Staff Nurse Inpatient Ward

Accountability and Working Relationships

Job title: Staff Nurse

Professionally accountable to: Director of Nursing

Key reporting relationships: Clinical Nurse Managers/ Director of Nursing

Key working relationships: Nursing and Medical Personnel Health Care Professionals  

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Qualifications, Experience & Competencies:

• Be a Registered Nurse and eligible to register with An Bord Altranais on the General Division of the live register.
• A recognised Orthopaedic Course or Orthopaedic experience is desirable but not essential.
• Have IELTS Band 7 or equivalent if English is not the first language.

Experience:

Candidates must ideally:

• Have managed patient care ensuring the highest professional standards using an evidence based and care planning approach
• Be computer literate
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and proven written and verbal communication abilities.
• Have the ability to work on own initiative, prioritise and manage a number of issues simultaneously and demonstrate attention to detail
• Be able to identify potential difficulties and formulate solutions.
• Be free from any defect or disease which would render him/her unsuitable to hold office and be in a state of health as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service
• Be of good character

Accountability:

The Staff Nurse reports to and is accountable to the Director of Nursing and the Ward Manager in all matters relating to the job.

Outline of duties and responsibilities:

The Staff Nurse will be expected to take responsibility for a caseload of patients in which you will assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care. In addition, you are expected to practice within the Code of Practice, Rules and Guidelines set out by An Bord Altranais and comply with Policies and Procedures of the Sports Surgery Clinic. You will be held responsible to the Clinical Nurse Manager 11 and in her absence to the delegated CNM holding shift responsibility for the ward. At all times you will practice within the limits of your experience.
The Staff Nurse will be required to possess a clear understanding and commitment to the ethos and philosophy of the Sports Surgery Clinic.

Duties and Responsibilities:

General Accountability:

• To maintain throughout the Clinic an awareness of the primacy of patient in relation to all clinical activities and maintain a high standard of nursing care.
• To create and promote healthy working relationships.
• To demonstrate behaviour consistent with the values of the Clinic.
• To ensure that each patient is treated as an individual and that privacy and confidentiality are maintained at all times.
• To actively participate in the Clinic’s Accreditation programme and the ethos of Continuous Quality Improvement.

Clinical Responsibilities:

• To ensure that programmes of care are being implemented and evaluated to meet the individual needs of each patient thus evaluating the effects of nursing care on patient’s progress and adjusting nursing care orders accordingly.
• To exercise appropriate professional judgement in clinical issues.
• To ensure the recording of accurate and comprehensive treatment and nursing records and audit.
• To co-operate with and assist medical staff in the care of patients.
• To provide a visible clinical presence at all times and facilitate as situations arise e.g. cardiac arrest.
• To provide a high standard of safe practice for patient care pre and post operatively.
• To providing safe, comprehensive nursing care to a caseload of patients within the guidelines laid out by An Bord Altranais.

Management Responsibilities:

• To support and supervise care assistants and other support staff in carrying out their allocated clinical duties to the required standard.
• To ensure that all staff practice nursing within the code set for the profession by An Bord Altranais.
• To ensure that there is effective communication with the Clinical Nurse Managers, Nursing Administration, patients and relatives.
• To ensure that a professional standard of behaviour is maintained at all times.
• At all times support the leadership of the Director of Nursing and Clinical Nurse Manager.

Education and Teaching Responsibilities:

• To promote good relationships with other key members of the clinic staff through the exercising of attitudes which convey an understanding and awareness of the wider function of the clinic.
• To adhere to Clinic policies in respect of grievance / disciplinary matters and health and safety.
• To participate in clinical audit projects to provide continued improvement to quality of patient care.
• To exercise the An Bord Altranais code of conduct.
• To be aware of the need to keep abreast of clinical and professional developments by showing evidence of continuing professional development.
• To assist the Clinical Nurse Manager in delivering formal and informal teaching of all nursing staff including care assistants.
• To act as mentor to junior staff ensuring that their learning objectives are met and that they receive adequate supervision at all times.
• To participate as requested in the induction and guidance of new staff to the clinic.
• To participate in teaching nursing procedures to post graduate student nurses.
• To instruct and supervise junior nursing staff to enable them to attain their potential and assume responsibility for delegated duties.
• To be alert to the learning needs of staff and to the many opportunities for teaching in order to promote continued education.
• To attend and participate in in-service programmes when appropriate.
• To keep up to date with current developments in nursing practice and education.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• To report any faulty mechanical equipment to the Clinical Nurse Manager.
• To deal with ward incidents and accidents in accordance with Clinic policy and to accurately record and report detail.
• To communicate with theatre and other departments to ensure continuity of patient care and safe transfer of patients.
• To keep informed of all relevant policies including Health and Safety Policy to ensure maintenance of a safe working environment.
• To maintain safe custody of controlled drugs according to clinic policy.
• To consult with other nursing teams to ensure efficient and effective service.
• To act as a full member of the Nursing Team in the clinical area.
• To positively participate in Change Management and Development.
• To attend meetings and sit on committees as required.
• To use knowledge, judgement and experience to develop ways of coping with crisis situations i.e. patient and staff.
• To report accidents and incidents as per clinic policy.
• To observe and uphold daily cleaning standards in the department and to report any inadequacies to the Clinical Nurse Manager.
• To promote, nurture and maintain a high level of staff morale hence promoting team spirit and job satisfaction among nursing, and other staff within the ward.
• To deputise for the CNM 11 as required.
• To actively contribute to the process of clinical risk management.

Self Development Responsibilities:

• To maintain a personal record of professional development.
• Act as a role model.
• To keep an up-to-date record of on-going education.
• To keep up to date with current developments in nursing practice and education.
• To ensure that development is research based.
• To ensure adherence to clinic policies and An Bord Altranais guidelines.
• To assist the Clinical Nurse Manager 11 in maintaining a level of excellence in patient care by maintaining standards and supporting the overall management of the Department.

Conditions of Employment:

• Act at all times in accordance with An Bord Altranais [1998] Code of Professional Conduct.
• Annual Leave Entitlement: 24 – 26 days per annum pro- rata.  Annual leave is calculated January to December of each year.
• Sick Leave Regulations: Please refer to the Sports Surgery Clinic Staff Handbook which shall be given to new appointees on taking up duty.
• A minimum of one month's notice of termination of employment is required.   Notice of termination of employment must be received in writing.
• Uniform Policy must be adhered to at all times.

Please note the following:

• Fire orders must be observed and staff must attend fire lectures periodically.
• All accidents within the department must be reported immediately.
• In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (1989 & 2005), smoking within the Clinic building is not permitted.

Confidentiality:

In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of patients, students, staff and / or other health service business.  Such records and information are strictly confidential and, unless acting on the instruction of an authorised officer, such information must not be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty.  In addition records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required.

The extent and speed of change in the delivery of health care is such that adaptability is essential at this level of management. The incumbent will be required to maintain and enhance their knowledge, skills and aptitudes necessary to respond to a changing situation. The Sports Surgery Clinic is currently undergoing development therefore, the Job Description must be regarded as an outline of the major areas of accountability at the present time, which will be reviewed and assessed on an ongoing basis.