Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Outreach
Job Specification, Terms & Conditions
Job Title and Grade / Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach)(Grade Code 2632 )Campaign Reference / NRS0677
Closing Date / Thursday, 17th May 2012 at 5:00pm
Proposed Interview Date(s) / Week commencing 18th June 2012
Organisational Area / HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster
HSE Dublin North East
HSE South
HSE West
Taking up appointment / To be indicated at job offer stage.
Location of Post / Please note this campaign will create a recruitment panel to fill current and future vacancies in all HSE areas.
The following initial vacancies currently exist in:
Louth/Meath Integrated Service Area – HSE DNE
· Cavan General Hospital
· Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan & Donegal Integrated Service Area – HSE West
· Letterkenny General Hospital
Details of Service / The person appointed to this post will work in the COPD Outreach Service which is a newly developed service within the overall respiratory service in one of the 8 hospital sites. COPD Outreach is a four pronged service offering early supported discharge, assisted discharge, admission prevention, case management and pulmonary rehabilitation to COPD patients. The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering coordinated evidence based care for patients with COPD.
Please note a significant portion of the appointees work will be carried out “off site”. This means that the appointee will travel to patient’s home/ place of residence to perform duties related to the role.
Please note more post specific information on services provided, team structures, possible future developments etc will be provided to candidates at the ‘expression of interest’ stage of the recruitment process.
Reporting Relationship / The post holder:
· Is professionally accountable to the Director of Nursing (DON) or designated officer as required and works in partnership with the multidisciplinary team.
· Will report to the Asst. DON or designated officer as required on operational matters.
· Is clinically accountable to the Clinical Director (lead consultant overseeing the outreach service).
Purpose of the Post / The role of the CNS in COPD Outreach is to provide initial post discharge, person centred care and ongoing management of patients with COPD in the home/normal place of residence. The post holder will be a key member of the multidisciplinary team, required to provide a specialist nursing resource within the governance structure created for the programme. He/She will provide physical, psychological and emotional support to an agreed caseload of COPD Outreach patients and their families throughout their COPD trajectory.
The post holder will act as a liaison between Respiratory Services, Primary Care Teams, Community Care Teams and other agencies to deliver effective evidenced based care, using resources efficiently to achieve the best possible outcomes in keeping with the COPD Programme model of care and HIQA standards.
The post holder will develop COPD Outreach services in line with the COPD National Clinical Programme Model of Care document and associated guidance (HSE 2011).
The post holder will be offered the opportunity to advance to Registered nurse Prescriber (RNP).
The post holder will be offered the opportunity to complete theNurse Prescribing of Ionising Radiation (X-Ray) Certificate.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities / Professional Responsibilities
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach) will:
· Practice nursing according to the Code of Professional Conduct and the Scope of Practice Framework as laid down by the Nursing Board (An Bórd Altranais) and the National Clinical Guidelines for COPD Outreach.
· Adhere to national, regional and local Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines, policies, protocols and legislation
· Work within their scope of practice and take measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice
· Maintain a high standard of professional behaviour and be accountable for their practice
· Be aware of ethical policies and procedures which pertain to their area of practice
· Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient
· Follow appropriate lines of authority within the Nurse Management structure
Clinical Practice
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach) will:
· Monitor and ensure maintenance of adequate and effective discharge planning for patients returning to their own homes
· Accept referrals for COPD Outreach inclusion from members of the multidisciplinary team and other allied health professionals; and maintain records of such referrals in line with Code of Practice for Integrated Discharge Planning and audit requirements.
· Admit patients to COPD Outreach service ensuring pre-agreed inclusion/exclusion criteria are adhered too
· Work in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients within COPD Outreach service in a person centred manner. This will include:
1. Titration of prescribed medicines within agreed protocols
2. If a Registered Nurse Prescriber (RNP) the nurse must work within the scope of her/is collaborative practice agreement and adhere to the regulations set down by ABA pertaining to this role and, local policy requirements.
3. Evaluate clinical problems using objective measurement tools e.g. Spirometry in conjunction with other team members, co-ordinate investigations, therapies and patient follow-up
4. Develop an individualised home exercise programme or refer to pulmonary rehabilitation Programme if available with each patient.
· Effectively manage time and caseload in order to meet the needs of an evolving service
· Arrange referrals to other appropriate specialist services as deemed necessary
· Provide psychological support for patients and their families. Refer for further psychological support if felt necessary or requested by the patient and/or their family.
· Communicate with patients, families and friends, assess needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling when and where necessary.
· Develop close working links with other Respiratory Services
· Work closely with colleagues across services in order to provide a seamless integrated service for the patient
· Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways, individual care plans and shared care arrangements through regular collaboration/meetings with COPD Outreach and respiratory nurses nationally.
· Identify and utilise professional and voluntary resources and facilities at local and
national level by direct and indirect referral
· Refer to relevant services to assist with procurement of domiciliary equipment
· Participate in the Departmental Clinical Governance processes, working in partnership with the Head of Department, CNM3, Clinical Governance lead and local COPD Outreach governance group.
