Staff Nurse - Chemotherapy Day Unit QEH

Job Summary: To provide high standards of evidence based nursing care in the delivery of Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy/supportive treatments in the Chemotherapy Day Unit. Where appropriate, work flexibly across Chemotherapy Day Unit QEH and David Whitmore, Suite 8 UHL. To work in close collaboration with the multidisciplinary team members, pharmacists, dieticians, Acute Oncology Service, palliative care team and other site specific clinical nurse specialists. The post holder will work in collaboration with the Unit Manager and team in identifying the developmental and educational needs of staff focusing on the care required by patients. To assess patients and monitor condition while on treatment. To provide advice and signposting for patients, carers and colleagues. To work collaboratively with the chemotherapy team to maintain safe standards of care within the NMC code of conduct and in line with Trust policies To participate in educational and training opportunities offered by the team to members of staff across the trust. Key Result areas Performance 1. To offer advanced clinical knowledge and expertise in relation to nursing practice and specialist clinical knowledge pertaining to the service. 2. To demonstrate clinical competence related to the support of patients receiving chemotherapy and other treatments delivered within the service. 3. To help ensure that care delivery is patient focused and that sound elements of research-based practice are introduced, maintained and audited. 4. To participate in the setting, implementing and evaluation of clinical practice standards within the team and unit, and meeting standards within Clinical Governance and government targets. 5. To act as advocate to patients to ensure a patient-orientated approach to the delivery of care and meeting standards within Clinical Governance and Government targets. 6. To contribute to the maintenance of patient held records, where appropriate. 7. To provide appropriate information to patients and their carers / families regarding their disease, treatment, services available to them, and the mechanism for emergency treatment, particularly in relation to neutropenic sepsis. 8. To provide emotional / spiritual support for patients and their carers / families, referring to other relevant professional where appropriate. 9. To support management of the service budget, manpower (including recruitment) and skill mix in order to ensure the effective day-to-day running of the day unit environment. 10. To maintain accurate and legible records of all clinical and legal documentation with regard to Statutory and Trust Policies. 11. To identify the specific education needs of individual patients and carers and facilitate meeting those needs Workforce To work with the Unit manager in the assessment of the short and long term development needs of the team. 2. A close working relationship will be maintained with the Unit sisters and other staff for clinical and educational purposes. With the Unit Manager and unit sisters participate in Quality assurance initiatives and ongoing nursing audits, with resulting changes in practice being implemented. To participate in reviewing practice with other nurses within the Trust and to attend relevant meetings and working parties. In conjunction with other members of the nursing team identify the training and education needs of non-specialist colleagues in order to promote specific skills related to the service speciality. To work collaboratively with the team to provide teaching programmes / opportunities to meet these needs. Financial With the Unit Manager and unit sisters be involved in the evaluation of their roles, having consideration for the most effective use of staff. To take an active role in off-duty planning, ensuring an effective skill mix within the available resources. Along with other members of the team maintain safe stock levels of equipment To be always aware of new ways of managing resources to increase efficiency and reduce waste Partnerships To liaise with and facilitate effective communication within the multi-disciplinary team. In conjunction with the Unit Manager, unit sisters and CNSs, to advise and support non specialist professionals who care for cancer / haematology patients including issues relating to chemotherapy treatment and side effects, the safe handling of cytotoxic drugs, care of intravenous lines, and neutropenic sepsis protocols. To act as a role model and mentor to other staff, providing informal education and support for them in their provision of care to cancer / haematology patients