Altered Airway Specialist Nurse

Job summary

This 18-hour post holder will be responsible for the assessment, planning and provision of specialist tracheostomy and laryngectomy care. Carrying out specialist nursing procedures and providing specialist advice to patients with altered airways and other healthcare professionals. They will assess patients and implement and evaluate care provision to facilitate timely discharge from hospital and prevent further admission. They will work autonomously and be accountable for their own professional actions. The post holder will manage their own case load and co-ordinate/arrange appointments in line with the other Head and Neck multidisciplinary team members. They will play a lead role in the teaching, supervising and develop qualified and unqualified staff, supporting development, progression and implementation of Altered Airway and Speech management.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will act as a role model for clinical leadership; setting and upholding agreed clinical standards and enabling patients to receive high quality evidenced based care. The post holder will be an active member of the multi-disciplinary team and network with other professionals, locally and nationally for the purpose of developing practice and the development of the service. They will be a visible presence for all patients and visitors to the area and provide a pivotal role for inter-professional working. They will be responsible for infection prevention and control, budget management, patient safety and experience and compliance with Trust values, policies and providing Best Possible Care.

This role requires practice that involves higher levels of judgement and clinical decision-making and therefore the post holder must keep up to date with professional and clinical developments in nursing and the specialist areas of care.

The successful candidate will provide cross site cover between KGH and NGH in an 18 hour per week post following the Head and Neck collaboration. The post holder will also be required to work in the community setting, visiting patient's homes and other care settings. Therefore, a full UK driving license is essential criteria.

About us

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Integrity

Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Leadership/Management

Collaborate with the multi-professional team to develop a shared vision of the service.

Act as a role model and resource in expert clinical evidence-based practice.

Work collaboratively with colleagues to develop effective documentation, pathways, protocols, and guidelines for care. Demonstrate a commitment to share expertise and disseminate information.

Initiate the development of the service; contribute to wider service development to continuously improve patient care.

Participate in implementing national standards and frameworks at a local level.

Network locally, regionally, nationally and internationally and seek opportunities to develop the specialist role.

Have an understanding of budgetary constraints and may be required to manage budgets.

Use effective change management skills to initiate and implement service and practice development, making the best use of resources to improve practice and health outcomes.

Participate in the selection, interviewing, appraisal, and professional development of team members.

Maintain involvement and active input in multidisciplinary meetings and appropriatelocal bodies / forums to contribute to practice and service development.

Education/Training

Maintain, advance and develop personal theoretical knowledge, high standards of clinical competence and professional development through ongoing self-education and attendance at relevant courses of study.

To have or to be working towards non-medical and independent supplementary prescribing qualification.

Develop and maintain a peer network of support, information and learning with other nurse specialists at a local and National level.

Maintain own professional portfolio.

Contribute to the development and acquisition of specialist nursing knowledge and skills to enhance and extend the practice of other nurses and health care professionals within the service and beyond

Identify and address the educational needs of patients, families, carers and staff involved in the delivery of this service.

Contribute to the teaching and support of students and other members of the multi professional team within relevant educational programmes.

Provide an appropriate learning environment, including mentorship, coaching and preceptorship.

Organise and contribute to relevant educational programmes and in house study days.

Improving quality and developing practice

Coordinate and participate in ongoing service review and evaluation, including seeking and monitoring patient experience and outcomes.

Participate in research / audit to generate new evidence in area of specialty.

Evaluate clinical practice in relation to its evidence base and clinical effectiveness including policy and guidance.

Identify areas of risk and poor quality, and address these through appropriate governance structures and forums as well as identifying learning opportunities at local and national levels.

Have a high level of communication skills to enable the participation in the dissemination of practice through conferences and professional publications.

Ensure statutory and mandatory training updates, as well as role /speciality updates are completed and necessary records maintained.

Clinical

Working independently in nurse-led clinics with cancer patients throughout the care pathway of having an altered airway. This will incorporate independent nurse-led face to face in the clinic setting or the patients own home.

Provide monthly nurse led tracheostomy tube change clinics at various care settings, NGH, KGH, nursing homes and peoples own homes.

Provide CNS and SLT led emergency laryngectomy voice prosthesis clinics for the changing of and troubleshooting of issues.

Provide specialist nursing during the rehabilitation period following tracheostomy or laryngectomy.

Set patients up with appropriate companies for consumables for discharge.

Provide specialist nursing support to nursing staff caring for patients with altered airways.

Use an appropriate holistic approach to patient needs assessments.

Provide clinical advice in accordance with current evidence based practice.

Help to co-ordinate clinical care in line with cancer targets. This will involve liaising with the patient and other members of the clinical team to deliver treatment pathways.

Assess the needs of patients, their families, and other carers, in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team, and providing specific advice or support as appropriate.

Provide professional support to patient support groups.

May need to cover Head and Neck Ward in nursing shortages with suitable skills .

Person Specification

Educations, Training and Qualifications

Essential

NMC Registered Nurse BSc Adult Nursing Experience in delivering training and teaching Evidence of recent personal and professional development

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Fully competent and broad experience in Altered Airways

Desirable

Experience in autonomous specialist nurse role Knowledge of current protocols and initiatives within Head and Neck

Skills

Essential

Tracheostomy and Laryngectomy Management Emergency airway management Excellent communication skills Clinical assessment skills Excellent time management Computer skills

Desirable

Competent in Voice Prosthesis Management and troubleshooting Presentation skills

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

Valid FULL UK driving license Reliable and committed to best practice Ability to deal with difficult and stressful conditions Motivated

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