Staff Nurse - Colposcopy

Key Result Areas:

Communication and Team Working

·         To communicate with patients, carers and relatives using a professional and sensitive manner showing empathy and understanding when responding to a range of enquiries, maintaining confidentiality at all times.

·         To maintain effective communication with staff, external departments within the Trust and key stakeholders outside the Trust e.g. GP practices.

·         To assist in raising public and professional awareness of the service at both local and regional level

·         To ensure that patient information is regularly updated and available to clients on request.

Clinical Duties

·         Promote and participate in continuous improvement for patient care and service development

·         To act unsupervised to assess patient’s suitability for procedures, reporting and liaising directly with the clinicians within the Unit, Hospital and external care providers where identified problems occur

·         To be continually aware of and respond to the effects of stress, emotional feelings and pain for patients and relatives prior to, whilst attending and following attending the Unit for investigations and treatments.  Act in an appropriate supportive manner, providing information, explanations and referrals to other clinical services, seeking support and advice where necessary.

·         Provide and maintain a high standard, safe environment for patients during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; monitoring their condition throughout, responding to and reporting changes in a timely and appropriate manner.

·         Act as a patient advocate at all times responding to patient reactions and needs before and during all procedures

·         To act unsupervised in providing safe patient post-procedure recovery and nurse led discharge giving advice and health promotion to patients and relatives/carers

·         At all times maintain high standards of infection control practice in accordance with Trust policies for patients, colposcopists and staff.

·         To work simultaneously and in conjunction with the colposcopists during diagnostic and treatment procedures.

·         To be able to identify and respond to technical and equipment problems and failures

Management and Leadership

·         In the absence of the unit manager take charge of the unit as delegated

·         Where required assist or act as co-ordinator for clinical activities as rostered, prioritising, planning and organising outpatient procedure activity for each clinician

·         Be responsible for the safe and effective use of supplies and resources assisting in correct stock levels of specialised accessories and equipment

·         Display decision making and problem-solving skills and judgement based on sound clinical knowledge, interpretation and judgement

·         Actively participate in innovative practice within the unit

·         Motivate self and others

Education and Development

·         To observe NMC education and personal and professional development requirements to meet the needs of the unit taking future developments into consideration

·         Assist in the support of members of the team by supervision, training and education, acting as a role model and preceptor to newly appointed and support staff

·         To participate in the performance review process and reflective practice to identify own learning and development needs and specialised clinical interest

·         To act in a supporting role to senior staff in assisting newly appointed staff members to achieve understanding and competence in the use, care and maintenance of Gynae practices and equipment

Administrative Duties

·         To be familiar with and able to assist in the administrative duties within the department including PAS functions.

·         Assist in maintaining failsafe systems in all aspects of the colposcopy service within stated guidelines and in conjunction with departments both internal and external to the Trust.

·         Produce and validate colposcopy reports using the colposcopy database as directed and in conjunction with the Dept. manager.

·         Assist in selecting cases for the MDT meetings, attending MDT meetings

·         To attend the department and management meetings as required

·         Assist in the developing, implementing and evaluating of Lakin Suite specific protocols and procedures.

Policy and Service Development

·         To participate and assist in the collection of data for clinical audit, research projects both internally and externally to the Trust.

·         To regularly participate in the review and update of the Department’s protocols and procedures documentation

Clinical Governance

·         Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, Trust policies and procedures in all aspects of patient care, participating in annual mandatory updates as required by the Trust

·         Will act in accordance with Dept., Hospital, SQA, NHSE and statutory guidelines and policies including Health and Safety initiatives, monitoring and clinical incident reporting

·         To undertake training, education and appropriate annual updates in all aspects of colposcopy equipment use, care and maintenance in line with current statutory requirements and guidance as presented by the Health and Safety Executive, Department of Health Medical Devices Agency and COSHH regulations.

·         To adhere to all Lakin Suite equipment suppliers and manufacturers policies, practices and procedures in equipment care handling, maintenance and decontamination processes.

·         To ensure effective communication and working relationships in order to maintain a coordinated team approach.

·         To maintain confidentiality in line with current legislation, Trust policy and the Breast and Cervical Screening Policy

·         Keep up-to-date with new trends and ideas generated nationally in respect delivery of a Colposcopy service and undergo further training as necessary.

·         Attend external Colposcopy meetings and other meetings as requested.  Liaise and network with colleagues across the health economy.

·         To take responsibility for and maintain personal, professional and clinical updating by the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and revalidation requirements.

·         Promote equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice at all times and to demonstrate the application of equal opportunities in all areas of practice.

General Items:

To provide short-term cover for colleagues during periods of leave.

To ensure that all Trust standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all whom come into contact with services provided by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work, and to co-operate with the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust to ensure that statutory and Trust regulations are complied with.

To participate in appraisals and personal reviews and work to achieve agreed set objectives.

To participate in appropriate training and development activities

To participate in team, professional and personal development activities and promote commitment to continuous development and improvement.

Ensure that all staff consciously review mistakes, complaints and incidents/near misses as well as successes to improve performance and the level of customer care.

All employees will have an organisational and individual responsibility towards safeguarding vulnerable adults, young people and children. Where employees are working with children, young people and families they have a responsibility to cooperate in national safeguarding policy around early intervention activities appropriate to improving health outcomes.

As a major provider of health care, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust operate a Smoke Free Policy by providing a totally smoke free environment to help aid patients’ recovery, promote health and wellbeing and minimize the risks of complications attributed to smoking tobacco and second hand smoke.

Recognise the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles and be aware of health and wellbeing initiatives.

To abide by Infection Prevention and Control policies relevant to their area of work, and undertake the necessary level of training. This will be appraised through the KSF review process or other relevant professional review process.

To contribute to promoting and implementing the Trust's Carbon Management policy, in line with team and organisational objectives.