Registered Advanced Midwife Practitioner (RAMP) Neonatology
Job Specification & Terms and Conditions
Job Title and Grade / RegisteredAdvanced Midwife Practitioner (RAMP) Neonatology(Grade Code2535)
Campaign Reference / NRS02446
Closing Date / Monday 7th September 2015 @ 12 noon (GMT)
Proposed Interview Date(s) / September 2015
Taking up Appointment / A start date will be indicated at Job Offer stage
Organisational Area / Health Service Executive (HSE) West
Location of Post / UL Hospitals,Limerick with initial assignment to University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL)
Details of Service / UMHL is a regional referral centre for maternity careoperating as part of the University Hospitals Group established in 2012.
Thegroup of hospitals includes, University Limerick Hospital (ULH), UMHL,Ennis, Nenaghand St. John’s hospitals which operate as one single hospital system of corporate and clinical governance.
UMHLprovides a twenty-four hour, seven-day Midwifery and Obstetric service for the region, including a 24-hour emergency service for all maternity emergencies. The RAMP (Neonatology) post at UL Hospitals is aimed at improving the process of care and service delivery in order to provide positive outcomes for Neonates.
Accountability/Reporting Arrangements / Professionally accountable to the Group Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery – UL Hospitals or delegate.
Clinically accountable to the Consultant Neonatologists.
Key Working Relationships /
- Neonates/Service Users – neonatal interest groups
- Clinically – multi-disciplinary team
- Director/Assistant Director of Nursing/Midwifery
- Senior nurses/midwives within health service
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
- Higher Education Institution
- Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit
- Other relevant statutory and non statutory organisations
Purpose of the Post / The overall purpose of the RAMP Neonatology is to provide advanced clinical neonatal nursing expertise and leadership to improve the healthcare experience and outcomes for neonates at UL Hospitals. The RAMP Neonatology will demonstrate practical and theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills that are acknowledged by their peers as exemplary and must also demonstrate the ability to articulate and rationalise the concept of advanced practice.
The main objectives of this advanced role are:
- To develop and advance the practice of neonatal nursing care and help improve clinical outcomes, standards and safe quality of care for neonates and their families.
- To act as a resource for the continuing professional development of neonatal nurses/midwives and NCHD’s in the neonatal unit through leadership, mentoring, education and learning with the application of research and evidence based practice (EBP).
- To meet the quality key performance indicators (KPI’s) for Neonatal Services.
- To reduce the number of admissions to the NICU and reduce the number of invasive interventions required.
- To enhance clinical outcomes through the promotion of Family Centred Care (FCC) and developmental care.
- To lead in health promotion in the Neonatal Unit supporting staff, parents and families achieve better neonatal health outcomes.
- To assess, diagnose and treat newborn infants requiring advanced neonatalnursing care.
- To network on neonatal care locally, nationally and internationally
- To enhance effective discharge planning and lead initiatives to bring about the smooth transition from hospital to home.
Principle Duties and Responsibilities / Autonomy in Clinical Practice
The Registered Advanced Midwife Practitioner Neonatology will be required to:
- Deliver quality direct care to a defined caseload
- Undertake and document a complete episode of patient/neonate care in an accurate, timely and complete manner (assess, diagnose, treat and discharge).
- Accept accountability and responsibility for clinical decision making at advanced practice level by managing a caseload under clinical supervision.
- Demonstrate expert clinical skills in the diagnosis and treatment of neonates within a collaboratively agreed scope of practice framework alongside other healthcare professionals.
- Undertake supervised clinical practice at advanced level
- Use professional judgement and decision making processes to refer neonates to other health care professionals as required.
- Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team in the development and/ or review of protocols and guidelines for RAMP led assessment, intervention and treatment for neonates within agreed caseload for the service.
- Participate in the future development of integrated care pathways where appropriate, utilising evidence-based practice guidelines.
- Achieve clinical competence through engagement in clinical supervision and peer review.
- Maintain professional competence by participating in professional development initiatives specific to neonatal nursing within and outside the current department.
- Recognise limitation in scope of practice and address theoretical and practice gaps through continuing education, consultation with colleagues and the supervising consultants.
- Manage a mixed caseload of infants requiring neonatal care. (NICU, HDU and SCBU) and follow-up in OPD.
