Staff Nurse - Rays of Sunshine Ward

Clinical Practice: To deliver a high standard of evidence-based care to a specified group of patients. To always adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct. To be responsible for the nursing management of a group of patients, using the nursing process. To always maintain patient confidentiality. To support patients, relatives, carers and friends and where appropriate involve them in the care of the patient. To be fully involved in the health education of patients and relatives, identifying each opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle. To liaise effectively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to ensure that patients needs are met and that services are delivered in accordance with National Service Frameworks and agreed Clinical Care Guidelines. To ensure that relevant information regarding the patients needs / condition are communicated to the MDT and that any instructions are acted upon. To be aware of the need to adhere to the Trusts policy on valuing equality and diversity in the workplace, which incorporates the patients / visitors and staff perspective. To have due regard for each patients cultural and religious beliefs and to respect each patients privacy, dignity, gender and sexuality. To acknowledge personal limitations in patient care and seek advice from senior staff members. To rotate to other departments within the speciality as required or as identified as a personal development need in the appraisal process. To be involved with nursing audit/essence of care/observations of care. To report adverse incidents which occur in the department as per policy and to assist in the investigation of such incidences. To always ensure contemporaneous record-keeping and in line with the Trust policy on documentation. Ensure clear and accurate written and verbal information is always given, including patient handovers. Participate in Trust and Care Group initiatives to develop nursing practice and support change. Education and Research To be aware of current research and the possible implications for the ward speciality. To update knowledge in the light of current research and practice. To act as a practice supervisor/assessor for student nurses /HCAs. To act as a preceptor to newly qualified staff. To actively participate in the training process by demonstrating and directly supervising, and by negotiating learning contracts. To liaise with appropriate members of teaching staff, link lecturer/lecturer practitioner. Management To always act as a role model. To exercise leadership where appropriate. To anticipate day to day staffing problems and take appropriate. action in conjunction with the team leader, sister/charge nurse and head of nursing, to ensure good standards of care for the patient are always maintained. To give support and advice to junior ward staff on both clinical and administrative problems. To ensure effective admission/discharge of patients whilst liaising with the discharge co-ordinator/bed manager. To keep the ward sister/charge nurse informed of significant changes in the day-to-day situation in the department. To act as a liaison within the multi-disciplinary team to ensure optimum, timely patient care. To observe a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of self, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management associated with this post. Personal professional development Ensure clinical and administrative policies and procedures are adhered to. To take responsibility for own professional development and to develop agreed action plan with ward sister/charge nurse. To participate in own performance appraisal with the ward sister/charge nurse.