Research Nurse

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities:

Patient Care

•       To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.

•       To conduct all study procedures in accordance with the protocol to support the safe execution of the trial.

•       To receive referrals for and independently assess and treat own caseload of patients of varying complexity, ensuring evaluation and progression of treatment programmes to a high standard, and in line with research protocol approved by local ethics committee and trust guidelines.

•       Coordinate the collection of any biological samples required as part of the clinical trial/study and ensure safe and appropriate storage of specimens. Monitoring and recording daily freezer and fridge temperatures and reporting any temperature excursions to the Lead Nurse and Clinical Research Associates.

•       Ensure the safe preparation and administration of trial drugs, have in-depth knowledge of the legal requirements of a clinical trial sponsor regarding pharmacovigilance and of the Trust pharmacovigilance policy. Report any adverse events and reactions in accordance with this policy and the trial protocol.

•       Maintain clear and accurate source data and other records; ensure a high level of accuracy when transcribing data onto case report forms; create and design database as required for patient and staff records.

•       Perform tasks requiring highly developed clinical skills including phlebotomy, cannulation, etc and the preparation and administration of trial drugs (IV, IM, SC or Oral), and to keep up to date with current practices for cannulation, phlebotomy etc.

•       You will be accountable for your own professional actions and be a lead specialist for defined area acting within clearly defined policies/procedures and codes of conduct including the NMC code and Trust policy.

•       To observe the rules, policies, procedures, and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations. List the primary job duties and responsibilities using sub-headings.

•       To work within the NMC Scope of Professional Practice and Code of Conduct.

•       To manage clinical risk within own clinical caseload, to have up to date knowledge of indications, contraindications and precautions for any treatment skills and techniques selected and applied throughout an individual course of treatment.

•       To attend multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, ward rounds and undertake home visits as required. Ensure that the physiotherapy management of a patient is integrated into the multidisciplinary management and treatment plans for patients.

•       To maintain comprehensive, accurate and timely patient notes and records in accordance with department policy, and to ensure safekeeping and confidentiality of those records.

Communication and Representation:

•       To communicate effectively with patients and carers to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes.

•       To communicate with patients General Practitioner re patients’ participation in study.

•       To respond appropriately to the patient’s level of communication and understanding, facilitating the best possible communication outcomes. For example, patients may be deaf, blind, or unable to communicate in English.

•       To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patients condition and treatment progress. This may include the sharing and receiving of complex and/or sensitive information.

•       To consult when necessary with appropriate senior specialist staff regarding patients with particular problems.

•       To develop and maintain close working relationships with colleagues and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

Administrative Responsibilities

•       Information Management

•       To keep comprehensive records of activity in accordance with local and national requirements, using departmental IT software systems as required.

•       To maintain databases of information related to research activity, abiding by Caldecott principles of confidentiality and Data Protection policy.

•       To ensure all research patients provide informed consent and to document and safe guard records of consent.

Training, Education and Research

•       To provide day to day management of research projects.

•       To participate in training relevant to the study to support the safe and effective conduct of the trial.

•       To undertake systematic literature reviews, utilising critiquing and cataloguing information as required.

•       To formulate research ideas and support development of other research projects through review and discussion with the research team and liaison with other specialist centres (e.g.: renal and nutrition team)

•       To support development of relevant research grant applications in conjunction with research team.

•       To support dissemination of research findings (conference presentation, writing of paper).

•       To support ethics development of this and other related research activities within confines of time pressures.

People Management and Performance

•       Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.

•       Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.

•       Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.

•       Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.

•       Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.

•       Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.

•       Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.

•       Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.

General

•       The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

•       To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

•       We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.

•       At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

o   Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

o   Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

o   Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

•       To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

•       To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

•       This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.

•       All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.

•       Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King’s, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed