Trust Doctor CT3+ in Anaesthetics

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 position scrub nurse. We are looking for a highly motivated, committed and enthusiastic nurse with experience within Cardiac Theatres.

The unit consists of 2 operating and 1 Hybrid theatre which operate from 07:30 to 17:30 Monday – Friday for elective cases and also a 7 day 24 hour emergency on-call service. This consists of one week night and one weekend a month.

If you’re committed to developing your career within cardiac theatres we can offer you support in your personal development in advancing your knowledge and experience. We have a well-established senior team on board; who will be able to support your learning and development.

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate good managerial, organisational and communication skills, as well as, maintaining the highest standards of patient care.

You will be expected to contribute to the on-call service, coordinating shifts and be prepared to be the team leader on occasions. The role will also include mentoring and support for junior members of the team.

Informal visits are recommended.

Main duties of the job

The post holder contributes and actively participates in the smooth and efficient management of the three cardiac theatres within a tertiary centre, with planned surgery for four patients each day, five days a week. The unit performs all types of adult cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve replacements and aortic dissection repairs. The department operates an on call service for out of hours emergency surgery both on weekdays and weekends. The department promotes a positive learning environment and accommodates pre and post registration student placements. In support of the Cardiac Theatre manager, the post holder is responsible for the operational management and co-ordination of elective and emergency activity within the cardiac theatre environment. To lead, develop and maintain safe and effective standards of care using research and evidence-based practice and manage a designated team of staff. To provide clinical day to day supervision and leadership to junior staff and to act as mentor and assessor.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

· Assist and support the theatre manager in the effective management of the department in accordance with the Trusts Personnel Policies and Procedures 

· To co-ordinate daily departmental activities and maximise department resource potential 

· Act as team leader regularly, takes charge of staff and plans own work load and others effectively

· Organise staff deployment within the department including duty rosters, to ensure adequate skill mix to cover the needs of the specialities and department 

· Assist in monitoring of budgetary expenditure in relation to the care Centre and theatre department, identifying and applying cost-efficient practice

· Implement new theatre procedures, prepare and instigate new departmental policies when required .

· Assume first on call responsibilities, dealing with emergency surgery ( at least one in four and a weekend on call in 4 weeks rota) 

· Utilises information technology for operating theatre administration

· Ensuring that Health and Safety and COSHH regulations are complied with

· Participates in the ethos of clinical governance, particularly with relation to risk management, participating in reporting and handling clinical incidents 

· To report and arrange repairs/maintenance of equipment 

· Ensure adequate cleaning of theatres is carried out according to theatre policy 

· Organise, chair and participate in unit meetings within cardiac theatres Leadership

· Works towards achieving the trusts objectives as laid out in the nursing and midwifery strategy

· Takes the lead and manages changes in circumstances which affect safe and competent practice and keeps manager informed.

· Provide theatre expertise and leadership, giving specialist, technical and clinical expert advice to patients and members of the multidisciplinary team.

·Exercise leadership skills to create a suitable and safe environment for a happy efficient and coordinated team

· Works co-cooperatively within a team, respecting the skills, expertise and contribution of colleagues

· Act as role model, offering leadership, to co-ordinate, motivate and support team members 

· Provides both Professional and clinical supervision .

· Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care for patients undergoing elective and emergency cardiac surgery

· Facilitates, participates and actively promotes standards and recommendations set out by the National Association Of Theatre Nurses 

· Confident and competent practitioner who possesses the knowledge, skills and abilities to provide research based care 

· To ensure an effective, motivated and competent work force, to facilitate and plan the delivery of high quality patient care and to provide a safe environment for the patient at all times

· Takes the role of advanced scrub practitioner, utilising advanced knowledge and expertise of invasive cardiac procedures 

· Demonstrates highly developed physical skills with manual dexterity, able to assemble and use specialist equipment

· Scrub and circulate independently for all cardiac surgical procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafts, valve replacement, aortic dissection and redo surgery

· To be accountable for clinical and management practices of the nursing staff within the area

· Ensures safe preparation of theatres, including checking all relevant equipment is available and working.

· Ensure fundamental principles of aseptic technique are adhered to 

· Makes judgements on a variety of complex, clinical problems 

· Responsible for the safe custody, counting and receiving of drugs used in theatre.

· Ability to take the clinical lead and participate effectively and safely in the management of emergency situations.

· Co-ordinate and implement the setting and monitoring of standards*

· Ability to catheterise female patients 

· Care of the deceased patient, taking into consideration cultural and religious beliefs, maintaining patient dignity and performing last offices Research and Audit

· Involved in benchmarking ie. Essence of care, comparing standards and ensuring patients receive the best possible peri-operative care. 

· Participate in research and promote evidence based practice.

· Participate in clinical trials .

· Provide evidence based care Communication .

· Responsible for documentation of peri-operative details in the integrated care pathway which facilitates collaboration between members of the multi-disciplinary team in delivering patient care.

· Ability to safely transfer patients, post surgery, to the ward or high dependency unit 

· To establish and maintain effective communication with the multi-disciplinary team 

· To act as the patients advocate, respecting patient privacy and dignity 

· Communicate and interact with other departments within the trust 

· Communicate and interact with other departments within the cardiac unit Education and Training.

· To act as a role model and mentor to all staff, providing informal and formal education and support at all levels

· To participate in the supervision, preceptorship and development of both pre and post registration students

· Participate in Orientation, induction and preceptorship of new staff members

· To act as an assessor/mentor for pre and post registration students 

· Responsible for performance appraisal and personal development of nursing staff

· Manage and formulate personal staff development plans 

· Responsible for own professional development, maintaining prep portfolio and identifying own needs through appraisal .

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria

NMC registraition Theatre experience

Desirable criteria

Any Leadership courses Previous experience of leadership roles

Equality,Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria

Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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