Apheresis specialist nurse

Job overview

Nottingham therapeutic apheresis service is a rapidly growing service based within clinical haematology at Nottingham city hospital. The apheresis service provides a range of procedures including stem cell harvesting for both patients and donors, T-Cell collection, plasma exchange, red blood cell exchange and therapeutic photopheresis. The apheresis service provides treatment for patients who are referred from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Staffordshire. We are also closely linked with our Haematology Daycase unit where we deliver different treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and blood products transfusions to name a few.

Main duties of the job

As an apheresis nurse you will work closely with the apheresis lead clinical nurse specialist to provide all aspects of clinical care for patients and stem cell donors. This involves working as part of a highly skilled specialist team, acting as a source of clinical expertise. Most importantly it means maintaining high standards of care and ensuring best practice and clinical effectiveness is achieved. You will be trained to perform a wide range of apheresis procedures including stem cell collections, red cell exchanges, plasma exchanges and extracorporeal photopheresis. Participation in our 24 hour on call service in addition to your contracted hours is required. The post holder will be based at City Campus, NUH. Core working hours are Monday to Friday 08:00 – 18:00, on call hours are from 18:00 – 08:00 weekday nights and 24hours on weekends.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key job responsibilities

• a.     Taking responsibility for the care of a caseload of patients requiring specialist Apheresis procedures under the guidance of the Apheresis Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist. b.     To be a highly competent, knowledgeable and visible practitioner within the speciality ensuring the provision of excellent, evidence-based nursing care for patients and their families. c.     Take direct referrals, in accordance with apheresis service guidelines as appropriate and assess, treat and refer patients to other members of the clinical team as required. d.     To work alongside all members of the team to identify new ways of working that ensure high quality of care is delivered. e.     Be a visible point of contact for patients, visitors, relatives and staff, acting as a resource for information and provide information and support. f.      Ensure pre-collection patient/donor evaluation is complete for autologous and allogeneic stem cell collections. g.     In conjunction with the ward/referral hospital, provide advice and support to colleagues and patients to ensure the mobilisation regime is carried out as per protocol. h. Develop skill in care of the central venous catheter, venepuncture, cannulation, intravenous drugs, chemotherapy and venesection, apheresis and blood product administration in accordance with the hospital’s guidelines for clinical practice. i.      Participate in applying and understanding the principles of cytotoxic handling and disposal as stipulated in local departmental policies and national legislation. j.      Be a role model and example, ensuring that the dignity, rights and confidentiality of the patient and individual team members are protected and maintained in accordance with national standards and guidelines. k.     In conjunction with the MDT, ensure that patient care plans are regularly reviewed and evaluated. Ensure nursing records and documentation is maintained and current. Be a key member of the MDT in supporting patients and their carers during the delivery of bad news, caring for terminally ill patients and the event of death. a.     Take charge and lead the apheresis unit in the absence of the Apheresis Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist. b.     Take an active role in influencing service development through specific research and audit projects. c.     Responsible for supporting the Apheresis lead Clinical Nurse Specialist to help gain both the JACIE and Human Tissue Authority accreditation for the Apheresis department as required to practice as a transplant centre. d.     In collaboration with the transplant programme director and senior nurses, the post holder will ensure compliance with pre-established specifications/standards (JACIE/HTA) that underpin the quality of the transplant service with a specific focus on our apheresis service. e.     Work with the Haematology Quality Manager to maintain and update Standard Operational Procedures (SOP’S) for all aspects of apheresis. f.      Assist with the establishment, motivation and development of the team. g.     Contribute to the creation of a positive team and working environment, promoting flexible working. Encourage all team members to demonstrate initiative in their application to practice. Identify and minimize interpersonal conflicts that may affect team or individual performance. h.     Convey and present information, written or verbal, formally or informally, as appropriate. Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times in-line with Trust policy and procedure. i.      Maintain and support the unit with accurate incident reporting, ensuring the appropriate action is taken where required. j.      Apply the Directorate and Trust clinical governance strategies to clinical area. k.     To support the Apheresis lead Clinical Nurse Specialist with an annual audit plan to help develop and implement new processes within the apheresis l.      To become competent at handling and investigating incidents using Datix and receive the training to do so. m.   Improve and maintain standards in nursing care by working with the ward manager using tools such as benchmarking and audit.

You will be responsible for working autonomously and accountable for the prescribing of emergency nursing care whilst working out of hours/on-call. This will be for emergency apheresis procedures including plasma exchange, red blood exchange and out of hours stem cell harvesting.

As a member of the quality management team, review current standards of care delivery through audit projects, undertaking audit and research projects where required and encourage team members to be involved. Encourage and facilitate evidence-based practice in all aspects of care delivery

• a)    Take an active role in self-development, by reviewing performance, identifying own development needs and taking the appropriate action in order to meet those needs and help to take the lead on the development of apheresis team objectives b)    Create a positive learning environment within clinical settings, to encourage and facilitate individual and shared learning and professional development. c)     Ensure you attend any relevant training or Apheresis study days, chemotherapy and

haematology study days.

• d)    Help support the Clinical Nurse Specialist by implementing change in response to clinical, organisational and national demands, in agreement with appropriate others in the unit

Working Conditions

The post holder must be able to:

• Physically be able to push an apheresis machine around the hospital when lone working on call

• work within unpleasant clinical working conditions (for example exposure to body fluids)
• concentrate in an intense and sometimes noisy environment
• cope with potentially violent and threatening situations
• fulfil Trust health and safety policies and procedures when performing risk associated procedures including dealing with hazardous substances

General Duties (applicable to all roles within NUH)

All employees at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust are expected to adhere to the following general duties, in addition to the key job responsibilities detailed in their job descriptions

Infection Control

• All Staff: To maintain a clean, safe environment, ensuring adherence to the Trust’s standards of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.

Safeguarding

• Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults: Nottingham University Hospitals is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment.

Information Governance

• Record Keeping: All staff have an individual responsibility for creating accurate records of their work and for making entries into and managing all NHS records effectively in line with the Health Record Keeping Policy as well as other Health Records and Corporate Records Management policies.

Health and Safety

• Personal Responsibility: Take reasonable care to prevent injury to yourself and/or others who may be affected by your actions or omissions.
• Policy Compliance: To co-operate fully in discharging the Trust policies and procedures with regard to health and safety matters.
• Reporting Issues: Report any health and safety shortcomings to your manager immediately.
• Incident Reporting: Report any accidents or dangerous incidents to your immediate manager & safety representative as early as possible and submit a completed accident/incident form.
• Protective Equipment: Ensure the use of protective clothing and equipment where provided.
• Safety Concerns: Whilst the aim of the Trust is to promote a co-operative and constructive view of health and safety concerns in the organisation, all staff must be aware that a wilful or irresponsible disregard for safety matters may give rise to disciplinary proceedings.

Governance

• Participation: To actively participate in governance activities to ensure that the highest standards of care and business conduct are achieved.

Health and Wellbeing

• Self-Care: All NUH employees are expected to take reasonable steps to look after both their physical health and mental health. To support this, NUH offers a wide range of health and wellbeing activities and interventions. The full programme can be viewed at on the staff intranet.
• Manager Support: Line managers should encourage and support staff to look after their health and wellbeing, including the release of staff to attend health and wellbeing activities and appointments.

General Policies Procedures and Practices

• Compliance: To comply with all Trust policies, procedures and practices and to be responsible for keeping up to date with any changes to these.