Clinical Nurse Manager 2 St Teresa's Ward

Position Summary

The position holder carries 24 hour accountability for the nursing service to patients in the ward. This involves making provisions for the best possible nursing care given to patients at all times including; assessment of patient care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care and care plans, and the setting and monitoring of standards of care, nominating persons to take charge of the ward in absence of CNM2.

The Ward Manager will also be held accountable for the day to day management of the Ward and of the human resources working within the ward. This includes the determination of work to be done, the rostering and allocation of the work, the coaching and supervision of staff, teaching and training of nurses and support staff and participation in the ongoing development and evaluation of systems and programmes for care delivery.

In carrying out the work detailed hereunder the expectation is, that in agreement with the CNM 3 and Directorate Nurse Manager that work will be assigned to the Clinical Nurse Manager 1 for which accountability will be ultimately held by the Clinical Nurse Manager 2.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

1. BED MANAGEMENT
Assist the Directorate Nurse Manager/CNM3 in the implementation of the patient flow policy by:

1.1 Be responsible for the co-ordination and implementation of the bed management policy in such a way that will ensure the effective utilisation of bed days and appropriate placement of patients.

1.2 Liaise with Clinical Nurse Specialist and CNM 2 of outpatient unit in relation to patients’ treatment schedules and admission dates.

1.3 Liaise with Patient Flow Department regarding patients who require scheduled admission for treatment and/or emergency admission from the haematology service.

1.4 Liaise with relevant external persons e.g. Transplant Unit St James’ Hospital regarding scheduled or unscheduled changes in patients treatments.

1.5 Deciding how to organise the admission, discharge and possible transfer procedure for the patient; and how to train ward staff to carry out the admission, discharge and transfer processes appropriately.

1.6 Alert Consultants and CNM3/DNM to any delays for patients accessing chemotherapy treatments.

2. WORK TO BE DONE AND WORKLOAD ESTIMATION

2.1 On a day to day basis the ward manager will decide and allocate the work to be done by staff nurses and ward attendants based on the needs of the patients and the capability of the staff.

2.2 Implement a systematic method for the assessment of individual patient's needs and ensure proper documentation of same.
2.3 Estimate workload based on patient nursing needs in agreement with the unit system policy on same.

3. STAFFING AND MANPOWER PLANNING

3.1 Prepares weekly duty rosters, taking into consideration holiday, study leave and other control limits, to best facilitate the workload of the ward and ensure continuity of care

3.2 Ensure that policies and procedures for the utilisation of locum/agency nurses are adhered to and that all documentation is correctly completed.

3.3 Plans and allocates nursing teams with appropriate staff numbers, skill mix and level of experience in such a way that will meet the clinic management work load

3.4 Arranges staff meal breaks to ensure the ward is appropriately covered with appropriate skill mix.

3.5 Supports, supervises and coaches nursing staff and other support staff in carrying out their allocated clinical duties to the required standard.

Supervises, supports and encourages ward health care assistant in the implementation of their role and ensures that the nursing staff know, understand, utilize and respects the role.

3.6 Decides who is to be in charge of the department in their absence and ensures that arrangements are communicated to staff.

3.7 Advises the CNM3/ Directorate Nurse Manager when staff levels fall below or are in excess of that considered to be adequate to meet variations of work load.

3.8 Advises the Directorate Nurse Manager on the total compliment of staff needed and the mix of qualified\unqualified staff to recommend.

4. PERSONNEL

4.1 Promotes, nurtures and maintains a high level of staff morale hence promoting team spirit and job satisfaction among nursing, and other staff within the unit.

4.2(a) Ensure the maintenance of a suitable environment for patients and staff with particular emphasis on Health and Safety. This will require that relationships with the Infection Control Team, Occupational Health Department, Fire Officer, Technical and Bio-engineering staff and providers of equipment will need to be established and maintained.

(b) Ensure that Infection Control Policies for patients are implemented and that clinical practice guidelines for the avoidance of infections and the management of patients with infections are strictly adhered to.

