Job Description: Staff Nurse In-patient Unit
Staff Nurse In-patient Unit
Ward Manager
Director of Clinical and Patient Services
Nightingale House Hospice
Job Title
Line Manager
Accountable to
Primary Location
Key Responsibilities
1. To continually develop clinical expertise and act as a positive role model promoting a high
standard of care to fulfil the Nightingale House mission statement and aims.
2. To deliver evidence-based care to patients and their carers in line with their physical,
psychosocial and spiritual needs.
3. To promote and maintain continuity of high standards of nursing care in the absence of the
person with continuing responsibility.
4. To be responsible following induction period for the assessment of care needs, the
planning, delivery and evaluation of care; and to offer supervision and support to junior
staff in the clinical area.
5. Provide supervision and guidance to junior staff as appropriate and required within role
and responsibility.
6. To work at all times in line with the NMC code of conduct and duty of candour
requirements.
Key Relationships
Nursing team
Medical team and Advanced Nurse Practitioners
Hospice Allied Health Professionals
Rehabilitation Team
Family Services Team
Day Services Team
Heart Failure CNS
All Hospice departments
Specialist Palliative care team community and acute
Primary and community care teams
Note:
The hospice encourages and supports staff aiming to develop knowledge and skills working within a
specialist area of clinical practice.
Clinical
1.
2.
3.
Work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team to provide holistic person-centred care,
integrating nursing care with psychosocial and spiritual needs.
Assist with initial and on-going assessment of patient and family needs and develop skills as
a named nurse.
Act as an associate nurse to plan, initiate, supervise and participate in patient and family
care, discussing issues with senior team members as appropriate.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Evaluate and up-date nursing care plans in response to the changing problems/needs of
patients and families.
Monitor nursing practice, encouraging development of colleagues through discussion of
current and proposed care plans.
At all times maintain appropriate and adequate records of your work.
Maintain effective communication with patients and families throughout their contact with
the hospice; providing when necessary: -
•
Telephone support and advice
• Access to nursing/medical staff for conditional information or future planning.
•
Information and access to allied professionals.
• Bereavement support and access to follow-up support.
In discussion with the Head of Clinical and Patient Services and Ward Manager, identify an
area of special clinical interest in which to develop additional knowledge and skills to act as
a link nurse for the rest of the team.
As necessary or required develop awareness and experience working on the unit during
night shifts and also within other services across the hospice i.e. heart failure, family
support, days services and rehabilitation, to extend knowledge and skills in this specialist
setting.
Participate and gain confidence and experience leading patient case reviews and team
meetings.
Actively participate in all aspects of the patient experience of hospice care from initial
assessment and admission through to discharge planning and placement.
12. Work at all times within the policies and guidelines required/appropriate to your role.
Management:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Take responsibility for the management of the in-patient unit team when required in the
absence of more senior grade staff, following the principles identified in the Mission
Statement and aims of Nightingale House Hospice.
Liaise with multi-professional agencies within the hospice, primary care, community and
hospital to provide continuity of patient care.
Be responsible for maintaining high standards of nursing care, when in charge of the team
and unit, and help create and maintain positive relationships between all groups involved in
the welfare/care of patients.
Be responsible for the co-ordinating of all activities when in charge of the team supported
by the Ward Manager and Head of Clinical and Patient Services.
Ensure the promotion of safety, well-being and the interests of the patients, staff and
visitors to the in-patient unit as directed in the hospice guidelines, policies and procedures.
At all times follow, the Code of Professional conduct to ensure that all staff within their
sphere of responsibility also follow professional requirements.
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Education and Development
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Identify own learning objectives and attend relevant study/shadowing opportunities
following discussion with line manager/nurse management team.
Maintain records of supported study and provide evaluation of study attended, (for
inclusion in personal file).
Adhere to NMC revalidation requirements at all times.
Participate in feedback to colleagues throughout the hospice regarding study days attended
and potential service improvement opportunities.
Actively participate in personal development review (PDR) and objective setting at initial 6-
month review meeting and subsequent PDR meetings with line manager/senior nurse.
Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of relevant hospice policies and the impact
they have on individual practitioners including: -
•
Fire policy
• Moving and handling policy
•
•
•
Health and Safety Policy
Confidentiality Policy
Complaints Policy
Audit and Research
•
Be aware of and disseminate to colleagues current best practice knowledge as
appropriate to role.
• Work in partnership with Practice Development Nurse to develop appropriate tools to
monitor effectiveness of services /area of special interest in care provision at
Nightingale House Hospice.
•
Participate or if appropriate lead in the completion of service audits in an appropriate
and timely manner and feedback to colleagues.
Clinical Governance
•
The post holder will cooperate with other team members to maintain compliance with
relevant elements of the clinical governance framework.
o Risk management
o Service user participation
o Staff and Staff Management
o Continuing Professional Development:
o
Information Management:
o Clinical Effectiveness & Audit:
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General Requirements
This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of employment of the Hospice as specified in the
staff handbook.
Health Practitioner
As an individual working within a health care environment you are expected to maintain high
standards of care and practice as required in professional guidelines and relevant codes of conduct.
Competence You are responsible for limiting your actions to those that you feel competent to
undertake. If you have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties you
should immediately speak to your line manager / supervisor.
Risk Management
It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Hospice that they fulfil a
proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk
assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near
misses and hazards.
It is a requirement that you adhere to Nightingale House Hospice Policies, Procedures, Protocols
and guidelines at all times.
Health and Safety Requirements of the Hospice
All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of
others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with
management to enable the Hospice to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous
situations or defective equipment.
Data Protection and Confidentiality
The post holder must treat all information, whether corporate, staff or patient information, in a
discreet, secure and confidential manner in accordance with the provisions of the current data
protection legislation and organisational policy. Any breach of such confidentiality is considered a
serious disciplinary offence, which is liable to dismissal and / or prosecution under statutory
legislation and the hospice’s disciplinary policy. This duty of confidence continues after the post
holder leaves the organisation.
Records Management
As an employee of the hospice, the post holder is legally responsible for all records that they
gather, create or use as part of their work within the organisation (including patient health, staff
health or injury, financial, personal and administrative), whether paper based or on computer. The
post holder should consult the IG Lead if they have any doubt as to the correct management of
records with which they work.
Professional Reputation
All employees are expected to behave at all times in a manner which upholds and promotes the
professional reputation of the hospice.
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This job description is an outline of the role and function. It is not intended to describe all
specific tasks.
The post is subject to an enhanced disclosure check with the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS
check).
Please sign below:
Employee Name
Employee Signature
Date signed
Reviewed April 2024
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Staff Nurse
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
METHOD OF
ASSESSMENT
QUALIFICATIONS
• NMC registration
• Evidence of post
registration study
and training
EXPERIENCE
• Experience of working
with people with life
limiting conditions
• Able to maintain
accurate patient records
in line with holistic
needs assessments and
care plans.
•
Implementing
evidenced based
practice
Application form /
Interview
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS
• Good verbal and written
communication skills
• Able to document
• Knowledge of
advanced care
planning
Application form /
Interview
clearly and accurately.
• Ability to adapt to
changing workload Basic
IT skills
• Patient, kind and the
• Welsh speaker
ability to work alone as
well as being part of a
large multidisciplinary
team.
• Able to work under
pressure and to tight
deadlines.
• Enthusiastic and
motivated
Presentation at
interview
Application form /
Interview
Application form /
Interview
Agreed By:
Date Agreed:
PERSONAL QUALITIES
(Demonstrable)
OTHER RELEVANT
REQUIREMENTS
(Please Specify)
Prepared By:
Reviewed By:
Reviewed April 2024
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