Acute Oncology RANP/CANP/CNS

Location: On site / Sandyford, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D18 AK68, Ireland

Job type: Permanent / Full-time

Sector and subsector: Medical & Healthcare Nursing & Midwifery

Salary: Competitive salary

Job Title ; Acute Oncology RANP / CANP/CNS Department ; Cancer Services Reports to ; Head of Cancer Services Start Date ; 2026 Overall Purpose of Job The advanced practice service is provided by nurses who practice at a higher level of capability as independent, autonomous and expert advanced practitioners. The overall purpose of the service is to provide safe, timely, evidence based nurse led care to patients at an advanced nursing level. This involves undertaking and documenting complete episodes of patient care, which include comprehensively assessing, diagnosing, planning, treating and discharging patients in accordance with collaboratively agreed local policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines and/or service level agreements/memoranda of understanding. The ANP demonstrates advanced clinical and theoretical knowledge, critical thinking, clinical leadership and complex decision making abilities.

Service provision by the ANP is described in

• ANP / CNS Role in Acute Oncology Serve (Reviewed yearly)
• Cancer Service Plan for Provision of Care (Reviewed 2 yearly)

The ANP / CNS practices in accordance with the following documents;

• Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (NMBI 2014)
• Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (NMBI 2015)
• Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements (NMBI 2017)
• Values for Nurses and Midwives in Ireland (Department of Health 2016)
• Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation Standards for Hospitals
• Local policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.

Key Working Relationships

• Fiona Kirwan Director of Nursing
• Martina Farley Head of Cancer Services
• Assistant Directors of Nursing
• Medical Oncologists
• Palliative Care team
• Urology Consultants
• Clinical Nurse Managers
• ANPs and other nursing grades
• Interprofessional colleagues
• Patients/service users/families and/or carers
• Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
• Other relevant statutory and non statutory organisations

Professional Practice Portfolio and Clinical Supervision (RANP Only) The ANP must maintain a professional practice portfolio, incorporating evidence of learning from continuing professional development, clinical supervision, reflective practice and review of his/her own scope of practice in accordance with regulatory requirements and service need.

The ANP will engage in the following clinical supervision;

1. Conduct a clinical supervision meeting with the Head of cancer services Martin Farley monthly. The agenda for these meetings will include collaborative reflective practice, review of scope of practice and review of the ANP's portfolio.
2. Meet with other ANPs and candidate ANPs in the organisation via the Beacon Hospital Advanced Practice Forum.
3. Engage with and/or maintain membership of relevant national expert groups for the practice area.
4. Conduct audits of nurse prescribing as specified in the ANP's Collaborative Practice Agreement / Beacon Hospital Nurse Prescribing Policy.
5. Engage in continuous professional development activities relevant to the role e.g. attendance at scientific meetings, review of scientific literature, reflective practice, mentorship, workshops, e learning, self directed learning. Study days must be requested and approved by the ANP's line manager.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables The post holder's practice is based on the six domains of competence as defined by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2019) Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements. The domains of competence are:

• Professional Values and Conduct
• Clinical Decision Making
• Knowledge and Cognitive Competencies
• Communication and Interpersonal Competencies
• Management and Team Competencies
• Leadership and Professional Scholarship Competencies

Main Clinical Goals Rapid Assessment and Management

• Provide immediate and expert assessment of patients with cancer related emergencies.
• Implement timely and appropriate interventions to manage acute oncological conditions.

Management of Oncological Emergencies within 24 hours (or on first review)

• Address complications such as neutropenic sepsis, spinal cord compression, hypercalcemia, and tumour lysis syndrome.
• Ensure prompt treatment to prevent morbidity and mortality.
• Compliance and adherence to the UKONS Acute Oncology Management Guidelines.

Coordination of Care

• Facilitate coordination between oncology specialists, primary care providers, and other healthcare professionals.
• Ensure seamless transitions between different levels of care, including inpatient, outpatient and community services.

Patient and Family Support

• Provide psychological and emotional support to patients and their families.
• Offer counselling and support services to help patients and families cope with the diagnosis and treatment.

Education and Training

• Educate healthcare professionals about the recognition and management of oncological emergencies.
• Provide training to staff to enhance their skills in managing acute oncology patients.
• ANP CNS to be trained to advanced expert level within UKONs Training programme (Acute Oncology Management Guidelines). Competency for ANP / CNS to be signed off by clinical lead for Acute Oncology, however one of the privileged Medical Oncology Consultants may sign off in clinical lead's absence.

Prevention of Unplanned Admissions

• Implement strategies to reduce unplanned hospital admissions through early intervention and proactive management.
• Provide oversight of KPIs within Beacon UKONs Dashboard, monitoring compliance and performance through compliance of UKONS Triage forms.
• Develop and follow pathways and protocols to manage common oncological emergencies in the outpatient setting when appropriate.

Clinical Governance and Quality Improvement

• Monitor and evaluate the quality of care provided to ensure adherence to clinical guidelines and best practices.
• Engage in continuous quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and service efficiency.

Domain 1: Professional Values and Conduct The ANP / CNS will apply ethically sound solutions to complex issues related to individuals and populations by;

1. Demonstrating accountability and responsibility for professional practice as a lead healthcare professional.
2. Articulating safe boundaries and engaging in timely referral and collaboration for areas outside their scope.
3. Demonstrating compassion to facilitate, optimise, promote and support the health, comfort, quality of life and wellbeing of persons affected by altered health or life limiting conditions.
4. Promoting the ANP role in clinical, political and professional contexts and contributing to departmental reports and quality improvement projects.

Domain 2: Clinical Decision Making

1. Conduct comprehensive, holistic health assessments using evidence based frameworks to determine diagnoses and inform advanced nursing care.
2. Synthesise and interpret assessment information to identify normal, at risk and sub normal states of health.
3. Use diagnostic investigations and advanced assessments to inform clinical decision making.
4. Apply knowledge of therapeutic interventions, supported by evidence based policies and legislation.
5. Initiate health promotion activities and self management plans.
6. Discharge patients according to agreed policies and referral pathways.

Domain 3: Knowledge and Cognitive Competencies

1. Lead translation of new knowledge to clinical practice through education, mentorship, audit and quality management.
2. Educate others using an advanced expert knowledge base derived from clinical experience and continuing professional development.
3. Demonstrate a vision for advanced practice nursing based on research, critical thinking and experiential learning.
4. Complete UKONs Training Programme for Acute Oncology Guidelines.

Domain 4: Communication and Interpersonal Competencies

1. Advocate with other health professionals to respect patient beliefs, rights and wishes.
2. Communicate effectively with the healthcare team and provide professional language in care plans.
3. Facilitate clinical supervision and mentorship using expert knowledge.
4. Utilise information technology to record all aspects of advanced nursing care.

Domain 5: Management and Team Competencies

1. Support person centred care, planning, organisation and delivery of the ANP nursing service.
2. Participate in the development and monitoring of the overall service plan.
3. Provide leadership, support and advice to nursing and allied staff.
4. Engage in projects and service developments and represent nursing on relevant committees.
5. Participate in the JCI accreditation process and related committees.
6. Promote a culture of quality care and seek feedback to improve service.
7. Implement practice changes through negotiation and consensus with the multidisciplinary team.
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