Job Description & Personal Specification


Job Purpose


As a key member of the Nursing team, the post holder will demonstrate excellent clinical skills, quality patient care initiatives and facilitate effective interpersonal communication with colleagues in the unit(s) and hospital. The role will provide comprehensive nursing care to patients using evidence-based practice and adjusting resources to ensure continuity of care, will act as a role model for excellence in patient care.
The CNS will communicate and collaborate with the medical/nursing staff teams in the delivery of quality continuing care for the patient, including liaison with Consultants, and GP's. The position requires a strategic approach to the development of services and structures, embracing continuous quality improvement and the management of changes necessary to achieve organisational objectives. The role demands a broad range of professional skills and knowledge as well as skills in communication, leadership, teaching, education, research and counselling all in keeping with the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse Specialist Posts, 4th edition, National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM) 2008.


Job Background/Context


Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic is a state of the art 160 bed healthcare facility ideally located on at the junction of the N4 and M50 in Lucan, Co Dublin. The hospital provides a wide range of Emergency, Ambulatory, Interventional and Diagnostic care to for Adults and some services for Children. As a member of Irelands newest private health care group, Blackrock Health we are dedicated in ensuring our mission, vision and values are our guiding principles in ensuring our patients and staff have a world class experience.
A career in Hermitage Clinic will ensure you are joining a diverse, dynamic and enthusiastic team of professionals, passionate about developing services to ensure we provide the best care in the most modern of facilities.
We offer new recruits an array of supports to ensure you are enabled to develop your career. Please contact us directly to review our up to date opportunities and list of benefits.
Key Responsibilities


Clinical Focus
The CNS will have a strong patient focus whereby the specialty defines itself as nursing and subscribes to the overall purpose, functions and ethical standards of nursing. The clinical practice role may be divided into direct and indirect care. Direct care comprises the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to the patient, family and/or carer. Indirect care relates to activities that influence and support the provision of direct care.


Direct Care


Provide specialist nursing care for patients with colorectal and gastrointestinal conditions, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based practice.
Undertake comprehensive patient assessments, including physical examinations, diagnostic testing, and clinical evaluations, to develop and implement individualized care plans
Use the outcomes of patient assessment to develop and implement plans of care/case management in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.
Monitor and evaluate the patient's response to treatment plans including medication management, wound care, ostomy care, and post-operative care, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.



Manage and monitor treatment plans, including medication management, wound care, ostomy care, and post-operative care, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
Make alterations in the management of patient's condition in collaboration with the MDT and the patient in line with agreed pathways and policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines (PPPGs).
Accept appropriate referrals from MDT colleagues.
Co-ordinate investigations, treatment therapies, and patient follow-up.
Communicate with patients, family, and/or carer as appropriate, to assess the patient's needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice, and counselling as required.
Where appropriate work collaboratively with MDT colleagues across Primary and Secondary Care to provide a seamless service delivery to the patient, family, and/or carer as appropriate.
Participate in medication reconciliation taking cognisance of poly-pharmacy and support medical and pharmacy staff with medication reviews and medication management.
Identify and promote specific symptom management strategies as well as the identification of triggers which may cause exacerbation of symptoms. Provide patients with appropriate self-management strategies related to colorectal and gastrointestinal health and escalation pathways.
Identify health promotion priorities for the patient, family and/or carer and support patient self-care in line with best evidence. This will include the provision of educational and health promotion material which is comprehensive, easy to understand and meets patients' needs.



Indirect Care


Participate in case review with MDT colleagues.
Use a case management approach to patients with complex needs in collaboration with the MDT in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.
Take a proactive role in the formulation and provision of evidence based PPPGs relating to colorectal and gastrointestinal care.
Establish and maintain clear referral lines.


