EDUCATION & TRAINING:

Clinical Nurse Specialists will:

• Maintain clinical competence in patient management within nursing, keeping up-to-date with relevant research to ensure the implementation of evidence based practice
• Provide the patient, family and/or carer with appropriate information and other supportive interventions to increase their knowledge, skill and confidence in managing their condition
• Contribute to the design, development, and implementation of education programmes and resources for the patient, family and/or carer thus empowering them to self-manage their condition
• Provide mentorship and preceptorship for nursing colleagues as appropriate
• Participate and lead training programmes for nursing/midwifery, MDT colleagues and key stakeholders as appropriate
• Be responsible for addressing own continuing professional development needs

COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Effective communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain relationships particularly in the context of MDT working
• Ability to present information in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to manage groups through the learning process
• Ability to provide constructive feedback to encourage future learning
• Effective presentation skills

ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS:

• Evidence of effective organisational skills including awareness of appropriate resource management
• Ability to attain designated targets, manage deadlines and multiple tasks
• Ability to be self-directed, work on own initiative
• A willingness to be flexible in response to changing local/organisational requirements

BUILDING & MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDING TEAM AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

• Leadership, change management, and team management skills including the ability to work with MDT colleagues

THE ABOVE JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL DUTIES INVOLVED AND CONSEQUENTLY, THE POST HOLDER MAY BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM OTHER DUTIES AS APPROPRIATE TO THE POST WHICH MAY BE ASSIGNED TO HIM/HER FROM TIME TO TIME AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POST WHILE IN OFFICE.

Qualifications:

STATUTORY REGISTRATION, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, ETC

Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
Be a registered nurse/midwife on the active Register of Nurses and Midwives
held by An Bord Altranais and Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and
Midwifery Board of Ireland) or be eligible to be so registered.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder’s practice is based on the five core concepts of the Clinical Nurse Specialist role as defined by the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM 4th edition (2008)) in order to fulfil the role. The concepts are:

• Clinical Focus
• Patient/Client Advocate
• Education and Training
• Audit and Research
• Consultant

QUALITY, RISK AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the responsibility of all staff to:

• Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to quality, risk, and safety
• Participate and cooperate with local quality, risk, and safety initiatives as required
• Participate and cooperate with internal and external evaluations of the organisation’s structures, services and processes as required, including but not limited to, The National Hygiene Audit, National Decontamination Audit, Health and Safety Audits and other audits specified by the HSE or other regulatory authorities
• Support and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with local organisational quality, risk, and safety requirements
• Support the MDT in the development of PPPGs and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulation, and standards
• Comply with Health Service Executive (HSE) Complaints Policy
• Ensure completion of incident/near miss forms and clinical risk reporting – lead investigations and disseminate findings to key stakeholders where appropriate
• Adhere to department policies in relation to the care and safety of any equipment supplied