Clinical Nurse Specialist - Vascular

Job overview

Do you have an interest in managing patients who have problems of the Lower Limb? If so, this job could be for you!

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a small community team working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist within the Lower Limb Vascular Service. The service has a huge remit and we are seeking an enthusiastic, dynamic, registered professional to be part of it.

You must be able to work in partnership with the Lower Limb Vascular Service and Secondary Care to provide a patient centered service in the management of patients with lower limb vascular needs; utilizing preventative diagnostic skills in the aim of maintaining care closer to home. You will need to have an understanding of the national and local health care agenda and should be able to provide clinical leadership that will drive and support the modernisation of services in line with local and national priorities for community care.

Main duties of the job

Assessment and diagnosis of patients with potential/diagnosed peripheral arterial disease and or venous disease

Supporting community teams with the management of patients with venous/arterial leg ulcers

Delivery of education to community teams and other professionals

Initiating and evaluating treatment plans

Triaging referrals

Offering support and advice over the telephone to patients/carers and community staff

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To receive referrals from a wide range of health care professionals and as a competent practitioner, advise plans of care for individual patients in the community who have complex vascular needs.
• To represent the trust as the lower limb vascular sister working in partnership with the line manager and secondary care team.
• To assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care, actively seeking evidence based practice which will demonstrate improvements in care and meets the needs of patients.
• In partnership with secondary care, develop, review and implement policies, integrated care pathways, guidelines and patient information leaflets, to reflect current trends and developments in nursing and the NHS.
• Work across both primary and secondary care sites promoting a smooth transition for patient care.
• To perform a high level of clinical skills in assessment and/or diagnosis or treatment eg extended vascular assessments.
• Teach and support staff in the community in relation to all aspects of management of the lower limb.
• To provide specialist knowledge and advice to colleagues and patients in the multidisciplinary environment.
• Working within the Lower Limb Vascular Service, share best practice, knowledge and expertise in associated conditions, through participation in the existing educational support networks and provision of appropriate teaching programmes.
• Deputise for the line manager as required.
• To support the line manager in managing and developing the Lower Limb Service.
• Be involved in the Trust organisational development plans to transform different ways of working to meet the needs of the future, this will include upholding the Trust’s values and vision.
• Participate in clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy.
• To ensure nursing interventions are clinically effective and evidence based.
• To respond to the needs of the patients and the service and to organise own and others work within the team as required.
• To demonstrate an active role in health promotion and in the prevention of ill health of patients, carers, and colleagues.
• To actively seek to improve the care to patients responding to identified needs.
• Co-ordinate community based lower limb vascular clinics – offering advice, support, training, mentorship, and supervision to health care workers / patients / carers.
• Chairing and facilitating meetings, and working groups as required
• The post holder will provide information to the line manager to support the development of the service.
• To manage own workload and, when required the workload of junior staff.
• Initiate and participate in audit relating to all aspects of lower limb management to ensure high standard of clinical practice across the Trust.
• Maintain data base of clinical incidents relating to the service through production of quarterly reports in partnership with the line manager.
• Post holder will be a member of appropriate committees and groups as required by the line manager.
• Record activity and input into a data base to allow reports to be generated to demonstrate outcomes of the lower limb vascular service.
• Under the guidance of the line manager and in conjunction with multidisciplinary teams provide a high standard of skilled care, in the field of lower limb management in a variety of settings, using evidence-based practice and working within NHS East Lancashire national policies and standards.
• To participate with the audit/monitoring mechanisms and product evaluations within the service.
• To make clear concise records of individual patient assessments, advice and predicted outcomes in the patients notes.
• Be responsible for paper and electronic diary and recording patient and non patient activity for data collection, to be forwarded to the line manager as required.
• Be responsible for disposal of clinical waste in line with infection control policies.
• To be aware of patients needs and organise own workload accordingly.
• To monitor the patient’s condition and report significant changes and concerns to line manager and other professionals as appropriate.
• Preserve confidentiality and be aware of the Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment.
• To adopt a holistic approach to patients / carers / family in their own homes or elsewhere in the community, treating patients as individuals.
• Liaise with nursing and non nursing colleagues to create good working relationships for the benefit of patients.
• Attend and contribute at staff meetings and working groups to identify areas of improvement to ensure targets and objectives are achieved.
• To have a flexible approach to the working day and working week in order to meet the needs of the patient / service.
• In partnership with the line manager, support the development of and participate in patient support groups.