Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ACP) - Acute Oncology

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice

-        To participate in the direct clinical management of acute oncology patients from first presentation at the hospital, until discharge. This will include history taking, systematic physical examination and formulating clinical management plans.

-        Plan, deliver and evaluate interventions and/ or treatments when there are complex issues and/ or serious illness.

-        Review and interpret all information available utilising a systematic process of reasoning to make a working and differential diagnosis.

-        Develop and record a treatment plan consistent with the outcome of assessment and most probable diagnosis.

-        Prescribe drugs within the capacity of non-medical prescribing, adhering to Trust policy and existing frameworks.

-        Communicate complex clinical and supporting information/ findings to patients and significant others according to individual situations. Ensure patients receive appropriate information and support in relation to their illness and treatment.

-        Arrange or refer the patient for appropriate diagnostic test, investigations, other professional colleagues. Check and interpret, taking action as clinically appropriate.

-        Perform clinical procedures safely according to defined protocols. These may include arterial blood gas sampling and analysis, oxygen therapy.

-        Support equality and value diversity.

-        Prepare accurate and concise reports both verbal and written.

-        Plan and manage own workload/ caseload in a flexible manner, ensuring that service provision meets the needs of patients.

-        To liaise with the other members of the multi-professional team and facilitate excellent and effective communication to provide a patient focused service.

-        Ability to self-manage, plan and adjust priorities to meet the dynamic demands within the oncology and acute oncology teams.

Leadership & Management

-        Work within professional codes and policies both nationally and by the Trust

-        To demonstrate an up-to-date knowledge of oncology/ acute medicine practice and responsibility for one’s own professional development. 

-        To maintain a portfolio to fulfil requirements of professional regulatory bodies in maintaining effective Advanced Practitioner registration.

-        Maintain safe practice and development through regular peer review of evidence-based practice with medical Consultant supervisor.

-        Liaise and collaborate with multi-professional disciplines and outside agencies.

-        Participate in clinical audit in respect to evaluating service effectiveness and future developments within the role.

-        To develop clinical protocols, standards, and guidelines in own area.

-        Contribute to wider issues in the trust, such as committee membership, clinical progression, and policy development.

-        To actively contribute to the process of clinical risk management.

-        Act as a role model in developing advanced practice roles at local, regional, and national level.

-        To inspire others and encourage them to seek advice and solutions to problems.

-        Challenges other to take an active part in developing knowledge, ideas, and work practice

-        Promotes the service and encourages the Acute Oncology team to disseminate good practice both internal and external to the Trust.

-        To identify own development needs and set own personal development objectives in discussion with his/her reviewer keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work.

-        Undertakes annual mandatory training updates and other relevant courses in line with Trust and local policies.

-        Acts as a resource for the acute oncology nursing team.

-        To act as a role model ensuring own actions promote quality and identify and manage any risks.

-        To raise quality issues and report related risks within the trust to address poor standards and incidents.

-        To inform and influence clinical governance issues.

-        To keep up to date and act consistently with quality standards and guidelines within their own clinical area and associated areas

Research

-        Initiate and support clinical audit with respect to evaluating service effectiveness and future developments within the role, developing, and managing strategies to address any shortfalls.

-        Involvement in medical and/or nurse/AHP-led research within oncology in response to identified need. Disseminate results and implement findings appropriate to practice.

-        Demonstrate knowledge of current research in all aspects of his/her work and to site specific disease group. 

-        Implement research findings appropriate to practice.

-        To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices though the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, and lead others in doing so. Make recommendations for and lead change.

-        Maintain accurate records and provide necessary data for statistical analysis.

Education and Development

-        To participate in training and education programmes allowing professional and clinical updating to take place within the normal working week (Journal Club, Annual OSCE, Non-Medical Prescribing, Communication Skills Training, Informed Consent, Mandatory Training etc.)

-        Identify own development needs in line with service requirements within personal development plan. Undertake continuing professional development to ensure that skills remain optimal and new elements can be added to the skills portfolio.

-        Assist in the identification of the training needs of colleagues and participate in their continuing education, mentorship and skills development.

-        Ensure personal, peer group support and clinical supervision needs are met.

-        Contribute to the development and dissemination of new knowledge by submitting papers for publication and/or abstracts for appropriate conferences.

-        Have a named mentor from within the medical team for continuing clinical support and development.

-        Provide specialist training and education locally, nationally and internationally (e.g., organising/hosting/presenting at meetings, study days, conferences etc.).  

-        To provide clinical and professional support and advice to all staff.

-        Develop and deliver specific and relevant teaching programs for all disciplines.

-        Support, supervise and assess clinical competencies of AACU nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

Equality and Diversity

-        To recognise and promote the importance of people’s rights and interpret them in a way that is consistent with Trust procedures, policies and legislation.

-        Acts in a way that acknowledges and recognises people’s expressed beliefs preferences and choices.

-        Respects people’s diversity and values them as individuals.

-        To challenge behaviour that undermines the rights of others.

-        To identify and act where necessary to address discrimination.

Health and Safety

-        Be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including the prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff, and ensuring that equipment used is safe.

-        To take immediate and appropriate action in relation to adverse incident reporting

-        To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

-        Monitors and maintains health, safety and security of self and others in own work area.

-        Contributes to risk register.

This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and is not intended as an exhaustive list.  The job will change over time to reflect the changing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as personal development needs of the post holder.