Clinical Nurse Specialist- Palliative Care

at  Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic

QUALIFICATION

Name maintained on Live Register with the NMBI
Have a minimum of five years post registration experience.
A minimum of two years experience must be in palliative care or Oncology.
The person must demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development.
Ideally have undertaken a recognised Palliative Care Course or commitment to undertake
Bachelor of Nursing Degree is desirable.
Front line Managers Course is desirable
Computer skills are desirable.
Competent in hospital information system.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS

Help to foster supportive working and learning environment and maintain staff morale.
Promote and create a climate of clinical inquiry through practice.
Share specialist clinical knowledge with staff nurses and health care assistants through
formal and informal learning opportunities.
Act as a resource to undergraduate and post-registration students and junior medical staff in oncology care.
Provide and develop family education, for example: available support groups, social services, and community resources.
Complements the staff nurse role when more detailed specialist knowledge is required.
Develop patient education materials in conjunction with multidisciplinary team.
Identifies own learning needs and objectives and communicates these with line manager.
Engages in relevant professional development.
Network with other CNS to exchange and enhance specialist knowledge, both internal
and external to the organisation.
Audits and Research
Be aware of hospital policies and procedures and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team and Quality manager to ensure that these are observed and updated.
Utilise current research to function as a change agent, identify barriers to more comprehensive health-care delivery, modify behaviour, and introduce new approaches to patient care.
Set standards of nursing practice. Communicate these standards to nursing personnel.
Initiate, participate in and evaluate audit.
Involved in continuous audit of current oncology practice
Audit effectiveness of CNS role
Identify evidence based practice in Palliative Care and initiate change when indicated
Evaluate educational programmes for effectiveness
Consultant
Receive referrals for patient consultation from other members of the multi disciplinary team throughout the hospital.
Respond to request for specialist nursing knowledge throughout the hospital. Promote the role and demonstrate an understanding of the functions of the palliative care nurse specialist within the hospital.
Identify need for service development.
Consult with client, family multidisciplinary team, and hospital management to develop service.
Form links with other experts nationally and internationally.
Demonstrate leadership qualities
This role profile is an outline of the post as envisaged by The Hermitage Clinic in adherence to the guidelines set down by the National Council. The CNS will be expected to contribute fully to the determination of further details and specific objective. This role will therefore be subject to change in detail and emphasis in the light of that contribution and future development

ROLE PURPOSE

The clinical nurse specialist in Palliative Care has a pivotal role to play in the coordination of care and management of palliative patients.
Clinical care, staff education and support, patient and family, education, research and audit are integral aspects of the role.
The overall benefit of the role for patients is to improve continuity and quality of care.
The CNS is required to work closely with the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of the
highest standard of patient care.
Vision, innovation, flexibility, good communication and management skills are essential to the successful carrying out of the role
The CNS is included in the Senior Nursing administration of the hospital and in her /his role will support the Matron and her other colleagues.