Candidate Clinical Nurse Specialist

Overview

Post Title: Candidate Clinical Nurse Specialist (cCNS) Diabetes

Post Status: Permanent

Department Medical Directorate

Location: Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9

Reports to: CNS Team DDC/ CNM 3 / Directorate Nurse Manager Medical 2

Salary: Appointment will be made on CNM 1 Payscale (€56,642 - €66,705) at a point in line with Government pay policy for the duration of training.

Hours of work: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Closing Date: Tuesday 21st October 2025 @ 12noon

Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.

Position Summary

This exciting new role has been designed to facilitate nurses with a strong interest in diabetes to begin their pathway to becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in diabetes. The Diabetic cCNS plays a pivotal role in the specialist diabetic nursing team. The post holder will work in the diabetic day centre with the team providing expert care to patients with Type 1 & 2 Diabetes. The role will also encompass providing education and support to staff across all directorates in Beaumont Hospital involved in the care of in patients with diabetes. The cCNS will play an active role in the hospital/'s link nurse programme which provides ongoing education and support to staff across Beaumont Hospital.

Responsibilities

Principal Duties and Responsibilities: The five core concepts are: 1. Clinical Focus 2. Patient/Client Advocate 3. Education and Training 4. Audit and Research 5. Consultant

Clinical Focus – The candidate CNS Nurse Specialist will:

- Help meet the psychological, emotional and informational needs of patients at the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment. Support should be provided for patients in the following areas: 1) Diabetes Day Centre; 2) Throughout the hospital; 3) Outpatient department
- Actively participate in planning and carrying care in the Diabetes Day Centre for patients
- Provide support to the family/ significant other, through listening, problem solving and education
- Provide outreach support for the patient at home
- Attend Diabetic Outpatient Clinic and Diabetes Day Centre and co-ordinate visits for each patient
- Assess patients regarding their need for referral to specialist services
- Report such patients promptly to the consultant/clinical leader and discuss referral
- Co-ordinate relevant services in preparation for treatment
- Attend multidisciplinary team meetings
- Educate patients re: diagnoses and treatments
- Foster good working relationships with all members of the clinical team, professional and supportive
- Maintain accurate clinical records complying with legislation and best practice
- Demonstrate specialist knowledge of and clinical expertise in the delivery of patient care
- Be aware of all hospital policies and procedures and collaborate with other health care professionals to ensure these are observed
- Be aware of hospital diabetes related policies
- Be actively involved in the preparation and implementation of policies and nursing guidelines in relation to the management of care to diabetic patients
- Demonstrate leadership ability and good communication skills

Patient Advocate

- Provide an efficient, effective and high quality service, respecting the needs of each patient
- Act as a resource/ contact person for patients with diabetes attending other departments within the hospital or outside the hospital for treatment
- Provide patients and family/ significant others with contact details for the Diabetes nurse specialist and advise for out of hours contact
- Be aware of existing resources/ services which help patients and their family/ significant others, e.g., social services, support groups, entitlements
- Act as an advocate for patients undergoing clinical trials, providing information as appropriate and communicating with research staff
- Participate in team discussions regarding treatment for patients with diabetes
- Facilitate development of information leaflets for patients and families

Education and training

- Provide support to nursing staff by means of regular group meetings to discuss particular patient cases
- Assist in the development and delivery of training programmes for nursing staff
- Play an active role in teaching all grades of nursing staff and other disciplines as required
- Use relevant educational opportunities to maintain the highest standards and up to date care offered to the patients

Audit and Research

- Ensure that own practice is compliant and up to date with best practice, reflected in research and development
- Participate in the regular audit of own clinical practice
- Ensure the development and maintenance of a quality assurance programme which is patient centered utilising up to date research findings
- Use research findings to influence care within the specialty
- Set objectives and develop policies, procedures and standards for the diabetic nursing services based on current nursing research and relevant research from other disciplines
- Identify areas within the specialty relevant to nursing practice which would benefit from research
- Promote awareness of research-based practice amongst staff
- Participate in departmental research related to the specialty

Consultancy

- Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for Diabetic practice
- Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines, having regard to national and international advancements in Diabetic nursing
- Establish collegial partnerships and contribute to the professional development of students, peers, colleagues and others through consultation, education, leadership, mentorship and coaching
- Work with, support, advise and help build up knowledge of expertise of the primary care team in providing an appropriate system of care to meet the needs of the patient and their family/carers
- Develop and maintain good collaborative working relationships with MDT and other health care professionals within and outside the service
- Participate in the implementation of the national clinical care programmes and their agreed models of care for patients and their families as they relate to the role
- Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance general nursing practice

Note: The job description indicates the main function and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment. Other specific work not covered may also be assigned by the Director of Nursing or Consultant Immunologists from time to time.

Qualifications

Selection Criteria: Applications will be assessed on how well candidates satisfy the criteria.

Mandatory:

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc

(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition: (i) Be a registered nurse/midwife on the active Register of Nurses and Midwives held by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or be eligible to be so registered; (ii) Be registered in the division(s) of the NMBI for which the application is being made or be entitled to be registered; OR in exceptional circumstances be registered in another division; AND (iii) Have a minimum of 1 year post registration full time experience or equivalent; AND (iv) Have a minimum of 1 year experience in the specialist area of Diabetes, or be supported to attain one year/'s clinical specialist experience; AND (v) Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study verified by QQI NFQ Level 9 or higher relevant to the specialist area, or provide evidence of equivalent credits; AND (vi) Demonstrate continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area or be supported to obtain CPD; AND (vii) Have the ability to practice safely and effectively within the scope of practice.

Note: For nurses/midwives with level 8 qualification in the specialist area, this may be recognised up to Sept 2026; requirements remain the same with progression support along a CNS/CMS pathway. All must be achieved within 2 years.

2. Annual registration

Practitioners must maintain live annual registration with NMBI and confirm annually via PSAC. Appointment and continuation are dependent on maintaining annual registration.

3. Health

Must be fully competent and healthy to perform the duties of the office.

4. Character

Must be of good character.

Applicants will be required to complete the post graduate diploma in Diabetes Nursing as part of this role enabling registration as a CNS within two years.

Other notices

Please note abatement provisions apply if the appointee has pension arrangements; applying for abatement waiver is not anticipated.

Further Information for Candidates

Supplementary information:

The Hospital

www.beaumont.ie

Management Unit:

www.beaumont.ie/hr

Informal Enquiries ONLY to: No applications will be accepted through this email address

Name: Alan Healy-Cunningham

Title: Directorate Nurse Manager

Email address: alanhealycunningham@beaumont.ie

Telephone: 01 8528196

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