Nurse Practitioner Non-Specific Rapid Diagnostics Service

at  Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our cancer services team for a Nurse Practitioner Non-Specific Rapid Diagnostics Service to join our busy team
The Nurse Practitioner role in NSS rapid diagnostics service is to provide specialist advice to professionals regarding individuals presenting with nonspecific symptoms that could be due to cancer, and patients with malignancy of unknown origin. The role involves communication with multiple healthcare professionals across primary and secondary care. The nurse practitioner will be responsible for developing and delivering appropriate diagnostic and supportive pathways for both patients and Health Care Professionals, utilising and developing appropriate clinical services to provide an accessible and seamless pathway.
Trainee Annex 21 applicants will be considered
Interview Date - 20th August 2024
The post holder will play a key role in the development and delivery of the Rapid Diagnostics Service (RDS) throughout the Trust. To give advice and implement patient care in an area which requires specific clinical knowledge, skills, and experience. To work alongside other clinical colleagues to ensure quality of care to the patients is maximised. The post holder will be based within Cancer Services and work closely cancer services management team.

KEY DUTIES

Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of evidence-based nursing care.
Provide expert advice and clinical practice.
Provide specialist education and training to others.
Work collaboratively and co-operatively with clinical colleagues to develop services and high quality of care delivered.
Lead the development of clinical services within the specialist field.
Triage complex referrals.
Manage an agreed patient caseload, when the diagnosis may be uncertain, according to own advanced clinical judgement and skills.
Order/undertake, interpret, and act upon diagnostic tests and investigations.
Identify, assess, and triage patients ensuring smooth transition to other services as appropriate.
Responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with undiagnosed and diagnosed conditions and for decisions about the clinical management required, including prescribing as a register independent prescriber. Prescribe any medicine for any medical condition within their competence, including any controlled drug in Schedule 2,3,4 or 5 of the MDR 2002 Regulations, as amended (except Diamorphine, Dipipanone or Cocaine for the treatment of addiction). Will adhere to Trust polices, NMP standards as set out in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Framework and medicines management legislation.
Ensure the team involves patients, carers and relatives in the planning and delivery of care.
Act as a highly autonomous practitioner, with minimal supervision, exercising judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.
Ensure own and team compliance with any specific regulations for example: Quality Surveillance Programme, drug administration, record keeping and data collection within own area of work.
Develop protocols for nurse led clinics, ensuring that outcomes are evaluated, and activity monitored.
Initiate medication/treatment reviews independently within area of work.
Manage complex cases and those for specialist investigations referring to MDT as appropriate.
Lead on the development of integrated care with primary and secondary care clinicians as required and other agencies involved with care delivery.
Ensure appropriate services are put in place to support management of condition at home, supported by the multidisciplinary team as required.
The post holder will abide by legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice and promote and maintain standards of professional practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (NMC) Code and Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.
Develop and maintain required specialist clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of patients within the area of responsibility.
Responsibility to deliver personalised care interventions.
Provide specialist telephone advice.
Key worker role

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform comprehensive assessment of patient nursing needs, plan, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health care needs.
Perform advanced clinical skills in assessment &/or diagnosis &/ or treatment.
Non-medical prescribing
Collect, collate, evaluate, and report information, maintaining accurate patient records.
Involve patients and carers/ relatives in the planning and delivery of care and the development of services.
Monitor investigation results, initiating further assessment/ review and co-ordination of treatment pathway as required.
Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure discharge arrangements.
Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers/relatives and professionals across health and social services.
Contribute to the health and promotion agenda with the local health economy.
Attend Network meetings.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Administration supporting direct patient care/MDT preparation/follow up
Dictating and signing letters
Requesting appointments for patients
Processing Clinical Outcome sheets
Updating Somerset Cancer Registry
Report Writing
Presentations
Address issues raised by remote follow up clinic service.
Patient experience assessment/improvement advocates

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

Identify learning needs, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified needs.
Participate in the education of pre and post registered nurses, medical staff, AHP’s, patients and carers and participate in curriculum development where appropriate.
Address specific health targets e.g. CHI, NICE Guidance, NSF related to own are of practice through education.
Ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regarding mandatory training and PREP requirements.