Patient / Client Advocate


Communicate, negotiate, and represent patient's, family, and/or carer values and decisions in relation to their condition in collaboration with MDT colleagues in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.
Develop and support the concept of advocacy, particularly in relation to patient participation in decision making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.
Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity, and confidentiality of the patient, family, and/or carer.
Establish, maintain, and improve procedures for collaboration and cooperation between Acute Services, Primary Care, and Voluntary Organisations as appropriate.
Proactively challenge any interaction which fails to deliver a quality service to patients.


Education & Training


Maintain clinical competence in patient management within colorectal and gastrointestinal nursing, keeping up-to-date with relevant research to ensure the implementation of evidence based practice.
Provide the patient, family, and/or carer with appropriate information and other supportive interventions to increase their knowledge, skill, and confidence in managing their conditions.
Contribute to the design, development, and implementation of education programmes and resources for the patient, family, and/or carer in relation to colorectal and gastrointestinal conditions including wound and ostomy care, thus empowering them to self-manage their condition.
Provide mentorship and preceptorship for nursing colleagues as appropriate.
Participate in training programmes for nursing, MDT colleagues, and key stakeholders as appropriate.
Create exchange of learning opportunities within the MDT in relation to evidence based colorectal and gastrointestinal nursing care delivery through journal clubs, conferences etc.
Develop and maintain links with relevant third level Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in the design, development, and delivery of educational programmes in specialist areas.
Be responsible for addressing own continuing professional development needs.


Audit, Research & Quality


Maintain a record of clinically relevant data aligned to National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as directed and advised by the ADON/DON/Lead Consultant.
Identify, initiate, and conduct nursing/midwifery and MDT audit and research projects relevant to the area of practice.
Identify, critically analyse, disseminate, and integrate best evidence relating to colorectal and gastrointestinal care into practice.
Contribute to nursing/midwifery research on all aspects of colorectal and gastrointestinal care.
Use the outcomes of audit to improve service provision.
Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through use of audit data and specialist knowledge.
Monitor, access, utilise, and disseminate current relevant research to advise and ensure the provision of informed evidence based practice.
Develop a database that is live and contemporary focus as well as a breakdown of activity - patients seen and treated.
Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to quality, risk, and safety.
Provide reports/updates to National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) as available.
Participate and cooperate with local quality, risk, and safety initiatives as required.
Adequately identifies, assesses, manages, and monitors risk within their area of responsibility.
Participate and cooperate with internal and external evaluations of the organisation's structures, services, and processes as required
Initiate, support, and implement nursing quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with local organisational quality, risk, and safety requirement.
Develop a culture of safety, promoting positive reporting of incidents and near misses; investigate and take remedial action on incidents or near misses involving patients and staff according to hospital policies, protocols and guidelines.


Consultant


Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for colorectal and gastrointestinal care practice.
Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines and support implementation.
Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance generalist nursing practice.
Develop collaborative working relationships with local community colorectal and gastrointestinal CNS, Registered Advanced Nurse/ /MDT colleagues as appropriate, developing person centred care pathways to promote the integrated model of care delivery.
Where appropriate develop and maintain relationships with specialist services in voluntary organisations which support patients in the community.
Network with other CNS in Colorectal and gastrointestinal care, and in related professionals associations


Essential Criteria


Knowledge/Experience
Be registered in the general division of the Register of Nurses maintained by NMBI
Have at least five years recent relevant post-registration nursing experience (full-time or equivalent hours part-time) in an acute hospital setting and a minimum of two years nursing experience in the specialist area
Have acquired a level 8 post registration Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic award relevant to the specialist area of Colorectal and/or Gastrointestinal Nursing (or similar) or be willing to complete within one year of taking up post.


Skills/ Competencies
Clinical Skills
Management skills
Leadership skills
IT skills
Quality focus
Risk Management
Clinical audit
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills


Desirable Skills


Knowledge/ Experience
Experience in teaching & assessing
Experience with JCI standards



Reporting to
Assistant Director of Nursing/ Director of Nursing & Transformation
Location
Hermitage Clinic



This Job Description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the position and is subject to regular review and amendment. The role holder will be required to be flexible in this position and is expected to facilitate working additional hours on occasion, when requested.