- Admit neonates to the ICU, HDU or SCBU area when appropriate
- Interpret and extrapolate relevant history
- Undertake a comprehensive neonatal nursing assessment
- Order appropriate investigations and interpret results
- Perform invasive and non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
- Use specialised clinical and theoretical knowledge to plan neonatal care using appropriate management strategies
- Initiate the treatment of sick neonates including drug therapy as per RAMP neonatology Collaborate Practice Agreement (CPA).
- Initiation and subsequent management of mechanical ventilation, which will include monitoring of blood gases and altering ventilator settings
- Anticipate and circumvent possible complications
- Attend high-risk and emergency births and lead in the resuscitation and stabilisation of preterm and ill neonates
- Continuously evaluate progress and where appropriate modify the plan of care to optimise outcome.
- Communicate with parents regarding their infant’s condition, reason for admission, management plan and prognosis.
- Perform audits and participate in research. Make appropriate changes to current practice.
- Develop and or review PPPG’s and makes appropriate changes in line with evidence based practice.
- Refer infants to appropriate team and the Consultant Neonatologist
- Order, undertake and interpret results and diagnostic procedures relevant to neonatal care.
- Discharge infants home or to the postnatal wards having made the appropriate follow up arrangements including referrals to the Public Health Nurse and General Practitioner.
- Identifies situations of clinical risk and takes appropriate actions to ensure a safe environment for the neonates and their families.
- Leads/participates in case review and debriefing activities as required.
- Delegates appropriate care intervention and monitoring to other members of the nursing/midwifery team.
- Have involvement in postnatal wards and antenatal assessments. (i.e. high-risk and preterm deliveries and the delivery of neonates with an unexpected illness or congenital abnormality).
- Have a caseload in the OPD as the role develops. The role may entail neonatal review of selected cases which are agreed with key stakeholders. This will be pre-planned in conjunction with the Consultant Neonatologist.
- Accept referrals, which fall within the agreed scope of practice.
- Responsible and accountable for clinical decision-making and ultimately neonatal healthcare outcomes.
- Referral rights to various services, to ensure babies from diverse backgrounds get the same access to care.
- Formulates a working diagnosis, initiate investigations and carry out specific interventions/treatments based on neonate history and physical assessment.
- Initiates continuous monitoring of neonates responses to interventions and treatment.
- Provide phone support, a follow up clinic appointment and out of hours support as required.
- Acts as a resource and utilises a wide range of clinical and critical thinking skills to influence the review and development of the scope of practice for the Registered Advanced Nurse/Midwife Practitioners working in the Neonatal Department.
- Provides leadership in the implementation of HSE strategies e.g. National Clinical programs.
- Provide clinical supervision and act as a mentor to nursing/midwifery staff, undergraduate students and other healthcare professionals in the clinical area.
- Implement patient safety strategies in line with organisation and national patient safety agenda.
- Articulate and rationalise the concept of advanced Nursing practice within the framework of relevant legislation, The Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (An Bord Altranais, 2000), The Code of Professional Conduct (An Bord Altranais, 2000).
- Identify health promotion priorities and opportunities in the area of neonatology and implement health promotion strategies for patient/neonates in accordance with the public health agenda.
- Actively engage in leading and managing change in the delivery of Neonatal Nursing according to neonates need and service demand
- Participate in service planning and budgeting in relation to Neonatal Nursing.
- Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a role model for advanced nursing practice for all neonatal nursing staff.
- Act as a mentor in order to facilitate the education and professional development of Nursing grades and other healthcare professionals.
- Identify areas of clinical practice relevant to the role that require development.
- Participate in orientation, in-service training and midwife/nurse training programmes as required.
- Participate in forums which evaluate quality and standards in clinical practice.
- Promote an understanding of the role of the Registered AdvancedMidwife Practitioner and increase the awareness of midwives/nurses and other grades of the scope of practice of the RAMP Neonatology.
- Contribute to the professional body of neonatal nursing knowledge and practice –locally, nationally and internationally.
- Ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply with Health & Safety Guidelines and Welfare at Work Act.
- Engage in the review of accidents, incidents and near misses related to Neonatal Nursing. Undertake analysis as appropriate and furnish reports on same.
