Senior Nurse Specialist

About the Role

Clinical Nurse Managers play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality patient care. This position requires a skilled professional to lead a team of nurses and healthcare professionals in providing safe and effective care to patients with cystic fibrosis.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Direct, coordinate and provide a high-quality, evidence-based nursing service in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Staff Management: Roster and supervise staff; teach and train nursing and support staff and ensure economical management of resources.
• Care Development: Enable training and development of nursing staff in safe and effective practice through team leadership and practical expertise.
• Programme Implementation: Develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care; set standards of care; review and update nursing policies and procedures based on current research.
• Communication: Maintain effective communication within the nursing team and with the multidisciplinary team to ensure a cohesive service within the ward.
• Audit and Evaluation: Audit department work and evaluate outcomes of care.

Clinical Expectations:

• Evidence-Based Practice: Establish and maintain a high-quality evidence-based nursing service.
• Patient Assessment: Assess patient needs using approved nursing models, reflecting specialist needs and promoting patient participation.
• Care Delivery: Direct, supervise and support nursing staff in care management; provide professional guidance and participate in care delivery.
• Clinical Competency: Ensure clinical competency of staff; introduce new clinical practices appropriately.
• Patient Care Planning: Plan patient care based on needs assessment and ensure delivery of prescribed treatment in line with standards.
• Care Review: Review care plans; promote patient/family participation and provide information to promote independence and health.
• Liaison and Communication: Maintain liaison with patient/family and social workers; ensure timely communication with external agencies when transferring patients.
• Research Participation: Apply research findings to define patient population and participate in research when appropriate.

Quality Initiatives:

• Quality Improvement: Lead quality initiatives within the Unit to improve patient care and develop nursing practice.
• Practice Review: Identify areas for practice review and lead evidence-based practice development.
• Standards and Targets: Establish ward management and clinical standards within targets set by management.
• Outcome Monitoring: Monitor and evaluate outcomes of nursing care and the quality of work by nursing staff.
• Data Collection: Participate in data collection and clinical statistics related to nursing care.

Education and Staff Development:

• Teaching and Learning: Create an environment conducive to evidence-based teaching and practice.
• Mentorship and Leadership: Mentor and lead staff; promote autonomous and expert practice.
• Training Needs Identification: Identify and address training needs; facilitate study days and learning opportunities.
• Induction and Continuing Education: Support induction, continuing education and postgraduate programmes as appropriate.
• Educational Resources: Ensure availability of educational resources for patients and families.
• Research Opportunities: Engage with research opportunities within the Ward.

Personnel Management:

• Staff Welfare and Safety: Maintain high staff morale; promote team spirit and professional conduct in line with An Bord Altranais.
• Performance Reviews: Conduct performance reviews and development plans for nursing staff.

Qualifications:

• Mandatory Qualifications:
  • Statutory Registration and professional qualifications
  • Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)
  • At least 5 years post-registration experience, with 2 years in the specialty or a related area
  • Clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to discharge the role's functions
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
• Desirable Qualifications:
  • Management course
  • Postgraduate qualification in respiratory nursing