Liver Disease Specialist Nurse, Band 6

at  Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The Liver Specialist Nurses works closely with the Lead Consultant for Hepatology in delivering a nurse led service for patients providing symptom management; counselling; surveillance; advice, helpline advice; prescription management; working and communicating with the wider MDT and ascites management. The number of patients with end stage liver disease has increased over the past decade. We now have 900 patients within our service and these are increasing year on year. Liver disease is now the third leading cause of premature death in the UK.
This Nurse-led service is well-established but forever expanding so requires flexible thinking and working. 1. To provide specialist knowledge and support to patients, staff and family within the acute setting, and through nurse-led outpatient clinics. 2.
Conduct nurse-led chronic liver disease, follow-up and drug counselling/monitoring clinics. 3. Manage a telephone helpline for patients with liver disease offering support, advice, information and counselling. 4.
Manage a blood monitoring service for liver patients. 5. Communicate effectively with patients where understanding is limited or patient ability to communicate is compromised. 6.
To deliver and receive information which may cause emotional distress to all parties. 7. To disseminate contentious and delicate information to patients and their families / carers appropriately. 8.
To lead and deliver safe care within a challenging and changing clinical environment, using equipment and resources safely and as appropriate. 9. Determine from phone call interaction, course of action and advise on treatment. 10.
Take and prioritise referrals from for example GPs, wards, other teams, Sue Ryder, cardiology and oncology. 11. Work with a challenging client group to negotiate effective plans for symptom management. 12.
Work closely with other specialist providers including GPs, consultants and palliative care services to provide a seamless service for those with acute and chronic liver disease. 13. Participate as required in audit 14. Contribute to policy and service development as required.
15. To act as a role model and specialist resource to all staff disseminating clinical skills, knowledge and best practice. 16. To adhere to all Trust policies and procedures and professional code of conduct.
17. In accordance with the Data Protection Act, ensuring own and staffs ability to input and retrieve patient and staff information from computer based system and maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records. 18. To actively support and assist line managers with public patient involvement.
19. To organise own time

Please refer the Job description for details