CNM1 St Peters Ward

Position Summary:

The job holder is expected to demonstrate team leadership and management in the maintenance and development of a high quality nursing service to patients. The job holder will:

1. Assist Clinical Nurse Manager II in directing, co-ordinating and providing a high quality, evidence based nursing service in a multidisciplinary environment.

2. Enable the training and development of nursing staff in the provision of safe and effective management of patient care.

3. Assist Clinical Nurse Manager II in the management of the ward. The duties will include rostering and supervision of staff, teaching and training of nursing staff and support staff and the economical management of resources.

4. Assist Clinical Nurse Manager II in the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, the setting of standards of care and the review and update of nursing policies and procedures based on current and sound research.

5. Maintain effective communication and professional relationships within the nursing team and the multi-disciplinary team and clinical support services to ensure that a cohesive effective service is provided within the ward.

6. Be responsible for the management of the ward in the absence of CNM II.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

MANAGERIAL

In the absence of or as directed by Clinical Nurse Manager II:-

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, appropriate placement of patients and when necessary public/private accommodation mix.

2. Ensure the effective implementation of admission and discharge arrangements for patients and train ward staff to carry out such processes appropriately.

3. Alert Directorate Nurse Manager/Consultants/NCHD's to any problems which hinders the effective management of patients and utilisation of beds i.e. delays in investigation procedures etc.

4. Prepare weekly duty rosters of deployed staff in such a way that best facilitates the workload of the ward and ensures continuity of care.

5. Allocate nursing staff with appropriate numbers, skill-mix and level of experience to meet the caseload and other needs of the ward.

6. Advise Directorate Nurse Manager when staff levels fall below or are in excess of that considered adequate to meet the complexity and variations in workload.

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

8. Arrange meal breaks in such a way that the Unit is adequately covered with experienced Nurses.

9. Be willing, in an emergency, to share personnel when required with other areas of the Renal Unit or Hospital.

10. Guide, support and supervise the nursing staff to enable them to deliver the best possible standards of nursing care.

11. Lead and motivate staff and influence change in response to a changing health service environment.

12. Ensure the agreed hospital and specialist renal policies and procedures are known to and understood by staff and are implemented.

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

14. (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 and Viral Screening 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.

15. Establish effective communications with Clinical Support Departments (i.e. Pathology, Radiology, Operating Theatre and Rehabilitation Services) to ensure that the services required for individual patients are co-ordinated and timely delivered.

16. Be responsible for the economical ordering and utilisation of Pharmacy and Medical Supplies for the ward, maintaining agreed stock levels and adjusting levels according to peaks and troughs in demand.

17. Establish communications with non-clinical departments (i.e. Catering, Contract Cleaning, Linen, Portering, Ward Supplies and Technical Services) to ensure that the services to the ward are provided to the highest possible standard and ensure economical utilisation of such services.

18. Ensure that all Equipment is checked before use and that staff are trained in the correct use of such equipment.

19. Ensure that staff take part in mandatory training on Cardiac Resuscitation, Handling and Lifting, Fire Procedures and Disaster Plan and that they are competent in all areas.

20. Ensure that medical waste including dialysis products are discarded in accordance with Hospital Policy.

21. (a) Ensure that verbal and written nursing reporting systems are accurate and adequate and that nursing reports accompany patients who are being transferred to other units/centres.

(b) Ensure the appropriate utilisation of the Renal Clinical Management System with regard to the management of individual patients clinical data, audit and utilisation of data to establish clinical outcomes, standards of care and to update clinical practice.

22. Contribute to the development of operational and strategic plans for the Ward and to the wider issues relating to the development of Renal, Transplantation, Urology or Haematology services.

23. Convene regular ward meetings to encourage a positive staff environment and participation by staff in the development of the Services.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In the absence of or as directed by Clinical Nurse Manager II:-

1. Be an effective practitioner able to establish and maintain a high quality evidence based nursing service.

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.

3. Direct, supervise and support the nursing staff in the management of nursing care ie. providing professional and specialist advice on the provision of nursing care and participate in the delivery of care.

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

5. Ensure 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. Review patients care-plans for appropriate patient goals, problems, approaches and revisions based on nursing need.

7. Promote patient/family participation in care, identifying and meeting the learning needs of patients and their families.

