Virtual Ward Nurse

Job overview

This role encompasses clinical management of patients in the digital care pathway as part of the NHS Long Term Plan emphasising digitally enabled care. The post holder will be responsible for incorporating information and communication technologies (ICTs) into patient pathways and for assisting hospital teams in achieving a digital personal health record and digital care pathways.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will also be instrumental in providing patient education around the different digital technologies needed for remote monitoring, developing clinical pathways, embedding this into frontline care, and championing pathways. This includes:

• Directly supervise the process of getting patients on board the digital pathways and provide patients support in using digital tools.
• Provide leadership for digital pathways working with teams from across the trust.
• Conduct audits to evaluate patients' and the MDT's experience working with digital tools and pathways.
• Advocate on behalf of the patient while working directly with internal and external partners to determine the best course of management for the individual patient’s pathway.
• Ensure that all patients are provided with a safe and high quality standard of care.
• Be aware of the Care Quality Commission standards and support the multi-disciplinary team ensuring that they are maintained.
• Becoming a champion of specific front door pathways, notably those which focus on admission avoidance or early supported discharge so that they can support, teach, and lead the pathway to success.
• The post holder will be involved in delivering high quality patient-centred care and developing new clinical pathways in areas that are not part of the wider programme.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Clinical responsibilities

1.1. Working closely with all virtual ward pathway clinicians in enrolling patients to early supported discharge and virtual wards

1.2. Monitoring caseloads in conjunction with team members. Discussing with the specialist nurses/clinical leads if issues arise

1.3. Troubleshoot any issues raised by patients

1.4. To accept and review referrals from teams

1.5. To be able to work across both of our hospital sites

1.6. To help in facilitating early discharges from hospital through virtual wards

1.7. Assist in ensuring the availability of resources for patient care, including remote monitoring equipment

1.8. Ensure equipment is in good working order, and report appropriately when defective

1.9. To make independent clinical decisions based upon patient’s needs

1.10. Communicate with patients and their next of kin

1.11. To support the ward/department team to facilitate seamless transitions of care/ discharge by liaising with primary care health and social teams as required

1.12. Monitoring caseloads in conjunction with the specialist nurses and remote monitoring hub

1.13 Working with our colleagues in the NWL Virtual Hospital to maintain care of patients at home.

1.14 Support the development of Surgical Virtual Pathways.