Sister/Charge Nurse - ECMO

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Clinical Leadership and Management
• To provide specialist nursing care for ECMO patients (VV,VA/VAV, ECPR) within Critical Care whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct patient care
• Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.
• Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
• Ensure that patients’ receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
• Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.
• Actively engage service users through the facilitation of user groups and open days.                          
• Co-ordinate the provision of specialist services to patients, both within hospital and/or in the community setting, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary colleagues
• Direct, support, encourage and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in the care of patients within the area.
• Participate in the promotion of patient centred care, and establish and maintain a supportive relationship with the patient and their family during the period of assessment, treatment and after care
• Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisions relating to their treatment and management.
• Promote high quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the specialist service, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical standards
• Provide professional and clinical leadership and expertise in the speciality and to act as a resource for education and clinical expertise in the hospital and community settings.
• Demonstrate appropriate expert practice and highly specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care.
• Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication
• Responsible for the correct administration of blood products.
• Promote and deliver high standards of care at all times, which utilises research-based evidence, and is audited and improved accordingly.
• Participate in the promotion of the specialist service through dissemination of specialist knowledge, both locally and nationally.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating high standards of care and providing clinical leadership in the specialist areas.
• Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationship between clinicians, practitioners and managers within the specialty, across the Trust and in the community
• Actively participate in local, national and international networking to maintain and develop expert level of knowledge in the specialty.
• Provide a seamless, high quality service from referral to through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and review.
• Develop and evaluate assessment tools that will ensure an appropriate level of nursing intervention so that patients who present with the most complex needs receive the most appropriate specialist care.
• Act as patient advocate when appropriate, respecting patient confidentiality and privacy with respect for diverse cultural backgrounds and requirements.
• To be designated to take charge of the area in the absence of the person holding continuing responsibility.

• Quality

• Facilitate a high quality, cost effective specialist service through monitoring and audit and other quality initiatives agreed by the Trust
• Lead on and participate in key developments relating to the specialty so that high quality patient focused services are promoted.
• Enhance the interface between staff, patients, community staff and visit.
• Attend and participate in multi-professional team meetings.
• Set, monitor and review standards of care on a regular basis and initiate corrective action plans
• Identify and intervene where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for patients and staff. To bring instances to the attention of the Lead Nurse ECMO/ Matron / Head of Nursing for the area.

• Education and Training

• Act as a facilitator/mentor/preceptor to student nurses and others.
• Assess own educational needs and take steps to keep up to date with clinical and nursing developments in line with requirements of the Nursing & Midwifery Council.
• Develop the partnership between the Trust and academic staff at local Universities involved in pre-registration and post-registration nursing and medical programmes.
• Ensure that the learning environment and specialist training is appropriate for both pre and post registration learners and participate in the development of appropriate programmes
• Work closely with the Lead nurse for ECMO/ Sister/Charge Nurse, and Practice Development Teams within the area, ensuring that relevant clinical based teaching programmes are in place for all staff
• Contribute in the Trust’s clinical supervision programme for staff
• Teach on relevant courses and training programmes provided by the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery/KCL and within the area. To lecture on external courses as required.
• Lead and participate in education and training programmes within the speciality service, and develop training packages as required.
• Co-ordinate the development and delivery of a patient focused education and information giving strategy within the specialty
• Motivate, develop, support and identify training needs for department staff.
• Participate in appraisals and the setting of objectives for junior staff in the department to enable them to achieve optimal effectiveness and to understand their contribution to the directorate.
• Ensure that appropriate written induction programmes are available and utilised for all new staff within the department

• Research and Development

• Promote and undertake nursing research and to publish the outcome, updating own knowledge to promote excellence in clinical practice.
• Utilise research findings in the delivery of specialist patient care, developing new ways of working and to disseminate relevant information to staff.
• Participate in and be aware of other clinical research trials for patients
• Lead and contribute to audit and research within the specialty in collaboration with colleagues, developing action plans and disseminating information.
• To be familiar with current clinical research protocol issues and relevant treatment and procedures employed in the diagnosis and treatment within their speciality.

• Management and Leadership

• Provide a leadership role model and demonstrate expert knowledge and high standards of clinical practice.
• Develop the role according to patients changing needs and research findings, within the resources available.
• Maintain accurate records of the clinical service and ensuring that confidentiality of information is adhered to
• Identify and maintain supportive networks for self and other staff members.
• Implement new initiatives where possible to run a cost effective, timely service
• In conjunction with the other multidisciplinary colleagues, provide monthly reports of case mix, work load and education activity.
• Provide cover for the other ECMO nurses as appropriate.
• Develop policies, protocols and clinical guidelines in support of the specialist service.
• Participate in the promotion of the specialty by publishing and presenting innovations and research findings locally and nationally.
• Provide specialist education to members of the clinical team, which facilitates learning and individual personal development.
• Implement and work within the Trust’s HR policies on all staffing matters, including sickness, capability and disciplinary issues. Take corrective measures if indicated in liaison with Human Resources and the Lead ECMO Nurse.
• Work with the Lead ECMO Nurse and Human Resources Department in the recruitment, selection, appointment and retention of staff.
• Adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures, ensuring that all staff do the same.
• Ensure optimised skill mix within the department/ward and reviewing the skill mix as required and monitoring the use of bank and agency staff.
• Attend team meetings at an appropriate frequency, recording and circulating minutes of these. To ensure a good method of communication within the department at all times and to encourage the exchange and implementation of new ideas and evidence based practice.
• Assist the Lead ECMO Nurse and Head of Nursing with the strategic planning for the service within Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust, as an expert practitioner.
• Represent Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation trust as an expert practitioner in the speciality in external situations e.g. conferences, committees, etc

• General

• Act in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice and be accountable for his/her actions at all times.

• Maintain up-to-date records. Ensuring that confidentiality is respected and that the standards for “Record Keeping” are met.

Please see attached job description for full details