- Accept referrals, which fall within the agreed scope of practice
- Identify research priorities specific to Neonatal Nursing and the scope of practice/caseload
- Lead, conduct, disseminate and publish nursing research to shape and advance neonatal nursing practice, education and policy and the wider agenda.
- Evaluates care and lead practice developments through research and audit of practice.
- Initiate, participate in and evaluate audit of the client caseload and other relevant areas.
- Utilise the outcome of audit to improve service provision or initiate a change in practice.
- Initiate and foster link with third level education institutions and other organisations in relation to research.
- Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through use of data and specialist knowledge.
- Develop data collecting systems that will inform and evaluate the service provided by the RAMP Neonatology.
- Identify, critically analyse, disseminate and integrate best available evidence into practice by developing evidence based guidelines and protocols.
- Use the outcome of audits to make recommendation to improve practice, budgetary processes and service planning.
- Assist in the analysis of the data for the Vermont Oxford Neonatal Network (VON).
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and / or experience / Each candidate must, at the latest date for receipt of completed applications for the post:
Be registered with Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) as a Registered Advanced Midwife Practitioner Neonatology or be entitled to be so registered
And
Be registered in the Midwives Division of the Register of Nurses & Midwives maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or be entitled to be so registered
And
Be educated to Masters degree level (or higher). The postgraduate programme must be in nursing/midwifery or an area which reflects the specialist field of practice (education preparation must include a substantial clinical modular component(s) pertaining to the relevant area of specialist practice)
And
Have a minimum of 7 years post-registration experience, which will include 5 years experience in the area of Neonatal nursing care
And
Have substantive hours at supervised advanced practice level
And
Have the competence to exercise higher levels of judgement, discretion and decision making in the clinical area
And
Demonstrate competencies relevant to context of practice
And
Provide evidence of continuing professional development
Post Specific Requirements /
- Registered Nurse Prescriber
- Post registration qualification in Special & Intensive Care of the Newborn (or higher)
- Substantive hours at supervised practice level to include 500 clinical supervised hours in history taking, advanced physical assessment, case management and pathology recognition
Other requirements specific to the post /
- Be an active member of professional associations and organisations
- Demonstrate evidence of ongoing professional development through possession of a professional portfolio
- Possess current and valid certification for neonatal resuscitation and STABLE course.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge / Have demonstrated core competencies relevant to the context of the scope of practice on RAMP Neonatology.
- Demonstrates the possession of advanced knowledge and clinical skills in the specialist area of practice.
- Have experience and demonstrate skills in teaching in the clinical area
- Demonstrates analytical skills
- Demonstrates self-motivation and the ability to motivate and encourage others
- Demonstrates the ability to work autonomously
- Demonstrates planning and organisational skills
- Demonstrates evidence of continuing professional development
- Demonstrates evidence of information technology/ computer skills
- Demonstrates effective communication skills – oral and written
- Has a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards.
- Demonstrate evidence of establishing systems, policy, structures
- Demonstrate leading on process, values and vision for service
- Demonstrate knowledge of Microsoft Office: word, excel, power-point, outlook
- Possess valid and current (within previous 2 years) certification for basic life support (BLS) , NRP and manual handling.
- Be knowledgeable in relation to the pathophysiology of acute and chronic conditions encountered in the neonatal population.
- Possess advanced health assessment, diagnostic and clinical managements skills relevant to neonatal care.
- Prioritise health problems and have the skills to undertake emergency care including resuscitation and stabilisation.
- Differentiate between, normal, variations of normal and abnormal clinical findings.
- Use advanced knowledge and expertise to educate parents and prepare them for their parental role and the discharge of their baby.
- Demonstrate high visibility in the clinical setting as an autonomous practitioner and role model demonstrating an expert level of professional competency in the area of Neonatology.
- Demonstrate advanced practical and theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills to manage the defined caseload.
- Demonstrate competence to exercise higher levels of judgments, discretion and decision making in the area of Neonatal Nursing within a defined scope of practice.
Campaign Specific Selection Process
Ranking / Shortlisting / Interview / A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.
Code of Practice / The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates”.
Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates” or on
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
Registered Advanced Midwife Practitioner (RAMP) Neonatology
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Tenure / The initial vacancy for this post is permanent and whole time. This post is pensionable. A panel may be created from which permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part time duration may be filled. The tenure of these posts will be indicated at “expression of interest” stage.Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.