Tuberculosis/Respiratory Nurse Specialist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Tuberculosis (TB) Nurse to work within our respiratory nursing team at South Tyneside and Sunderland Hospitals.

The TB nurse will work within the well-established and expanding service at SRH, leading the management, supervision and care delivery for patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), contact tracing, new entry screening and outbreak management, along side running their own nurse led clinics. The TB nurse role will consist of providing expert clinical knowledge to patients with TB and supporting those patients through treatment pathways. They will be a requirement to contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of nurse lead service for patients. They will also work as part of the multi disciplinary team along side the TB Respiratory Consultant Leads.

We are also excited to offer this position as a developmental post for the right candidate who does not possessnon-medical prescribing but would be willing to work towards it. This would be as a trainee TB nurse in a band 6role till training is completed.

Main duties of the job

The extremely motivated post holder will hold well-developed interpersonal and communication skills and shouldalso possess good facilitation and IT skills. You must be able to demonstrate the ability to work as an effectivemember of a multidisciplinary team, having excellent clinical skills to deliver exceptional standards of care for allpatients and their families.

The candidate must be well organised and enthusiastic in participating with servicedevelopment through audit and peer review. Helping to drive and sustain new initiatives to meet nationalstandards.

About us

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One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,300 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job description for full details

The specialist nurse will:

Continue to develop advanced knowledge and skills within specialist sphere of practice.

Contribute to the facilitation of the planning, delivery and evaluation of care pathways for a designated group of patients.

Support the development of nursing practice within the specialist field through the use of evidence based practice and in line with agreed national standards, and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.

Work as an autonomous practitioner within their sphere of practice.

Continuously improve clinical standards in line with clinical governance framework.

Exercise accountability as set out in the NMC Code.

Makes contact with all new cases whether in hospital or community.

Ensures that they understand the diagnosis.

Ensures that infectious patients are aware of their responsibilities with regard to further spread of infection and require isolation at start of treatment. Provides support and supervision to all TB patients throughout their treatment.

Assesses compliance with treatment and effectiveness of treatment by clinical observation based on theoretical knowledge of and experience of the potential complications of tuberculosis and the complications of chemotherapy.

Advises patients, relatives and their GPs of possible complications of TB therapy and of strategies to manage those which may not require significant intervention.

Monitors patients to ensure that serious side effects from treatment and/or drug interactions are recognised early, and in those situations advises stopping of treatment and arranges urgent consultation with a specialist in infectious diseases or respiratory medicine. TB Nurse Specialists take such decisions independently and the GP informed.

Assesses likelihood of non-compliance with TB treatment by looking at all aspects of the clients situation and their support network (if any) and decides on the need for directly observed therapy (DOTS), in accordance with NICE guidance. Clients are likely to need this including vulnerable individuals or groups who may present with challenging behaviour.

Directly Observed Therapy (DOTS) may be delivered daily or three times weekly. This will be delivered in the patients home or place of residents.

The TB Nurse Specialist will visit the client at prearranged times and places, delivers the correct dose of medicine and watches while the person swallows it.

The TB Nurse Specialist, because of the need for compliance with DOTs, has to build good working relationships with people with complex needs in order to gain their trust and to help them complete the required course of treatment for their personal benefit and to minimise the risk to the public of transmission of disease and the development of drug resistant TB.

May be asked to administer BCG for other cohorts in nurse led clinics.

Co ordinate and manage contact tracing and outcomes.

Co ordinate and ,assist in the management of any TB outbreaks, in line with NICE Guidance and with Respiratory Consultant guidance.

Work closely with UK health security and the Home Office to ensure all asylum seekers/ refugees displaced to the area are screened for Tb according to Nice Guidance.

Contribute to training and education within specialist area.

Provide expert specialist clinical advice and support to patients and clinical staff within the Trust on the management and care of patients within the specialist area.

Provide direct access for patients, either face to face or telephone consultation .

Represent the service nationally.

Play a key role in ensuring that national and local standards/targets for the specialist area are met.

Manage/lead nurse led clinics in relation to reviewing patients and play a key role in optimising complex treatment regimes, facilitating hospital discharge and preventing avoidable hospital admissions.

Undertake research relevant to the needs of the specialist practice.

Comply with the Trusts vision, values and behavioural compact.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Current 1st level NMC registration. Degree in nursing studies or relevant clinical degree (UK equivalent). Masters level study, or equivalent specialist study/experience. Mentorship certificate/Practice Assessor training or demonstrable equivalent experience. Clinical skills accreditation. Non-medical prescribing or willingness to complete.

Desirable

Leadership and Management Course. Basic knowledge of financial management. TB specific qualification / study.

Physical Skills

Essential

Ability to assist patients to move as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy. Carrying teaching equipment such as laptop, stationary, etc. Manual dexterity and up to date working knowledge of equipment, syringe drivers, infusion pumps, etc. UK driving license.

Experience

Essential

Extensive post registration experience, some of which will be at a senior level within the required specialist area of practice. Experience in the management of TB patients. Experience of care delivery. Experience of leading a team. Evidence of leading innovation in practice. Evidence of leading change management. Evidence of practice development. Experience of coordinating care for a caseload of patients.

Desirable

Budget Management. Participation in recruitment and selection process. Experience in Nurse led TB patient management. Project management. Experience in conducting research and critiquing clinical evidence. Experience in implementing quality frameworks.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Advanced specialist knowledge and skills within specialist sphere of practice. Good/intermediate IT skills. Effective presentation/report writing skills. Thorough understanding of contemporary nursing issues. Evidence of continuous professional development. Knowledge of how to facilitate learning. Leadership skills. Knowledge of current professional and clinical governance issues. Knowledge of research and clinical audit Knowledge and experience of handling complex relationships and interpersonal dynamics. Venepuncture, cannulation and IV drug administration. Proven interpersonal skills. Practice assessor / practice assessor skills. Counselling and appraisal skills. Evidence of competency in relation to nursing practices appropriate to the post. Time management. Ability to assess, deliver, evaluate and benchmark quality care.

Desirable

Qualification in TB. Resource management skills.

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