· Ensure that effective clinical governance procedures are maintained and evolve according to defined needs and demands in COPD Outreach care.
· Maintain professional standards including patient and data confidentiality in line with HSE policy
Patient Advocate
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach) will:
· Act as patient advocate, this involves communicating, negotiating and representing COPD outreach patients values and decisions in collaboration with other members of the MDT.
· Contribute to weekly case conferencing meetings with supporting outreach consultant and other members of the MDT
· Develop and support the concept of advocacy particularly in relation to patients' participation in decision making thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.
· Provide and advocate for appropriate assessments, supports and strategies for patients with disease related changes and difficulties.
· Establish, maintain and improve procedures for collaboration and cooperation between Acute services, Community services, Primary Care and voluntary organisations.
· Take appropriate action on any matter identified as being detrimental to staff and/or service user care or well being which may inhibit the effective provision of effective care.
Education and Training
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach) will:
· Maintain clinical, nursing and managerial competence in current developments, in the field of COPD management to include keeping up to date with relevant research to ensure evidence-based practice.
· Keep abreast of current trends in nursing through reading, attending seminars and having thorough knowledge of nursing policy and standards.
· Address the educational needs of nursing and other professionals by participating in training programmes for all members of the MDT.
· Use every opportunity for discussion, demonstrations and teaching for both patients and staff
· Liaise and foster good communications with the Centres of Nursing and Midwifery Education (CNMEs)
· Participate in the orientation programmes of all new staff within the department and in-service programmes
· Attend meetings as required
· Assist or participate in new projects relating to respiratory care
· Maintain and develop personal practice standards and keep abreast of progress in the field of Respiratory Nursing
· Seek advice and assistance with assigned cases which prove to be beyond the scope of his or her professional competence.
· Offer comprehensive education to patients with COPD that provides them with effective strategies that will enable them to self-manage their condition/disease.
Audit and Research
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach) will:
· Contribute to the management the COPD Outreach register
· Maintain records of COPD Outreach service in line with minimum data set programme requirements
· Present three monthly audit reports to local governance team and national clinical care directorate, as part of the COPD Outreach team.
· Implement and manage changes identified by audit and research and required within COPD Outreach services
· Promote individual best practice interventions in accordance with the identified needs of patients
· Participate and promote nursing research and associated research in this specialist area, identifying nursing topics and issues, involving presentations and collaboration with the MDT.
· Ensure the views of all consumers are effectively sought, channelled and acted upon as appropriate
· Contribute to the development of key performance indicators and monitoring of same within COPD Outreach services.
Consultant
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach) will:
· Act as resource in providing specialist knowledge, expertise and care in liaison with the MDT
· Promote the role of the COPD Outreach services amongst all health care staff
· Work with, support, advise and help build up the knowledge and expertise of the other healthcare professionals involved in providing care for COPD Outreach patients through regular formal and informal education.
· Represent the unit at local, national and international meetings as required
Health & Safety
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach) will:
· Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
· Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of relevant / designated individual(s) in line with best practice.
· Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others
· Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action
· Comply with department procedures with regard to assessment, recommendation and or manufacturing of all assistive devices.
· Promote a culture that values diversity and respect
· Attend mandatory Health and Safety Training
· Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, e.g. Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
· Ensure a lone worker policy is in place and adhered to within your organisation/unit.
Administration
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (COPD Outreach) will:
· Contribute to policy development and formulation, performance monitoring, business planning and budgetary control.
· Ensure that records are safeguarded and managed as per HSE policy and in accordance with relevant legislation
· Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records/data on all matters pertaining to the planning, management, delivery and evaluation of this service in line with Health Service Executive requirements.
· Requisition with due economy
· Ensure that equipment is maintained according to Hospital Policy
· Undertake other duties as required by the Director of Nursing or his / her designate
· Support the return of the KPI’s for the service to the HSE Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate as indicated in the COPD Outreach Programme model of care document.
The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him / her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or experience / Candidates must at the latest date for receipt of completed applications for the post:
· Be registered in the General Division of the Register of Nurses kept by
An Bord Altranais or be entitled to be so registered
And
· Have at least 5 years post registration experience in the General division of the register in which the applicant is currently practising
And
· Have a minimum of 2 years experience in the specialist area of adult respiratory care
And
· Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional
responsibility within his/her scope of practice
And
· Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development
And
· Have a level 8 post-registration National Qualifications Authority of Ireland major academic award (or equivalent) relevant to the specialist area of adult respiratory care
Age
No age restriction shall apply to a candidate except where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004). In this case the candidate must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.
Health
A candidate 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.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
Post Specific Requirements / Demonstrate experience in adult chronic lung disease and COPD.
In order to develop effectiveand more efficient services, in line with the COPD Outreach Model of care, the post holder is required to:
· Have undertaken or be willing to complete a Certificate in Spirometry (IARS or equivalent). The timeframe for the attainment of the above requirement should be agreed with your local employer on commencement of the post and is recommended it is achieved within 2 years