Detailed job description and main responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

 Clinical

• Ensure high standards of clinical practice in accordance with agreed policies, procedures and standards
• Provide and deliver a high standard of nursing care by initiating and co-ordinating the comprehensive assessment, planning, and evaluating of individual patient needs based on evidence and use of relevant nursing models.
• Coordinate, report and document any relevant nursing/patient needs, communicating changes with other health care professionals with ongoing responsibility for patient care as they occur
• Possess key skills in patient management to assist medical staff in the complex assessment, resuscitation and frequent review of critically ill patients. These skills will involve;
• Education regarding the setting up, calibration, troubleshooting and use of critical care specific equipment including:

Advanced haemodynamic (invasive and non-invasive) monitoring

Neurological monitoring

Dialysis machines (Citrate filters)

 Institute ventilation-weaning programmes following specific criteria

• Co-ordinate patient transfer (level 1-3 patients) both within the trust and across divisions/organisational boundaries
• Ensure effective communication with patients, particularly those that have communication difficulties.
• Interact and communicate with relatives, ensuring that they have adequate and appropriate information at all times, and offer support and advice where appropriate
• Engage and work together with carers/family encouraging them to be actively involved in the patient’s care planning as outlined in the unit philosophy.
• At all times comply with legal and Plymouth NHS Trust requirements to administer prescribed medication/fluid effectively and safely, and using autonomy and skill to titrate medication according to the patients condition
• Contribute to decisions on life supporting treatment using knowledge of ethical and legal issues, and when appropriate contribute to discussions on withdrawing treatments from patients. Support patient, relative and colleagues through the bereavement emotions and practicalities
• Promote health education within the clinical area and advise patient, family and others in health promotion issues
• Manage the critical care unit in the absence of a senior sister, duties including:

Deployment and supervision of staff

Booking extra/overtime for staff

Procurement of non-pay resources such as equipment and stores

• Whilst co-ordinating an area within the unit, ensure that individual patient care is assessed, planned, implemented and evaluated on a continuous basis by the production of written care plans, by all members of nursing staff.
• Act as the critical care nursing co-ordinator, on a rotational basis, for a number of critical care units, making decisions regarding patient/bed allocation within the area.
• Supervise, assess, mentor, support and act as a resource to all health care professionals including more junior colleagues, bank and agency staff and learners.
• Increase the level of knowledge and skills within the trust through sharing best practice and supporting others to develop their professional abilities
• Be actively involved in the education and mentorship of pre and post registration students, and those from other agencies such and paramedic courses.
• Ensure that patient and staff safety is maintained, and supervise staff ensuring they work within their capacities.
• Recognise stress in oneself and in colleagues, offering immediate help and support where appropriate, or directing individuals to seek help or advice from another source
• Communicate with other departments and members of the multi-disciplinary team, co-ordinating patient care. Coordinate with other areas, ensuring information regarding the patient is given and received appropriately
• Disseminate knowledge through report writing, and reviewing, taking full responsibility for accuracy and reliability and being sensitive to the wider implications of that dissemination.
• Ensure that expertise within your area is seen as a resource within and outside the trust and working partnerships with other health and social care service providers.
• Maintain a safe working environment, ensuring high standards and safe practice are upheld.
• Teach staff to understand and accept their responsibilities regarding environmental cleanliness, maintenance of all equipment used within the clinical setting. Implement and share good infection control practic

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