Rheumatology Nurse

at  Northumbria Healthcare NHCT Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic nurse to join a friendly and innovative team of specialist nurses to train and work in the care of patients with Rheumatic Diseases. The post holder will need to have access to transport in order to travel across the Northumberland Healthcare Trust.
Following a framework of training to achieve competencies the post holder will be expected to become an independent practitioner after 18 months, becoming responsible for running their own caseload of patients. Providing effective care, expertise and support to the multidisciplinary team and ensure the provision of high quality care to patients.
Annex 20
This post falls within the provisions of Agenda for Change Annex 20 - Development of Professional Roles, whereby upon completion of an agreed set of competencies you may move onto the next pay band without the need for an application for a post at a higher level.
At the end of 18 months if all competencies are satisfactorily met the candidate will advance to a band 6 Specialist nurse role.
Following a period of training and development in line with the RCN Rheumatology Competency Framework t he post-holder will become involved in the running of nurse-led outpatient and telephone clinics, supporting the patient advice line and participating in multi-disciplinary meetings.
The candidate will also participate in the monitoring programme for patients on disease modifying medications.
Excellent communication, organisational and IT skills are required.
We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, covering one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country. Leading in innovation and quality – opening a state of the art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. Do you want to work in one of the best performing NHS organisations in England? Work in an organisation that supports its staff and focuses on staff experience as much as it does the experience of its patients? You can live and breathe in an area that has the cleanest air, cost effective living, great nightlife, some of the best schools with a wealth of history available on your doorstep. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn’t, this is what you get when you work for Northumbria Healthcare, this is the Northumbria Way! Please read ‘applicant guidance notes’ before submitting your application.
The specialist nurse role requires an awareness of the mechanism of the diverse diseases under the rheumatology speciality and how to assess disease activity.
A full understanding of the many disease modifying drugs used to manage these conditions.
Teaching patients to safely self-administer biologic and DMARD therapies.
An empathy and understanding of the patients social, emotional and health needs, acting as an advocate for the patient at all times.
Ensure effective communication between all members of the MDT both internally and externally to the Trust.
Request and interpret diagnostic and monitoring investigations as required.
To act as an expert nurse, advising and supporting other healthcare workers in the management of patient care.
To support the medical team.
To maintain confidentiality at all times.
To continue to develop clinical skills and personal knowledge

Please refer the Job description for details