(c) Investigate incidents and accidents involving patients, staff and visitors in accordance with hospital policy and report these verbally and in writing to the Directorate Nurse Manager and implement corrective action when necessary.
(d) Ensure that all Equipment is checked before use and that staff are trained in the correct use of such equipment.

4.3 Receives visiting professionals and lay visitors to the department in line with hospital policy.
4.4 Participates in the interviewing and selection of nursing staff for the department

4.5 Participates in the development of a unit orientation for staff and within own department implements, and evaluates a staff orientation and Induction Training Programme for nursing and support staff.

4.6 Ensures that all staff practice nursing within the code set for the profession by NMBI.

4.7 Ensure the agreed hospital policies and procedures are known to and understood by staff and are implemented.

4.8 Participate in reviewing and updating existing policies and procedures and developing new policies, as required.

4.9 Carries out development and performance review interviews with individual nursing staff, using job specifications and performance appraisal review documentation in accordance with unit policy and records judgment about the performance of each individual staff member.

4.10 Identifies abilities and recommends staff for promotion to permanent and senior positions if and when available.

4.11 Decides how to deal with behaviour outside acceptable limits, for whatever reason
(i.e. emotional upset in staff, brusqueness to patients or colleagues, undignified behaviour, absenteeism, conflict, grievance, discipline, and industrial relations).

4.12 Ensures that all staff know disciplinary and grievance procedures. Handles staff complaints, grievances and disciplinary matters in accordance with hospital policy and report to the Directorate Nurse Manager as necessary serious or unresolved issues.

4.13 Investigates incidents and accidents involving all staff and report these verbally and in writing to the Directorate Nurse Manager in keeping with hospital policy

4.14 Advises trained staff in the management of the Unit and delegates specific appropriate management duties for the day to day implementation of specific services to CNM1.

5. EDUCATION\STAFF DEVELOPMENT

5.1 Create and maintain an environment conducive to evidence based teaching, learning and practice.

5.2 Act as an effective role model, mentor and leader of staff i.e. leading by example.

5.3 Take all possible steps to promote the development of staff nurses with the aim of facilitating nurses to be autonomous and expert practice.

5.4 Facilitate appropriate study days for nursing and support staff in accordance with Department of Nursing policy.

5.5 Assesses and identifies training and development needs for nursing staff within the ward; sets objectives for such learning; recommends these to the DNM and contributes to the development of training programmes where appropriate.

5.6 Identifies teaching/learning opportunities within the department and in external sites.

5.7 Plans, Implements and evaluates:-
i) Staff development programmes to support new clinical services.
ii) Post graduate training programmes as pertinent to the ward where necessary.

5.8 Participates in clinical ward induction training of all new nursing staff ensuring that staff nurses receive sufficient theoretical and practical training to make them safe practitioners.

5.9 Ensures the agreed Hospital, specialist administrative and clinical policies and procedures are known to and understood by the staff, and are implemented.

5.10 Provides for teaching, coaching, counselling and training of learner nurses.

5.11 Decides how and implements the ongoing assessment of student nurses in accordance with NMBI regulations.
5.12 Ensure that staff take part and remain up to date with mandatory training including Cardiac Resuscitation, manual handling, Fire Procedures, Major Disaster Plan, Standard Precautions, Hand Hygiene and that they are competent in all areas.

6. CLINICAL NURSING PRACTICE
6.1 To be an effective practitioner able to establish and maintain a high quality evidence based nursing service.

6.2 Use a framework and model of nursing to assess individual patients needs which is
consistent with the Department of Nursing policy and which reflects specialist needs and promotes patient participation in care.

6.3 Ensures that appropriate nursing care is planned for individual patients based on need assessment and that each individual patient receives prescribed treatment and nursing care, encompassing medical instructions and in conformance with established procedures and standards of care.