8. Ensure the provision of timely and complete information and education for individual patients aimed at promoting independence, prevention of illness and promotion of health.

9. Ensure the provision of psychological support by nursing staff to patients and families and encourage patients who have ongoing psychological problems to self-refer to the Nurse Counselling Service.

10. Ensure adequate liaison by nursing staff with patient/family and Social Workers or Patient Care Co-Ordinators as appropriate with regard to patients' occupational and social needs.

11. Maintain high standards of communication with Ward Staff and the external agencies when accepting or transferring patients.

12. Apply research findings as appropriate to define patient population. Participate in research when necessary.

STANDARDS AND QUALITY OF CARE

In the absence of or as directed by Clinical Nurse Manager take all steps possible to safeguard the welfare of patients through actively leading in:-

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

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

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

4. 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.

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

EDUCATION - STAFF DEVELOPMENT

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

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

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

4. Lead in the training and development of the Healthcare Assistant role in collaboration with Clinical Nurse Managers and Directorate Nurse Manager.

5. Identify training and development needs of individual staff assigned to the ward and set objectives for such learning.

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

7. Identify and utilise teaching, learning and practice opportunities in the clinical setting and encourage problem based learning strategies based on patient health problems.

8. Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of Induction/Orientation Training Programmes, Continuing Education Programmes and Post Graduate Nursing Programmes as appropriate.

9. Ensure the availability of appropriate information/educational resources for patients and families aiming to encourage independence, the prevention of illness and the promotion of health for renal patients.

10. Actively seek research findings, which will support clinical practice and participate actively with research opportunities within the Ward.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

In the absence of or as directed by Clinical Nurse Manager II:-

1. Maintain a high level of staff morale, promoting team spirit and job satisfaction among nursing, multidisciplinary and support staff within the practice area.

2. Ensure that all staff practice nursing within the code set for the profession by An Bord Altranais.

3. Take all possible steps to safeguard the welfare and safety of the staff.

4. Receive with courtesy, visiting professionals and lay visitors to the Ward.

5. Monitor sick leave and late attendances, receive calls from staff reporting sick and implement the sick leave regulations in consultation with Directorate Nurse Manager.

6. Handle staff complaints, grievances and disciplinary matters in accordance with hospital policy and report to DNM as necessary on serious or unresolved issues.

7. Carrying out development and performance review interviews with individual post-graduate nursing staff, using job performance review in accordance with unit policy.

8. Ensures that the work of the ward clerical staff is carried out to the required standard and liase with the Renal Unit Clerical Supervisor with regard to training and development needs of staff.

WARD AUXILLARY STAFF

In the absence of or as directed by Clinical Nurse Manager II:-

1. Ensure that the work of the Health Care Assistants and Household Staff is implemented to the required standard as per job specification.

2. Ensure that the systems for induction and training of auxiliary staff are implemented in a satisfactory manner.

3. Supervise, support and encourage auxiliary staff in the implementation of their role and ensure that nursing staff know and understand these roles.

4. Ensure that the work of the clerical administrative staff is implemented to the required standard as per job specification and liase with Renal Unit Clerical Supervisor with regard to training and development needs.

SELF DEVELOPMENT

1. Have a creative outlook enabling progress to be made towards the ultimate objective of reaching standards of excellence in the delivery of nursing care and in the co-ordination of multi-disciplinary care.

2. Maintain and update knowledge of relevant professional development and all current trends in the speciality of renal nursing, and an awareness of future trends.

3. Develop personal skills in renal nursing with "hands on" nursing commitment.

4. Attend and participate in staff development programmes and attend speciality meetings and conferences, as required.

5. Discuss present performance and future needs with Directorate Nurse Manager, using Job Performance Review in accordance with unit policy.

ADMINISTRATIVE

1. Ensure the correct completion of unit records and reports.

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

3. Assist in the preparation of the Annual Departmental Report.

4. Participate in the administration of unit budgetary/management.

The job description represents the main functions of the role and is subject to review and amendment to reflect the needs of the service.

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 3 years post registration fulltime experience (or an aggregate of 3
years post registration full time experience) of which 1 year post registration full
time experience (or an aggregate of 1 years post registration full time experience)
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 Continuing Professional Development.

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
1. A management course is desirable.