Job Description
Job summary
The post holder will facilitate the provision of high quality palliative care to patients with cancer and other progressive illnesses. The nurse will provide direct support and advice to patients and their families and act as a resource to other professionals in the community. This post operates as part of an inter-professional team and the post holder will contribute to the development of an integrated approach to patient care.
Main duties of the job
To provide direct support and advice to patients with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.
To advise and support the multi-disciplinary team involved in the patients care particularly on symptom control issues and psychological, spiritual and bereavement care.
To take part in planning and delivering education programmes within the Community in conjunction with the Education Department. Research based practice and participation in research are important aspects of the role.
To work closely with Team members to ensure consistency of approach and intervention.
Job description
Key Areas of Responsibility
Clinical
In collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, assess the needs of patients, families and other carers and provide specific advice or support as appropriate.
Advise and support the multi-disciplinary team to provide high quality care. This might include advice on pain and symptom control; care planning, social and psychological care, communication and resources.
Collaborate with other health care professionals and relevant agencies to promote planned co-ordinated care.
Maintain adequate records of all patients and ensure all relevant information is documented in the patients medical/nursing notes.
Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions and treatment protocols.
Facilitate the provision of bereavement support to families and other carers.
To participate in the provision of information to patients and their carers regarding their illness, treatment and services available.
To work with the primary health care team in developing the use of the Care Decision tool
To take part in an out-of-hours advice on call rota
Management
Effectively utilise the resources required to meet service objectives.
Participate in personal and organisational objective setting.
Submit statistics and activity data as required.
Assist in the development of policies, procedures and clinical protocols related to palliative care.
Develop standards of practice against which quality of care may be measured.
Contribute to clinical audit as required.
To assume specific responsibilities in the absence of the Line Manager.
Education
Identify the specific education needs of individual patients and carers and facilitate meeting those needs.
Assist in the training and education of the multi-disciplinary team under the direction of the Education Department.
Prepare and provide learning materials for those within the clinical areas, in collaboration with the Education Department.
Act as a role model and mentor to staff. Provide informal education and support to staff in their provision of palliative care.
Audit and research
In consultation with the Director of Nursing, and collaboration with other Specialist Nurses, identify and encourage research based practice in relation to palliative care in the community.
In conjunction with the Director of Nursing, participate in multi-disciplinary audit.
Participate in nursing and collaborative research in palliative care.
Participate in the clinical governance strategy of SDHC.
Personal and Professional Development
Keep up-to-date with relevant nursing issues.
Read relevant journals, articles and papers available.
Ensure personal development in accordance with the NMC's Revalidation requirements.
Participate in clinical supervision as per St Davids Hospice policy.
Additional Duties
All job descriptions are subject to review. Job holders are expected to be flexible and be prepared to carry out any similar or related duties which do not fall within the work outlined. Any review will be undertaken by the line manager, in consultation with the post holder.