Clinical Nurse Specialist - Urology

Location: On site / South Dublin, Co. Dublin, Ireland
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Medical & Healthcare Nursing & Midwifery
Salary: Negotiable Salary

Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist

Department: Urology

Job Type: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 per week (Full-Time)

Blackrock Clinic is the leading and longest established private hospital and clinic in Ireland. Since it opened in the mid-1980s, the clinic has consistently built an unparalleled reputation in new high tech surgical procedures, medical treatments, and ground breaking diagnostics. As a JCI accredited hospital, Blackrock Clinic is a progressive and pioneering hospital in which care for the patient is central to everything we do. Blackrock Clinic is now part of Blackrock Health private hospital group along with the Hermitage Clinic, Galway Clinic, and Limerick Clinic, some of the most advanced hospitals in Irish private healthcare.

The CNS will interface between the patient and specialist medical team, to provide individualised care based on patient specific needs. The CNS will also provide specialist urology support, specialist nursing knowledge, emotional support and advice for patients attending the service and will assist in improving standards of care. The CNS will promote a seamless service within a multidisciplinary professional framework. This will be achieved through clinical practice, management, education, research and audit and professional activities within the clinical governance framework. The post holder will be able to influence patient care through development of specialist skills, knowledge and experience. The CNS will work in collaboration with the Consultant Specialist and associated multidisciplinary team members throughout the hospital.

Qualifications

• Be registered in the General Division of the active Register held by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or be entitled to be so registered
• Have a minimum 1 years' experience or aggregate of 1 years full time experience in the specialist area of care to which they are applying.
• Have a third level qualification at not less than Level 9 or higher award that is relevant to the specialist area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery.

Or

• If the applicant does not have the relevant Level 9 qualification, the applicant will be supported to undertake the required post graduate education as relevant to the specialist area.

And

• Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate evidence of continuing learning and professional development

The successful candidate will:

• Maintain throughout the Hospital awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all Hospital activities
• Ensure that nursing care is patient focused and that patient privacy and dignity are maintained at all times
• Provide clinical expertise, specialist advice and support to patients across the Nursing Services.
• Ensure that the provision of evidence-based nursing care is maintained.
• Refer to and comply with the scope of practice framework as stated by NMBI in relation to all components of the position: Clinical Role, Patient Advocate Role, Educational Role, Consultative Role and Audit Role.
• Comply with all existing Hospital policies.
• The CNS will be professionally accountable to the Director of Nursing.
• Operationally report to and be accountable to the Assistant Director of Nursing.

Clinical Focus

• Contribute to changes in clinical practice that will improve standards of care
• Provide a specialist nursing service for urology patients who require support and treatment through the continuum of care.
• Possess specially focused knowledge and skills in the urology area of nursing practice.
• Undertake comprehensive patient assessment to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care using best evidence based practice in urology care
• Identify and plan, with support from the Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing and Medical Lead, the development requirements for the Service.
• Provide leadership and oversight of the service.
• Responsible for ensuring confidentiality and safe keeping of records.
• Ensure that all procedures are in accordance with established Hospital procedures and assist with operational guidelines and policies for this service, which will be evidence based and support will be provided by the Nurse Practice Development Department.
• Handle complaints by patient, members of the public and staff in accordance with the Hospital complaints procedures.
• Maintain professional standards in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation.
• Facilitate the arrangements necessary and participate when necessary in education and training of other hospital staff as the need arises. This includes students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• Be knowledgeable in the structure of handling of all equipment used in the unit.
• Communicate with patients and with relatives as required. Be available for any telephone enquiries from women with concerns. Counselling skills are essential.
• Communicate with patients, families and friends, assess needs and provide relevant support information, education and advice.
• Act as the patients advocate when necessary, especially in an informed discussion to promote the patient's participation in decision making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.
• Foster good nurse/patient relationships through the provision of holistic Nursing care and support for each patient.
• Demonstrate an awareness of ethical awareness and social issues on an individual patient basis.
• Promote an awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all Hospital activities. Ensuring the provision of a high standard of care to the patient and families is consistent with the mission, vision, values and strategic plan of the Hospital
• Communicate with the relevant team's regarding the patient's condition and relayinginformation and changes in Doctor Orders.

Educational Role

• Act as a resource and support to nursing staff caring for patients.
• Participate in the educational provision of information for patients so that they are empowered to manage their condition and seek appropriate help and advice
• Undertake continuing professional development through formal and informal educational opportunities thus ensuring continued credibility amongst nursing, medical and other professionals.
• Participate in relevant committees at an organisational level and also at a national level when possible.
• Supervise and assess student nurses / student midwives and foster a clinical learning environment
• Participate in the development and review of clinic protocols and information leaflet
• Provide the patient, family and/or carer with appropriate information and other supportive interventions to increase their knowledge, skill and confidence in managing their condition.
• Contribute to the design, development and implementation of education programmes and resources for the patient, family and/or carer in relation to their care thus empowering them to self-manage their condition.
• Provide mentorship and preceptorship for nursing colleagues as appropriate.
• Participate in training programmes for nursing, MDT colleagues and key stakeholders as appropriate
• Be responsible for addressing own continuing professional development needs.

Audit & Research Role

• Establish and maintain a register of patients with urology care needs within Clinical Nurse Specialist caseload.
• Maintain a record of clinically relevant data aligned to National Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) as directed and advised by the Director of Nursing.
• Participate in collaborative research projects that improve the quality of care and health outcomes.
• Participate in audit activities to assess and monitor the quality of care. Assist in the implementation of change based on the findings
• Audit own caseload and participate in the annual evaluation feedback results.
• Provide patient satisfaction data, quality of life data and patient flow data e.g. ED avoidance.
• Provide data on numbers attending service, patient outcomes, OPD attendance and clinic data attendance.
• Attendance and active participation at National and International Meetings and workshops.
• Contribute to nursing research.

Consultative Role

• Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for best practice.
• Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines and support implementation
• Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance generalist nursing practice
• Develop collaborative working relationships with local Clinical Nurse Specialist's/Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioners /MDT colleagues as appropriate, developing person centred care pathways to promote the integrated model of care delivery.
• With the support of the Director of Nursing, attend integrated care planning meetings as required
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