ensure the safe custody and administration of drugs according to the Trust policy. Ensure patients and relatives are taught the correct method of administration, where appropriate
• 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. Also 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 and those of others as required
• Demonstrate a problem solving approach to effectively execute planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised plans of care based on a person centred 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 person centred, evidence based nursing care
• Lead in a specific area of advanced nursing practice, as agreed, making recommendations, coordinating projects and developing practice guidelines and policies based upon robust evidence gained from risk assessment, audit and literature review
• As negotiated with the clinical lead for the service set and maintain standards of practice, conduct and decision making
• Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust information technology ( 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 the use of email and other modes of communication in order to keep abreast of information disseminated across the Trust
• 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

Role Specific Requirements

• To provide specialist nursing care to all patients attending for Skullbase care within the Department of Neurosurgery from the patient referral to the patient discharge.
• Carrying a caseload, and responsibility for the management of complex cases
• Assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating care, as an autonomous practitioner with specialist skills, this includes: the provision of care through screening programmes, nurse-led clinics, accepting referrals, undertaking diagnostic procedures, undertaking therapeutic procedures, physical assessments and obtaining written consent to treatment

• Keep accurate patient records and ensure the patient pathway is co-ordinated and targets met
• Referring patients directly to specialists in other professions
• Providing expert specialist clinical advice for patients, carers and health care professionals
• Improving and maintaining standards of care within the specialty.
• Developing the skills of generalist nurses, and other health professionals (including doctors) to enable them to provide a high standard of care for patients within the specialty
• Providing a high level of communication by: Liaising with all appropriate members of multi-disciplinary team and ensuring a seamless service between acute and primary care services
• Communicating very sensitive condition related information to patients and relatives, requiring high levels of empathy and reassurance. This includes highly complex information that needs to be conveyed in easily understood language
• Ensuring the provision of appropriate verbal and written patient information, thus empowering the patient to make informed decisions
• Maintain own knowledge, competence and skill level through regular clinical supervision, appraisal, personal development plans and appropriate training programmes
• Contribue to the patient’s pathway into the Skull base MDT and following the Skull base MDT.

Research and Audit

• To contribute to audit within the skull base unit including the National Vestibular Schwannoma Audit

• Regularly undertake literature reviews to ensure practice is based on best evidence
• Support the implementation of research and audit findings
• Co-coordinate the dissemination of research and development activity internally and externally
• To prepare the Annual Hospital report, organise and lead on meetings, analyse data and recognise trends, organise and maintain highest standards of patient care in the clinical environment in collaboration with all the clinical teams

Leadership and Management

• To be the Lead Nurse for the Neurosurgery Skullbase service, actively participating in the management of the service, supporting the development of other disciplines associated with the care of this patient group
• Promote the service both within the trust and externally to the organisation. Represent the trust and specialty at a regional and national level, and develop a national profile in the field of Neurosurgery Skullbase nursing
• Promote effective interpersonal relationships with all members of the multi-professional team thereby ensuring a good team spirit, collaborative and person centred working practices
• Demonstrate a sound problem solving approach to clinical and management issues, seeking advice from senior nurses as appropriate
• Provide nurse leadership and professional advice to nursing staff within specialty
• Utilise good negotiation and influencing skills
• Contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based policies / protocols and guidelines within the specialty in collaboration with other professional groups and users. Propose changes to working practices or procedures for own work area
• Organise own specialist workload, including education & training and backfill
• Coordinate clinical and support services relevant to specialty
• Advise on the impact of changes in services on patient/client care. Facilitate service development and assist in the overall business planning process
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of budgetary restrictions and their implications upon the service
• 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 an appropriate senior person, (CQC 2010 Guidance about compliance: Summary of regulations, outcomes and judgement framework)
• Ensure 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