Clinical Nurse Practitioner - Pre-op Assessment

at  Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

An exciting and challenging opportunity has become available for a Band 7 Clinical Nurse Practitioner.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring immediate care to the relevant patient group and will work within the pre-operative assessment and admission service.
You will work closely with a wide MDT, including other hospitals and GP services to ensure a smooth, safe and positive journey for all our patients. We also support weekly Anaesthetics clinics, for complex patient assessment and planning.
You will be able to provide initial direct patient care. You will utilize your level 7 in clinical examination and diagnostics qualification by assessing and determining fitness for surgery. You will be expected to manage your own caseload of patients and also using a “ buddy “ system to ensure a cohort of patients daily are fully optimized Pre Operatively whilst high standards of quality of care are delivered and maintained. You will provide first contact assessment, confirm diagnosis and reason for surgery and comprehensively assess patient with complex/advanced conditions and co-morbidities where more specialist assessment is required. You will be expected to escalate and discuss your clinical findings to determine need for preoperative Anaesthetic assessment.
An Enhanced DBS with barred lists for both Adults & Children is required for this post.
Provide first contact assessment, confirm diagnosis and reason for surgery and comprehensively assess patient with complex/advanced conditions and co-morbidities where more specialist assessment is required.
Order/undertake, interpret and act upon diagnostic tests and investigations.
Clinically assess patients to determine need for preoperative anaesthetic assessment
Liaise with Anaesthetic Leads based on agreed protocols for patients graded high risk for anaesthetic.
Liaise with other clinical teams regarding abnormal findings within agreed protocols, to offer a differential diagnosis and ensure patient clinical safety.
Act as advanced practitioner exercising judgement, discretion, and decision making in clinical care.
Ensure compliance with specific regulations with regard to drugs/omission of drugs prior to surgery, and record keeping within area of work.
Document patient’s clinical conditions and action plans in preoperative assessment notes, communicating with relevant medical/nursing staff and ensure all documentation is directed to the appropriate department for electronic scanning, or direct to ward in event of imminent patient admission.
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide first contact assessment, confirm diagnosis and reason for surgery and comprehensively assess patient with complex/advanced conditions and co-morbidities where more specialist assessment is required.
Order/undertake, interpret and act upon diagnostic tests and investigations.
Clinically assess patients to determine need for preoperative anaesthetic assessment.
Liaise with Anaesthetic Leads based on agreed protocols for patients graded high risk for anaesthetic.
Liaise with other clinical teams regarding abnormal findings within agreed protocols, to offer a differential diagnosis and ensure patient clinical safety.
Act as advanced practitioner exercising judgement, discretion, and decision making in clinical care.
Ensure compliance with specific regulations with regard to drugs/omission of drugs prior to surgery, and record keeping within area of work.
Document patient’s clinical conditions and action plans in preoperative assessment notes, communicating with relevant medical/nursing staff and ensure all documentation is directed to the appropriate department for electronic scanning, or direct to ward in event of imminent patient admission.
Take active role in nurse led clinics, developing and advancing service.
Refer complex cases to Anaesthetist for further discussion, assessment and action as appropriate.
Liaise with primary and secondary care Clinicians as required.
Prescribe medication in accordance with current legislation and trust policy.

GOVERNANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

Active participation in collection and collation of research and audit data as appropriate, presenting the outcomes to clinical audit.
Active participation in the reporting of clinical incidents/concerns and take appropriate action to address any safety and quality issues raised.
Adhere to policies, procedures and protocols relevant to area of work.
Monitor standards of care and participate in the improvement of care through ad hoc benchmarking/audit/research.
Maintain clear, concise, legible and contemporaneous records at all times, in line with Trust Policy and the Standard for Record keeping (NMC Act 1993).
Demonstrate understanding of evidence based care, including where to obtain evidence.
Provide verbal and written advice to patients/carers about discharge planning, equipment needs, etc.
Ensure decisions regarding consent and mental capacity are taken in accordance with Trust protocols.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

Impart high level knowledge, advice and support to colleagues, patients, carers and relatives; in relation to planned surgery and recovery.
Raise awareness of specialist conditions and their specific requirements for surgery/anaesthetics, by development of protocols for practice.
Assist in the provision of an appropriate learning/practice environment for nursing students allocated to the department.

COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITIES

Establish effective communication with patients, carers and relatives attending the department.
Provide sensitive, complex information to patients, carers, relatives and professionals across multidisciplinary and multi-agency boundaries, as appropriate to the patient’s specific needs.
Support patients, carers and relatives in their understanding and acceptance of their diagnosis and surgical treatments, and provide education and support in their postoperative needs.
Liaise with consultant surgical/anaesthetic team as appropriate to ensure preoperative needs are met and to ensure effective planning for postoperative care package.