Clinical Nurse Specialist Radiation Oncology - Limerick Cancer Centre

Clinical Nurse Specialist Radiation Oncology - Limerick Cancer Centre

Location: Limerick Cancer Centre
Job type: Permanent

Overview of role We are hiring a Clinical Nurse Specialist to join our Radiation Oncology team on a permanent full-time contract.The role is responsible for the provision of quality service in line with National and International standards. As a key member of the frontline team, the CNS will provide support and specialist advice to all disciplines of staff, patients, and members of the public regarding Radiotherapy. The position requires a strategic approach to the development of services and structures, embracing continuous quality improvement and the management of changes necessary to achieve organisational objectives.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities Operations

• Act as a role model through the provision of professional leadership and demonstration of best practices in Radiotherapy.
• Act as a resource in providing specialist knowledge, consultancy, and expertise in collaboration with Cancer Centre Management, Radiation therapists, and all healthcare staff.
• Advise on the nursing care of individual patients for Radiotherapy.
• Maintain effective communication structures and interpersonal relations.
• Provide education and advice to patients, relatives/carers on radiotherapy treatments.
• Act as an advocate for the patients, and/or staff on issues in the prevention and control of infection.
• Adhere to the Cancer Centres policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Maintain a safe working environment as set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Respect confidential information obtained in the course of professional practice.
• Be familiar with the UPMC Mission Statement and uphold the Philosophy and Patient Charter of UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre.
• Ensure an effective learning environment for the multidisciplinary team.
• Work within the code of Professional Conduct for Nurses, participation in the development of the Scope of Practice and provide strong professional leadership and direction for Infection Control nursing services.
• Promote the advancement of professional knowledge and ensure its integration into practice.
• Ensure that nursing care is based on the latest research findings and constitute best practice.
• Encourage continuous review and evaluation of policies, guidelines and existing practices through regular audit programmes and review and uphold cancer policy.
• Ensure that all records are properly and accurately maintained and disseminated to the appropriate staff.
• Provide feedback by giving verbal and written reports to departmental and organisational managers.
• Assist with the initial referral process by transcribing hard clinical information into the relevant sections of the ARIA Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Partake in accreditation processes and quality processes while adhering to National and International best practice standards such as HPSC, HIQA, EPA, and JCI.
• Plan, negotiate with and support staff to implement and make clinical practice changes as appropriate.
• Together with Cancer Centre Management be involved in identifying opportunities for the development of services that will improve the care of patients.
• Promote a patient centred culture of openness and responsiveness to positive and constructive patient feedback and ensuring patient dignity, respect and choice is maintained in their care.

Clinical

• The Radiation Oncology CNS will have a strong patient focus whereby the speciality defines itself as nursing and subscribes to the overall purpose, functions and ethical standards of nursing/midwifery.
• The clinical practice role maybe divided into direct and indirect care. Direct care comprises the assessment,planning, delivery and evaluation of care to the patient, family and/or carer.Indirect care relates to the activities that influence and support theprovision of direct care.

Direct Care

• Provide a specialist nursing service for patients with a diagnosis of Cancer who require support and treatment through the continuum of care.
• Undertake comprehensive patient assessment to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care using best evidence based practice in Cancer care.
• Use the outcomes of patient assessment to develop and implement plans of care in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.
• Monitor and evaluate the patient's response to treatment and amend the plan of care accordingly in conjunction with the MDT and patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.
• Make alterations in the management of patient's condition in collaboration with the MDT and the patient in line with agreed pathways and policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
• Accept appropriate referrals from MDT colleagues.
• Co ordinate investigations, treatment therapies and patient follow up.
• Communicate with patients, family and/or carer as appropriate, to access patient's needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling as required or make referrals to relevant MDT colleagues for supplementary care where required.
• Where appropriate work collaboratively with MDT colleagues across Primary and Secondary Care to provide a seamless service delivery to the patient, 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 we as the identification of triggers which may cause exacerbation of symptoms. Provide patients with appropriate self management strategies and escalation pathways.
• Participate in nurse led clinics with MDT input.
• Identify health promotionpriorities for the patient, family and/or carer and support patient self-carein line with best evidence. This will include the provision of educational andhealth promotion material, which is comprehensive, easy to understand and meetspatient needs.

Indirect Care

• Identify and agree appropriate referral pathways for patients with cancer.
• Participates in case review with MDT colleagues.
• Use a case management approach to patients with complex needs in collaboration with MDT in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.
• Take a pro active role in the formulation and provision of evidence based policies, procedures and guidelines relating to Cancer care.
• Take a lead role in ensuring the service for patients with cancer is in line with best practice guidelines.
• Communicate, negotiate and represent patient's family and/or carer values and decisions in relation to their condition in collaboration with MDT colleagues in both Primary and secondary Care as appropriate.
• Develop and support the concept of advocacy, particularly in relation to patient participation in decision making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.
• Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient, family and/or carer.
• Establish, maintain and improve procedures for collaboration and cooperation between Acute Service, Primary Care and Voluntary Organisations as appropriate.
• Maintain clinical competence in patient management within Cancer nursing, keeping up to date with relevant research to ensure the implementation of evidence based practice.
• Provide the patient, family and/or carer with appropriate information and other supportive interventions to increase their knowledge, skill and confidence in managing their Cancer condition.
• Provide mentorship and preceptorship for UPMC colleagues as appropriate.
• Participate in training programmes for nursing, MDT colleagues and key stakeholders as appropriate.
• Be responsible for addressingown continuing professional development needs.

Audit & Research

• Identify, initiate and conduct nursing and MDT audit and research projects relevant to the area of practice.
• Identify, critically analyse, disseminate and integrate best evidence relating to Cancer care into practice.
• Contribute to nursing research on all aspects of cancer care.
• Use the outcomes of audit to improve service provision.
• Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes using audit data and specialist knowledge.
• Monitor, access, utilise and disseminate current relevant research to advise and ensure the provision of informed evidence based practice.
• Participate in clinical audit and research activity within the field, promoting a positive attitude towards the implementation of evidence based practice.
• Undertake research/ clinical audit as necessary, critically analyse and provide written reports of the same.
• Participate in local audits in preparation for annual accreditation.

KPI's

• The identification anddevelopment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with theHospital's service plan targets.
• The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets.
• Driving and promoting a Performance Management culture.
• In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of aPerformance Management system for your profession.
• The management anddelivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective

Consultant

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