Rheumatology Specialist Nurse

KEY DUTIES • Develop and extend scope of professional practice to include venepuncture, cannulation and the administration of rheumatological therapies in line with NMC, National and Trust policies. • To undertake the day to day running of the day unit clinics including logistics, admissions and discharge, arranging appointments for treatments, infusions or education. • To collect data required for the British Society of Rheumatology Register for these therapies. • To co-ordinate the prescribing of these therapies, including requests for repeat prescriptions. EDUCATION OF PATIENTS AND CARERS • To assist with the planning, implementation and evaluation of health education MDT programmes for patients and carers with rheumatological conditions. • To empower patients with rheumatological conditions to realise and maintain their potential in relation to health and wellbeing through one-to-one contacts and MDT education programmes by facilitating improved knowledge on disease management, medication and its effects on daily living DMARD THERAPY • To be a point of referral for patients commencing on disease modifying drug therapy, including education, consent, monitoring requirements. • To prevent adverse effects on health and wellbeing through education and monitoring of patients on DMARD therapy. CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES • Service Development & Delivery • Administration of intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous treatments. • To be involved in planning, development, implementation and evaluation of rheumatology service. • To ensure all treatments are within national guidelines or evidence-based practice where available aiming to improve standards and minimise clinical risk. • To participate in working parties developing policy change within department which impacts on all service users. • Adhere to departmental policies in use of equipment including ensuring competence of others through training and supervision of practice. • Assist in the development of policies and procedures within the rheumatology service. • To act as a catalyst for change, reviewing service and clinical provision through audit/research, identifying areas for development, and implementing change. Professional Development • To maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, incorporating them as necessary into service delivery. • To support junior staff with their professional development. • To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and personal development plan (PDP). • To participate in the supervision scheme. • To attend and contribute to local or national conferences in own field of expertise. • To be an active participant in enabling the department to maintain Customer Service Excellence status. • To attend and take part in in-service training within the Rheumatology unit. • To participate in the organisation and delivery of internal/external/national courses. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES • To ensure that all patient information is confidential and is not disclosed to a third party except with permission of the Nurse in charge. • To keep patient records up to date on a day-to-day basis following any interaction with patients or relatives. • To ensure all unit documentation is completed. • To assist with and carry out any input of data that is required for the departmental databases. TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES • To assist with induction programmes, preceptorship and mentorship of new staff as appropriate. • Completion of the trusts intravenous administration course. • To appropriately assist in the promotion of the learning environment. Participating in the supervision and assessment of Health Care Assistants, Student nurses and Cadets as appropriate. • To participate in the in-service training programme, delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions in-house and externally, attending external courses and undertaking reflective practice. • To be an active participant in enabling the department to maintain Customer Service Excellence status. LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES • Participate in meetings pertinent to the unit. • Establish and maintain good communication within the Unit, Division, Trust and agencies outside the Trust. • To consistently use resources efficiently. • To be actively involved in risk management and clinical audit programmes. • To ensure safe custody of patients property. • To report all accidents, hazards, incidents and complaints in accordance with Trust policies and assist in investigation of them as required. • Comply with Health and Safety Policies. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES • Maintain efficiency and minimise any waste. RESEARCH & AUDIT • To participate in local audit/research projects relating to the use of Rheumatological therapies. • To collect data required for the British Society of Rheumatology Register for these therapies. Job description Job responsibilities KEY DUTIES • Develop and extend scope of professional practice to include venepuncture, cannulation and the administration of rheumatological therapies in line with NMC, National and Trust policies. • To undertake the day to day running of the day unit clinics including logistics, admissions and discharge, arranging appointments for treatments, infusions or education. • To collect data required for the British Society of Rheumatology Register for these therapies. • To co-ordinate the prescribing of these therapies, including requests for repeat prescriptions. EDUCATION OF PATIENTS AND CARERS • To assist with the planning, implementation and evaluation of health education MDT programmes for patients and carers with rheumatological conditions. • To empower patients with rheumatological conditions to realise and maintain their potential in relation to health and wellbeing through one-to-one contacts and MDT education programmes by facilitating improved knowledge on disease management, medication and its effects on daily living DMARD THERAPY • To be a point of referral for patients commencing on disease modifying drug therapy, including education, consent, monitoring requirements. • To prevent adverse effects on health and wellbeing through education and monitoring of patients on DMARD therapy. CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES • Service Development & Delivery • Administration of intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous treatments. • To be involved in planning, development, implementation and evaluation of rheumatology service. • To ensure all treatments are within national guidelines or evidence-based practice where available aiming to improve standards and minimise clinical risk. • To participate in working parties developing policy change within department which impacts on all service users. • Adhere to departmental policies in use of equipment including ensuring competence of others through training and supervision of practice. • Assist in the development of policies and procedures within the rheumatology service. • To act as a catalyst for change, reviewing service and clinical provision through audit/research, identifying areas for development, and implementing change. Professional Development • To maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, incorporating them as necessary into service delivery. • To support junior staff with their professional development. • To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and personal development plan (PDP). • To participate in the supervision scheme. • To attend and contribute to local or national conferences in own field of expertise. • To be an active participant in enabling the department to maintain Customer Service Excellence status. • To attend and take part in in-service training within the Rheumatology unit. • To participate in the organisation and delivery of internal/external/national courses. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES • To ensure that all patient information is confidential and is not disclosed to a third party except with permission of the Nurse in charge. • To keep patient records up to date on a day-to-day basis following any interaction with patients or relatives. • To ensure all unit documentation is completed. • To assist with and carry out any input of data that is required for the departmental databases. TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES • To assist with induction programmes, preceptorship and mentorship of new staff as appropriate. • Completion of the trusts intravenous administration course. • To appropriately assist in the promotion of the learning environment. Participating in the supervision and assessment of Health Care Assistants, Student nurses and Cadets as appropriate. • To participate in the in-service training programme, delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions in-house and externally, attending external courses and undertaking reflective practice. • To be an active participant in enabling the department to maintain Customer Service Excellence status. LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES • Participate in meetings pertinent to the unit. • Establish and maintain good communication within the Unit, Division, Trust and agencies outside the Trust. • To consistently use resources efficiently. • To be actively involved in risk management and clinical audit programmes. • To ensure safe custody of patients property. • To report all accidents, hazards, incidents and complaints in accordance with Trust policies and assist in investigation of them as required. • Comply with Health and Safety Policies. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES • Maintain efficiency and minimise any waste. RESEARCH & AUDIT • To participate in local audit/research projects relating to the use of Rheumatological therapies. • To collect data required for the British Society of Rheumatology Register for these therapies.