Gynaecology Pregnancy Loss and Bereavement Specialist Nurse

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be responsible for the coordination of care and support for bereaved women/families who suffer a pregnancy loss under 18 week’s gestation.
• Support women through a wide range of treatments and experiences which can be highly distressing and challenging, requiring excellent interpersonal skills due to the highly emotional nature of the cases.
• Continually develop and review guidelines in relation to pregnancy loss to achieve best practice.
• Support the coordination/implementation of the core principles in relation to the National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) within early pregnancy as well as the Northwest management of second trimester pregnancy loss care pathway.
• Maintain strong links with support organisations such as The Miscarriage Association, The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, ARC, CRADLE and SiMBA.
• Work closely with all bereavement leads within maternity, adult, and neonatal care.
• Have direct patient contact, delivering treatment whilst providing care and support in a variety of settings in accordance with the needs of women and their families. This includes within the hospital as an inpatient as well as delivering pregnancy loss clinics. / Recurrent miscarriage in an outpatient setting.

The post holder will be expected to:

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for patients suffering early pregnancy loss.
• Analyse and evaluate the effectiveness and make necessary modifications of any nursing care pathway, giving professional support and advice as required.
• Give emotional support to patients by visiting them during their admission within the acute setting, helping them understand the clinical information they have been given.
• Be sensitive and have an awareness of differences in religious, cultural, and spiritual needs of patients.
• Discuss and conduct further investigations available in relation to recurrent miscarriages and molar pregnancies.
• Attend MDT and participate in the planning of care for those patients experiencing recurrent miscarriage ensuring follow up arrangements are in place.
• Provide information relating to Cytogenetic Testing, Trophoblastic Screening, Postmortem and Funeral Services.
• Maintain a visible and accessible presence within the unit for both staff and patients.
• Support patients with accessing the Honey suckle team and creating memories for their loss by arranging blessings, photographs, and keepsakes if appropriate.
• Ensure the privacy and dignities of all patients are maintained being mindful of patient confidentiality.
• Provide both physiological and emotional support to women and their families, giving them opportunity to acknowledge and express their concerns in a safe environment maintaining confidentiality.
• If appropriate, coordinate follow up as agreed in conjunction with the patient's care e.g. A debrief following postmortem / investigative results.
• Complete written and electronic documentation for pathways (Including Digi care patient record), referrals and follow ups including face to face discussions, telephone, text, or email conservations with patients.
• Provide aftercare through ongoing telephone support after patients are discharged. This will be planned appropriately taking into consideration professionalism, boundaries and escalation if required.
• Develop a training programme around early pregnancy loss and bereavement for all healthcare professionals who may care for a patient with a confirmed or threatened pregnancy loss.
• Undertake audit and provide statistics about pregnancy loss and bereavement support.
• Network locally and nationally with support groups and other nurses who have a special interest in Early pregnancy loss to ensure care is of high quality.
• Develop and review patient information leaflets related to Early pregnancy loss and miscarriage management.
• Refer people to other practitioners when needs and risks are beyond one's own scope of practice or require specialist input.
• Competently receive sensitive information concerning the woman's care pathway and provide information using persuasive, reassuring skills as required, e.g., Breaking bad news/special needs/dealing with anxious patients and relatives.
• Agree the arrangements for communication with the woman/family/carers, and document these accurately and legibly in accordance with Trust policy and the patient's right to confidentiality.
• Be available for advice and referrals as well as providing clinical care to other supporting areas within gynaecology e.g., the emergency department or the ward.

EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Undertake nursing care consistent with evidence-based practice, transferring and applying knowledge and skills to meet patient’s needs.
• Be open to undertaking additional clinical skills competencies as part of service development and growth including CASE accreditations.
• Take an active role in the implementation of the emerging Nursing and Midwifery agenda.
• Embrace the public health agenda and support the delivery of local plans e.g., smoking cessation, teenage pregnancy and midwifery led care.
• Implement clinical governance initiatives by acting as a change agent and taking a proactive role in service development.
• Contribute to audit/benchmarking within the clinical area supporting the introduction of a change in practice if indicated.
• Accountable for own professional actions undertaking all duties having regard to the NMC ‘Code of Professional conduit’ for the nurse, midwife and health visitor and their professional contribution to Clinical Governance

 MANAGEMENT

• Maintain effective communication and work in collaboration with the MDT to implement both local and Trust wide governance strategies to ensure delivery of high standards of effective pregnancy loss and bereavement care.
• Assess the needs of individuals engaging and identify the required level of intervention needed.
• Having the ability to recognise and work within the limits of one's own competence and responsibility is crucial, referring any issues beyond these to the relevant people.
• Anticipate, plan and advocate for development/change and benefits whilst challenging others to take an active part in developing knowledge, ideas, and work practice.
• Promote best practice in health, safety, and security.
• Promote people's equality, diversity, and rights.
• Diffuse challenging behaviour, ensuring that the situation is managed in a sensitive way.
• Deal personally with patients, families, and carers to aid resolution of complaints and ensure concerns and problems are managed effectively.
• Contribute to the recruitment and selection process.
• Participate in regular team meetings which are facilitated in an open and honest manner.
• Propose and lead on changes/ Quality improvement to guidelines and new service innovations within the domain of specialist practice.
• Make effective use of appropriate learning opportunities for themselves and attend annual mandatory training updates and other relevant courses in line with Trust and local policies.

This is not an exhaustive list, there will be additional duties and responsibilities as and when they arise. Please refer to the Job Description attached as well.