Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse – Critical Care

Job overview

Critical Care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ is one of the largest, most specialised and comprehensive critical care services in the NHS and is located in the centre of London.  With over 100 critical care beds within the division we can offer an innovative, challenging and inspirational career experience. It is also one of five ECMO centres in the UK, with a 24/7 consultant-led retrieval service and engage closely with referring centres to inform of best clinical practice. The critical care service is recognised internationally for supporting patients beyond the walls of intensive care and taking a holistic view of their recovery back to health. The department runs a well-established recovery clinic and peer support group, led by a multi-disciplinary team of critical care professionals.

We don’t just want to stop at recruiting the best nurses.  We want you to stay with us for the long-term too. That’s why we’ll do everything we can to support you - and help you make your professional ambitions a reality.

Please note to be considered for this vacancy you must have completed a critical care course and either have your results or be waiting for your results to be processed.

Should you be successful at interview and you are unable to provide the recruiting manger with confirmation of a successfully competed critical care course within 2 months of being interviewed then your offer will be withdrawn

Closing date: 27th October 2024

Interview date: 11th November 2024

Main duties of the job

We are looking for nurses with a willingness to learn, that thrive under pressure and have the ability to adapt and refine their skills according to the demands of the unit.

Would you like to work as a Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse in one of the largest Critical Care departments in the UK?  We are currently recruiting experienced and motivated Nurses to work in Critical Care (High Dependency or Intensive Care) who are looking for an innovative, challenging and inspirational career experience.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Independently manage a group of patients within the specialty whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct patient care.
• Demonstrate appropriate practice and specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. This includes history taking, physical examination and the requesting of agreed diagnostic procedures/clinical investigations.
• Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication including transfusion of blood and blood products.
• Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.
• Ensure that patients’ receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
• To provide leadership, support and guidance to staff in monitoring the planning delivery and evaluation of individualised care.
• Is wholly accountable for his / her practice in line with the NMC code of professional conduct and takes every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve his / her knowledge and professional competence.
• Ensure safe and effective care for complex patients requiring advance clinical skills and responsible for carrying out specialist nursing procedures to area.
• Ensure that sensitive patient records are stored appropriately.
• Ensure staff take precautions to minimise the risk of cross infection in relation to the safe disposal of body fluids (including blood).
• To be an effective communicator with patients/carers/families regarding disease treatment and management.
• Facilitate a high quality, cost effective specialist service through monitoring and audit and other quality initiatives agreed by the Trust.
• Identify and intervene where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for patients and staff. To bring instances to the attention of the Sister/Charge Nurse for the area.
• Ensure that the learning environment and specialist training is appropriate for both pre and post registration learners and participate in the development of appropriate programmes.
• Contribute in the Trust’s clinical supervision programme for staff.
• To assist the Sister/Charge Nurse in developing a culture that is challenging, stimulating, rewarding and supportive.
• To act as mentor/assessor to unqualified staff and to provide education, advice and support to a team of nurses.
• Utilise research findings in the delivery of specialist patient care, developing new ways of working and to disseminate relevant information to staff.
• Provide a leadership role model and demonstrate specialist knowledge and high standards of clinical practice and provide support or advice when necessary.
• Maintain accurate records of the clinical service and ensuring that confidentiality of information is adhered to.
• Organise own work and manage own caseload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.
• Take an active role in risk assessment, supporting implementation of strategies to minimise risk. Ensuring incidents and near misses are reported, through promoting a no blame culture.
• To create an environment that fosters good communication between patient and health care professionals, that meets individual’s needs.