6.4 Reviews patient care plans for appropriate patient goals, problems, approaches and revisions based on nursing needs.

6.5 Ensures that verbal and written nursing reporting systems are accurate and adequate.

6.6 Ensures that accurate nursing reports accompany patients who are being transferred to referring/other hospitals.

6.7 Ensure clinical competency of staff in performing clinical procedures and introduce new clinical practices and techniques in an appropriate manner.

6.8 Directs, supervises and mentors the nursing staff in the management of nursing care i.e. providing professional and specialist advice on the provision of nursing care and demonstrates practical nursing skills.

6.9 Ensures that patients and relatives are appropriately informed and counselled regarding their condition, short and long term treatment/care plans and that they are adequately educated, trained and rehabilitated.

6.10 Applies research findings, as appropriate, to defined patient populations.

6.11 Participates in research when necessary.

6.12 Attends and participates in multidisciplinary ward rounds and meetings.

7. STANDARDS AND QUALITY OF CARE
7.1 Takes all steps possible to safeguard the welfare of patients through actively leading in:-

7.2 Quality initiatives within the Unit with the aim of improving patient care and promoting the further development of Nursing within the speciality.

7.3 Identifying areas of practice which require review and update and lead in the development of evidence based practice in consultation with staff.

7.4 Ensure the establishment of ward management and clinical standards within realistic targets and explicit limits as set by Directorate Nurse Manager.

7.5 Judge on the quality of nursing care provided i.e.:
- Monitor and evaluate outcomes of nursing care for individual patients.
- Check the quality of work done by individual members of the nursing team.

7.6 Participate in the collection and collation of statistical and clinical data.

7.7 Convenes periodic meetings with the staff nurses to discuss outcomes of the nursing service and take suggestions on how the service might be improved.

7.8 Be knowledgeable about any new KPI’s from NCCP or HIQA pertaining to haematology services

8. BUDGETING

8.1 Identifies projected needs through review of ward inventories and work out appropriate limits of physical resources (drugs, dressings and appliances, food, linen and other material) to be kept on the ward.
8.2 Ensure effective ordering and communication with pharmacy to avoid any unnecessary waste of anticancer agents.

8.3 Ensures the economical ordering of unit stocks, maintaining agreed stock level controls and adjusting levels according to peaks and troughs in demand.

8.4 Encourages staff to utilize resources judiciously by developing economical habits and adhering to the limits so as to ensure economical use consistent with satisfactory standards.
8.5 Continually monitors staffing-use patterns and ensures adequate standards consistent with maximum economy while maintaining acceptable standards for safety yet judicious use of resources.

9. SELF DEVELOPMENT
The post holder is expected to:

9.1 Maintain, update and develop knowledge on relevant professional development and on all speciality current trends by attending a number of study days each year.

9.2 Develop and maintain personal nursing practice skills.

9.3 Maintain a personal record of professional development.

9.4 Discuss present performance and future self development needs with the CNM 3/ Directorate Nurse Manager, using job performance review in accordance with unit policy.

10. ADMINISTRATIVE:
10.1 Ensure the correct completion of unit records and reports.

10.2 Actively promote the utilisation and further development of clinical and administrative computerisation.

10.3 Assist in the preparation of the Annual Departmental Report.

10.4 Participate in the administration of unit budgetary/management

The job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment.

Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc
(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
(i) Are registered in the relevant division of the Register of Nurses & Midwives
maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI] (Bord
Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) or entitled to be so registered.

(ii) Have at least 5 years post registration experience (or an aggregrate of 5 years
fulltime post registration experience) of which 2 years must be in the speciality
or related area.

(iii) Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge
the functions of the role.

(iv) Candidates must demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development.

(b) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability including a high standard of
suitability and clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the
functions of the role.

2. Annual registration
(i) On appointment, practitioners must maintain live annual registration on the relevant
division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and
Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann).

(ii) Confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the annual Patient
Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. Health
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of
undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a
reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Character
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Desirable

• A management course
• Evidence of professional continuous development, post graduate qualification in Haematology/Oncology

If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/ Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee’s re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012.

Please note: In applying for this position you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/ Office/ Body will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position