Junior Sister/Charge Nurse Chemotherapy, WRH

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits you if you are a highly motivated,enthusiastic senior nurse wanting to become a Sister within the great Rowansuite team. You must have with excellent communication skills; you will havethe opportunity to be part of this service and our innovative ways of workingas we grasp this opportunity to influence, shape and develop the changing faceof cancer care and service provision in our Trust

The 13-chaired day unit cares for patients with a range of cancers whoare receiving chemotherapy. We aim to provide an individualised and supportiveenvironment for patients in which to deliver this specialized, high-standardcare.

We are seeking someone who wants to increase their Oncology/Haematologyexperience and work in this rewarding environment. Applicants should bemotivated to undertake a recognized post-registration oncology course in thefuture. If you have cannulation, phlebotomy, or central lines skills, it willbe an advantage, but if not, you should have the enthusiasm and dexterity todevelop these skills. The ability to communicate effectively with all membersof the multidisciplinary team is essential.

All our Sister will be responsible to ensure that the patient experienceis high on the priority and will learn new skills to enable that they are ableto provide support, knowledge and experience to our staff nurse and othermembers of the team.

Main duties of the job

The Sister role involves leading and coordinating the team to ensure thatpatients are treated in a timely manner, with patients being the centre oftheir own treatment.

Also, you must be able to assess patients for chemotherapy toensure their physical condition and blood parameters are satisfactory so thatthey can safely receive treatment according to treatment protocols/regimes andescalate any concerns to the coordinator.

Administer and dispose of intravenous and chemotherapy safely byTrust and National Guidelines.

Provide treatment and side effects information to ensure eachpatient is prepared for their specific treatment and elicit informed consent.

Provide one-to-one and telephone advice to patients and theirfamilies regarding treatment side effects and the management of side effects toensure each patient receives specific and appropriate care.

Excellent communication skills are required to enhance andaugment patients' understanding and adapt information to their specific needsas they progress through treatment. Liaise with other appropriate health careprofessionals within both hospital and community settings regarding individualpatient care to ensure seamless transfer of care between disciplines (or ensurepatients' needs are adequately met).

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

Best services for local people Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients Best use of resources Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Toact as team leader for clinical be responsible for clinical and non-clinical management of a ward area in theabsence of the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse.

Assistin the management of the department on a day to day basis and manage thedepartment in the absence of Chemotherapy unit manager including coordinationof patient, allocating staff breaks and being a key link with the consultantsand pharmacy team.

Assesspatients for chemotherapy to ensure their physical condition and blood parameters are satisfactory to safelyreceive treatment according to treatment protocols / regimes and liaise withmedical staff as appropriate.

Administerand dispose of intravenous and chemotherapy safely in accordance with Trust andNational Guidelines.

Provideinformation regarding treatment and side effects to ensure each patient isprepared for their specific treatment and elicit informed consent.

Provideone to one and telephone advice to patients and their families regardingtreatment side effects and management of side effects to ensure each patientreceives care which is specific and appropriate to their needs.

Usegood communication skills to enhance and augment patients understanding andadapt information to their specific needs as they progress through treatment.

Recogniseand provide the psychological and emotional support needed by individuals andtheir families whilst undergoing treatment and refer on to other professionalssensitively and appropriately in order to adequately meet patients needs.

Assesspatients with difficult venous access and make recommendations for alternativeaccess to ensure patients receive treatment safely and with minimum risk.

Ensuresafe administration of chemotherapy regimens according to trust protocols

Providefollow-up care / maintenance of central venous lines for patients and adviseother health care professionals involved as appropriate, to ensure thepatients line is safely and adequately cared for in accordance with Trustpolicy.

Administerother intravenous therapies Blood, bisphosphonates, to patients accordingto protocols / regimes to ensure therapies are delivered safely and withminimum risk

Monitorand instigate care to address / prevent reactions to and complications oftreatment including administration of prophylactic agents.

Discusswith senior nursing and medical colleagues developments and changes, whichaffect patients both directly and indirectly.

Operational Responsibilities

Responsibilities for establishing and maintainingcommunication and relationship both internally and externally.

Establishand maintain effective communication and foster good working relationships withall multidisciplinary teams, both internal and external.

Provideand receive complex and / or sensitive information from patients and staff. Forexample, breaking bad news to patients, giving complex information aboutprocedures and their outcomes, dealing with performance issues, holding staffmeetings. Able to support and talk to distressed patients, visitors, and staffmembers.

Responsiblefor cascading information to unit staff and chairing staff meetings from whichminutes are provided.

Makeuse of electronic internal / external mail and Internet systems as appropriateand necessary.

Dealeffectively with comments, complaints, or incidents that affect staff and usersof the unit in accordance with complaints, risk management, or human resourcesprocedures.

Bringto the attention of the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse any factors which mayadversely affect patient care or service provision.

Reportall serious incidents to the appropriate Manager / Director within 24 hours;these include Never Events and serious falls.

Planning and organisational skills

Assistin planning of duty rotas or alter planned rotas to ensure maximum servicedelivery, standards of patient care and human, and resource management. Use e-rosteringas it becomes available.

AssistSenior Sister / Charge Nurse by utilising available resources to ensure safeand effective patient care periods of unplanned staff absence and / orequipment failure.

Beaware of Trust financial position and target objectives and ensure that wardarea is as effective as possible in meeting these objectives.

Participatein Directorate / Departmental meetings and feedback to the team.

Beinvolved in practice development and patient experience issues.

Responsibilities for Patient CareTherapy & Treatment

Ensurethat safe and effective nursing care is delivered, this to be in accordancewith Trust policies and best practice guidelines, also Nursing & MidwiferyCouncil (NMC) Codes of Practice and guidelines.

Actas a role model when carrying out and demonstrating nursing care andprocedures.

Ensureclinical staffs assess the conditions of patients within the clinical area,ensuring that signs and symptoms are acted upon accordingly and in a timelyfashion.

Provideexpert advice and support to colleagues in the care and management of patientswithin speciality.

Activelycontribute to the health and well-being of patients by promoting health througha number of methods healthy eating, exercise and smoking cessation.

Ensureaccurate, comprehensive contemporaneous and clear documentation of patientscare.

Ensurethat own and others written reports are in accordance with Trust policy andNMC guidelines

Befamiliar with the policy for safe administration of prescribed therapies,including Medicines Management, Intravenous Therapy, Patient Group Directives,clinical guidelines for cytotoxic administration.

Demonstratethe ability to safely monitor and provide care for the patient once therapieshave been administered.

Responsibilities for Development andImplementation of Policy and / or Services

Atall times act in accordance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines andNMC Codes of Practice standards and guidelines.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered nurse Part 1 1st level degree or working towards Administration of chemotherapy course or completion of SACT passport

Desirable

Post registration qualification in relevant speciality (palliative care/Oncology/ Chemotherapy) Recognised NMC teaching and assessing qualification Advanced communication course training

PERSONAL CRITERIA

Essential

Articulate High professional standards Able to remain calm under pressure Aware of own strengths and weaknesses Flexible and adaptable Highly motivated Committed to quality improvement

knowledge and skills

Essential

Expert clinical skills in speciality Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care settings Good IT skills Able to undertake extended roles Evidence of continuing professional development Good understanding of research and audit

Desirable

Evidence of writing protocols / standards Able to supervise and demonstrate potential to lead Knowledge of professional and NHS issues and policies relating to cancer

Experience

Essential

Proven post registration experience at band 5 Proven clinical experience of working in clinical haematology/oncology nursing delivering chemotherapy

Desirable

Evidence of management / leadership skills and autonomous practice Evidence of teaching both formal and informal

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