L8269 Candidate Clinical Nurse Specialist

Clinical Focus The cCNS will be supported to: Develop a strong service user focus whereby the specialty defines itself as nursing/midwifery and subscribes to the overall purpose, functions and ethical standards of nursing/midwifery.
The clinical practice role may be divided into direct and indirect care.

Direct care comprises the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to the service user, family and/or carer.
Indirect care relates to activities that influence and support the provision of direct care.

Direct Care Throughout the agreed pathway, the cCNS will be enabled to develop the specific knowledge, skills and competencies to:

· Provide a specialist nursing/midwifery service for service users with a diagnosis of haematological condition who require support and treatment through the continuum of care · Undertake comprehensive service user assessment to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care using best evidence based practice in haematology care

· Use the outcomes of nursing/midwifery assessment to develop and implement plans of care/service user group management to contribute to the plans of service users, their families/carers and the MDT

· Monitor and evaluate the service user's response to treatment and amend the plan of care accordingly in collaboration with the MDT and service user, family and/or carer as appropriate.

· Make alterations in the management of service user condition in collaboration with the MDT and the service user in line with the nursing/midwifery aspect of agreed pathways and policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPG's).
· Accept appropriate referrals from MDT colleagues

· Co-ordinate investigations, treatment therapies and service user follow-up · Communicate with service users, family and/or carer as appropriate, to assess service user needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling as required

· Where appropriate, work collaboratively with MDT colleagues across Primary and Secondary Care to provide a seamless service delivery to the service user, family and/or carer as appropriate

· Participate in medication reconciliation taking cognisance of poly-pharmacy and support medical and pharmacy staff with medication reviews and medication management

· Identify and promote specific symptom management strategies as well as the identification of triggers which may cause exacerbation of symptoms.
Provide service user with appropriate self-management strategies and escalation pathways

· Manage nurse led haematology clinics in collaboration with the MDT

· Identify health promotion priorities for the service user, family and/or carer and support service user self-care in line with best evidence.
This will include the provision of educational and health promotion material which is comprehensive, easy to understand and meets service user' needs.

Indirect Care Throughout the agreed pathway, the cCNS will be enabled to develop the specific knowledge, skills and competencies to:

· Identify and agree appropriate referral pathways for service user with haematological conditions

· Participate in service user case reviews with MDT colleagues

· Use a case management approach to service user complex needs in collaboration with MDT in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate

· Take a proactive role in the formulation and provision of evidence basedPPPGs relating to haematology care

· Take a lead role in ensuring the nursing/midwifery service for service user with haematological condition is inline with best practice guidelines and the Safer Better Healthcare Standards (HIQA, 2012)