Chemotherapy Nurse / Sister

Job overview

The Chemotherapy Unit at East Lancashire Teaching Hospital provides care for Oncology patients.  We are looking for a highly motivated nurse who is keen to learn and develop as a senior nurse within the  chemotherapy department. You will need to be able to work autonomously, but also be part of our team.  The unit is fast paced, challenging and rewarding all at the same time, on average treating 50 patients per day.

If successful you will be expected to care for a number of patients each day, ensuring that each patient receives the best care and information required. You will administer chemotherapy and other therapies, including blood products, and be able to address any queries or problems associated with the patient’s regimes. Cannulation and venepuncture skills are essential here on the unit, training can be provided. You will be required to be able liaise with our consultants and doctors when required.

The type of candidate we are looking for is one who has a positive outlook on life, who is open and honest, flexible, reliable, excellent time management skills, hardworking and eager to learn new skills and knowledge.

Main duties of the job

As a Chemotherapy nurse you will be expected to provide support and advice to patients receiving  Systemic Anti Cancer Treatments (SACT).

You will administer SACT competently and safely and be able to recognise  and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.

Work collaboratively with other members of the MDT.

Meeting the needs of the patients and families.

Participate in the education, development and line management of other team members.

Responsible for the management of the unit and line management of team members in the absence of the unit manager.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical.

• Ensure patient records are maintained and that documentation reflects care provided
• Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patients records.
• Involve patients, relatives and carers in the planning and delivery of care.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure patient needs are met
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure patient needs are met.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers/relatives
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.
• Assess patients prior to commencing chemotherapy treatment.
• Assess patients for PICC line placement, place PICC line in patients with poor venous access.
• Ability to cannulate and carry out venepuncture skills
• Make decisions about treatments after assessing results and following agreed guidelines
• Ensure effective communication and support with patients, relatives carers and colleagues
• Provide clinical expertise, advice and support for colleagues and those in training and act as a resource for other directorate/trust personnel, providing specialist knowledge as required
• Ensure own actions promote quality and alert others to quality issues
• Influence the development of knowledge, ideas and work practice
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent emergency situations
• Ensure that adequate precautions are taken by self and all members of staff to minimise the risk of infection in relation to the safe disposal of body fluids, including blood products.
• Further to successful completion of non-medical prescribing training the post-holder will prescribe medications within their scope of practice and competency for patients in their care, following assessment of need and locally agreed guidelines and formularies.*

Managerial/Leadership.

• Deputise for Unit manager in management and organisation of the unit.
• Accept delegated line management responsibilities of other team members including performance development review and personal development planning.
• Maintain effective communication with medical staff and other MDT members, including Cancer Centre.
• Attend departmental, operational/strategy meetings when required.
• Support Unit Manager to maximise best use of clinical resources, implementing patient flow.
• Participate in the recruitment and retention of staff.
• Promote the development of services within the unit and assists unit manager to implement change.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources.
• Monitor health, safety and security of self and others and promote best practice on unit.
• Be responsible for the investigation of complaints from patients, relatives other staff and members of the public in accordance with Trust policy in the absence of the unit manager
• Responsible for ensuring that standards in the clinical area are in keeping with the N.M.C Code of Conduct

Education and Development.

• Provide education and development opportunities for unit team and Nursing staff across East Lancs trust Hospital and Community staff
• Provide mentorship and preceptorship for students and newly appointed staff
• Ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regard to mandatory training and PREP requirements, maintaining records of training and development undertaken.
• Participate in the development of others through involvement in training, education and development within and outside the unit environment.
• Evaluate the development of team members and comply with CPD guidelines.

Clinical Governance.

• Assist the Unit Manager in unit audit and the development and implementation of the unit action plan.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others; participate in the development of same.
• Continually monitor standards of care, lead the improvement of care, through benchmarking, audit and research.
• Lead patient and public involvement activities on the unit, leading to service improvement.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.