Structural Heart Clinical Research Nurse Specialist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities:

To act as part of the team of specialist practitioners delivering nursing care in two key areas of the Cardiology Service at King's:

To work as an autonomous practitioner and effectively deliver an expert nursing service within the specialist areas, and to manage a caseload of patients/clients.

To ensure that patients and their families awaiting assessment and intervention for transcatheter and other valve disease patients at King's are fully supported and prepared for their procedure, by providing clinical and social support.

To participate in the identification and informed consent of patients for structural heart research studies alongside the Cardiac Research team; advising and supporting participants, monitoring their physical and emotional wellbeing, reporting and acting on any untoward side effects.

Ensure all data required by relevant and associated bodies is collected to the highest standards, with a commitment to participant safety and welfare.

To work within ICHGCP guidelines and practice.

To assist in the development of evidence based clinical nursing practice in line with current research and guidelines.

To establish clear lines of communication within the cardiac setting to ensure cohesive multidisciplinary management of patients requiring percutaneous and transapical valve replacement.

To ensure that patients and their families are fully supported and prepared for their procedure, by providing clinical and social support.

To produce and provide all patients with relevant and accessible written information regarding the procedure, in accordance with trust standards.

To ensure all patients are fully informed of the risks and benefits of the proposed procedure, supporting the process of informed consent.

To ensure accessibility of the service and provide support both in person and through telephone and personal contact with patients and their carers.

To deliver a seamless service through the enhanced Multidisciplinary team (MDT) processes and communication and assist in the development of predicted pathways of care.

Liaise effectively with referring clinical teams in other hospitals to ensure all appropriate patients are given access to service in timely way.

To be responsible for identifying and assist in the development of clinical protocols and strategies to enhance both the continuity and standard of specialist care whilst ensuring equity of access to the service.

To ensure all care is given in accordance with agreed protocols.

To ensure ongoing education of the multi-disciplinary team in order to raise awareness and "mainstream" the care of these patients.

To assist with the management of stock for structural heart procedures carried out in the Cardiac Catheter Labs in conjunction with the Senior Cardiac Catheter Lab staff.

Management/Organisation

To manage own time effectively, ensuring balance between clinical, research, and managerial/ administrative responsibilities.

To manage the identified services and be responsible for ensuring ongoing auditing of these, reporting back to the Clinicians at appropriate meetings.

To develop clinical and educational protocols relevant to the services provided.

To ensure that all patients are seen and treated within specified timeframe (18 week pathway).

To ensure that any shortfall or problem in service provision that might lead to waiting times exceeding this limit are promptly flagged and assist in the resolution of these.

To ensure a patient centered service, organising and coordinating patient admissions and appointments as necessary. 

To secure patient feedback of the services provided and ensure their involvement     in service developments.

To ensure all patient documentation is always complete and auditable.

To ensure that clinical staff referring patients to these services are kept always informed of patient progress.

To identify resource implications of service development for example by the provision of secretarial assistance, team meetings and study leave and negotiate this support as appropriate.

To participate in both local and national (NICOR) database entries to ensure accurate reporting for audit purposes.

Education

Empower and educate patients and their families in respect of self-care and lifestyle changes

To contribute to the auditing of the nurse specialist role and of the service and participate in service developments arising for the findings of these.

To educate patients and relatives of the benefits of participating in research studies, the possible side effects and of appropriate action that may need to be taken

To participate in other multidisciplinary research projects, as appropriate.

To actively contribute to the maintenance of a progressive learning environment for all staff, supporting programme of training for junior staff and students, as appropriate.

To participate in own Individual Performance Review, demonstrating an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational and clinical training needs in conjunction with the Lead Nurse and Head of Nursing.

This job description is not exhaustive, but it indicates the key responsibilities of the post. It may be amended at any future date, in consultation with the post holder considering the changing pattern of nursing and the work of the Care Group, and changes that may take place within the Trust.