Urogynaecology Nurse Specialist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Corporate Responsibilities

·         To act as a resource for all corporate teams, providing specialist urogynaecology advice and support 

·         Participate/lead investigations as required by Trust governance team

·         To be fully conversant with Trust wide policies and initiatives and cascade to urogynaecology team

Supporting Clinical Excellence

·         Develop clinical expertise in all aspects of care for urogynaecology patients 

·         Be aware of and demonstrate evidenced based practice in conjunction with current advances in nursing practice and research, striving to ensure that all practice is based on sound rationale

·         Undertake full assessment, implementation and evaluation of women, and families/carers to provide specific specialist nursing care, advice, support and counselling where necessary

·         Carry out independent diagnostic tests and treatments, care planning and social and psychological care

·         Prescribe treatment or medication where necessary. 

·         Collaborate with medical colleagues to ensure that appropriate investigations are performed to complete the women’s treatment and that patients are fully informed and understand the purpose for these

·         Ensure that all relevant information is accurately documented in the patients records

·         Recognise and refer to the appropriate services for women with acute/chronic conditions

·        Be responsible for timely evaluation of any results of interventions, revise plans of care as necessary and consult/refer when needed

·         Arrange follow-up appointments when appropriate to monitor and evaluate patient health/condition

·         Ensure all specialist urogynaecology equipment is in working order and any planned preventative maintenance programmes or service regimes are adhered to

Supporting Patient Excellence

·         Attend, contribute effectively and advise, where appropriate, the MDT and members of the wider health care community, to enable the provision of high quality patient care 

·         Proactively participate in the co-ordination of the woman’s care across the patient pathway, developing the pathway across various settings including the community to maximise patient satisfaction and outcomes

·        Provide guidance regarding wellness, lifestyle and disease risks

·         Develop and update health education information as an on-going project which is reinforced by evidence base research

People/Management Excellence

·         Maintain effective referral systems to the urogynaecology team and from the urogynaecology team to other professionals and agencies

·         Manage workload effectively accounting for all elements of the needs of the service e.g. clinical teaching and development issues

·         Maintain accurate records, including details of patient contacts, audit and research

·         Lead/participate in an annual report of the urogynaecology services

·         Maintain effective communications with colleagues including members of the MDT, primary care, community teams, social workers and voluntary organisations as appropriate

·         In conjunction with the Ambulatory Services management team, continually evaluate the changing needs of the role to ensure the needs of women within the urogynaecology service are met. Contribute to recommendations for the ongoing development of the urogynaecology service

·         To maintain a flexible approach and to develop the role according to need

·         Report complaints, incidents and accidents in line with Trust policies

·         Report feedback from patients on their experiences

Professional Responsibilities

·         To take full responsibility for your own actions and to abide by the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct.

·         Participate in training and teaching seminars and programmes, relating to specialist knowledge, within the directorate 

·         Attend local network meetings and study days as appropriate to the role

·         Work to develop own knowledge so as to promote excellence in clinical practice, attending national and international educational events and work towards presenting in the future

·         Ensure membership of national professional groups to facilitate updating and development within specialist field

·        Take responsibility for own professional development through the appraisal system, identifying own educational needs in relation to role and working towards completing agreed personal development plan

Quality Assurance and Monitoring

·         Participate in data entry for all databases, including for BSUG requirements

·         Participate in the monitoring of standards of care, locally and nationally 

·         Lead on and be responsible for setting and reviewing standards for practice and evaluating outcomes as part of the clinical governance agenda.

·         Participate in departmental risk management process

·         Lead on audit initiatives.

·         Ensures own practice is conducted within the Trust /unit and ward policies in order to maintain professional, clinical and patient safety in addition to monitoring staff adherence to them.

Policy and Service Development Responsibilities

·         Assist in developing an environment which supports the value of gynaecology nursing care

·         Continuously review service needs including equipment requirements, escalate any new or replacement equipment needs to relevant management and support by completing or contributing to risk assessments, equipment bids and business cases

·         Develop and update policies, procedures and guidelines for the management of urogynaecology patients

·         Ensure all staff work within the confines of Trust policies, protocols and other relevant documentation, taking appropriate action where compliance is breached

Research and Development Responsibilities

·         Participate in the development and implementation of evidence based nursing practice in urogynaecology, including the use and development of protocols to ensure appropriate specialist care is provided

·         Work towards undertaking nursing research and to publish the outcome as appropriate

·         Participate and ensure any information and data required for clinical and organisational audit or statistical analysis for research projects or registers is collected and recorded as appropriate

·        Participate in local and/or national research and development initiatives as appropriate