Junior Sister - Pregnancy Advisory Service (PAS)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

·            To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to this at all times.

·            To support in the delivery of an advanced specialist nursing service for women accessing the Pregnancy Advisory Service

·            To provide specialist nursing advice and support to women, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through treatment under supervision of senior nurse.

·            To ensure continuity of a high standard of evidence based nursing care, assessing health, health related and nursing needs of patients, their families and other carers by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care. This can include:

·            Managing a defined patient caseload

·            Ordering diagnostic tests

·            Making and receiving referrals

·            Admitting and discharging patients for specified conditions and within agreed protocols

·            Day to day management of clinic in absence of senior nurses

·            Prescribing medicines and treatments under PSDs

·            To accept responsibility for own defined patient caseload, ensuring all patients have an accurate plan of care, which reflects the assessment undertaken and incorporates the issues and recommendations made ensuring clear documentation in the patient’s records and hand held records under supervision of senior nurse.

·            To be actively involved in in-patient care, liaising with ward staff to ensure high quality nursing care

·            To work in nurse led clinics, providing consultation and counselling for women referred to the department

·            Obtain informed written consent to the procedure, for all women except those under 16 years old, and patients with learning difficulties.

·            Obtain informed written consent for women who are requesting insertion of IUCD, IUS, or Implanon as necessary.

·            To attend out-patients, ensuring nurse consultation with all newly diagnosed patients

·            To follow-up women as appropriate and ensure all relevant information is available to enable patients to make an informed choice about their treatment

·            To attend MDT meetings if appropriate to the role ensuring all patients are represented

·            To deliver a seamless service through the Multidisciplinary team (MDT) processes and communication

·            To participate in the identification and development of clinical protocols and strategies to enhance both the continuity and standard of specialist care whilst ensuring equity of access to the service.

·            To participate in the process of operational policies review annually in accordance with national standards.

·            To ensure all care is given in accordance with agreed protocols.

·            To work under supervision with key staff members to maintain nurse led pre-assessment/assessment and outpatient follow-up services. Providing detailed baseline patient assessment and education and support to patients and their families

·            To assist in regular review of clinical notes of patients requiring imminent admission, ensuring all assessments, diagnostic investigation and test results are up-to-date and in place to ensure a smooth admission process.

·            To liaise with women’s surgical ward and day surgery ward to support the staff in these area’s providing treatment to our patients.

·            To liaise with ward staff to ensure appropriate and timely discharge/follow-up arrangement in place for patients

·            To work with the MDT to develop, implement and evaluate integrated care pathways and systems of MDT documentation

·            To liaise with local community, social services, paramedics and voluntary organisations in order to develop existing services for clients, carers and health professional

·            To actively involve service users in providing feedback of their experience of the current service and suggestions for improvements.

·            To participate in the development of appropriate patient (specific) directives to facilitate/enhance the discharge process

·            To participate in relevant fora at  Care Group or Trust or PCG/PCT Level to represent the service perspective

·            To be fully conversant with Women’s HealthCare Group procedure during a major incident alert

·            To be fully aware of the Trust Child Protection procedures

·            To accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients’ condition, promptly report changes and instigate remedial action as appropriate.

·            To act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.

·            To ensure that accurate records are maintained reflecting both changes in the patient’s condition and the treatment delivered.

·            To ensure that patients and their relatives are updated regularly with accurate information, and ensure that this is presented in a way that they understand.

·            To ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with Line Manager and practice development staff.

·            To ensure that practice is evidence based and with support assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area.

·            To uphold high standards of nursing care, according to existing policies and standards.

·            To support the Ward Managers and Modern Matron in processes of continuous quality improvement, formally evaluating standards of care and assisting in the implementation of changes in the light of such findings.

·            To contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring that all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

·            To actively support the implementation of the Trust nursing strategy and uphold the ethos of the local philosophy.

Education and Research

·            To ensure all patients are fully informed of the risks and benefits of proposed procedures / treatments, contributing to the process of securing informed consent

·            To contribute to and  provide all patients with relevant and accessible written information regarding their treatment in accordance with Trust standards

·            To supervise and participate in the delivery of programmes of education and training according to the identified needs of clients, carers and other involved in their care

·            To work with other clinical staff to identify knowledge gaps in relation to specialist patients

·            To contribute to the development of nursing practice within the team.

·            To actively participate in educational events provided by the Trust and primary care sector, and facilitate evidence based practice and clinical audit within the Trust, raising the profile and enhancing the contribution of nursing to patient care and informing business and service development plans.

·            To participate in and assist with any appropriate/relevant Trust approved research projects conducted within the department.

·            To participate in clinical audit within the trust as directed.

·            To promote nursing research and evidenced based practice relevant to the speciality

·            To act as a mentor to junior staff members, responsible for the orientation, supervision and ongoing development of junior and student nurses, in conjunction with Line Manager and Practice Development staff.

·            To act as practice supervisor, responsible for completing competency documents for junior staff within agreed timeframes.

·            To act as a mentor to students undertaking further education as requested, ensuring a positive learning experience and facilitating the development of their clinical skills.

·            To contribute to the wider educational activities within the Care Group – ensuring attendance at and contributing to the delivery of educational activities within the Care Group.

·            To promote and encourage the application of research and of evidence based practices.