About this role
Job summary
ED Senior Staff Nurse - Band 6
This post is not suitable for newly qualified Nurses
The Whittington Emergency Department (ED) serves the diverse local community of North London. Our CQC inspection in January 2020 praised the teamwork displayed amongst our staff who support each other to provide good care.
We provide high quality emergency care and maintain an above average performance. We are a dedicated trauma unit as part of the North East London and Essex Trauma Network.
We have very strong nursing leadership and can offer support from our substantial senior team including two ED Matrons, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Paediatric Lead Nurses, and 2 dedicated and innovative practice development nurses.
You will be given the opportunity to rotate through the department including the following:
our 4 bedded resuscitation room caring for critically unwell patients
developing your skills in minor injury in our Urgent Treatment Centre
Majors where we assess and treat the majority of ambulance patients
the fast paced Rapid Assessment Area where investigations are initiated
you will also gain knowledge and skills in caring for unwell children under the supervision of our team of paediatric nurses
Main duties of the job
Due to internal promotions we are pleased to have vacancies for Senior Staff Nurses in our Emergency Department. If you are passionate about delivering excellent nursing care and looking to work as part of a dynamic team we are looking for you!
The senior staff nurse is a highly skilled practitioner who is able to work as the senior nurse in all areas of the department. They will also be expected to take charge of an area of the department and develop shift leader competencies under supervision.
We regularly offer places on ILS, ALS, ATNC, APLS, Physical Assessment or ENP courses. To support your leadership development the trust offers many in house courses such as the icare leadership course as well as external accredited courses.
Applicants will demonstrate experience of working in all areas of ED. All records of courses attended or competencies achieved must be brought to interview.
Post holders would be expected to rotate onto nights and weekends as part of a four-week rota basis. Flexible working will be considered as part of the trust values
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES
KEY FUNCTIONS
1. The post holder will assist in providing individualised, co-ordinated care for all patients assigned to them.
2. Provides nursing care without supervision and contributes to the development and evaluation of nursing practice in the Emergency Department.
3. Effectively co-ordinates individual areas of the department (e.g. Majors/Resus/Paediatrics) supervising and supporting junior staff.
4. Takes charge of the department under supervision of senior colleagues,
whilst working towards departmental shift leader competencies.
5. Provides expert teaching and supervision to junior colleagues to uplift their clinical skills and knowledge
6. Ensure the Trust ICARE values are upheld.
CLINICAL
1. To assess, plan and implement evidence based, individualised patient care.
2. To liaise regularly with the Nurse-in-Charge regarding patient care and flow.
3. To provide direct nursing care which is consistently of a high standard
4. To take responsibility for a defined group of patients.
5. To maintain accurate and appropriate nursing documentation and ensure communication and liaison with the multidisciplinary team is maintained.
6. To act as a role model and assist, support and supervise other nurses in the team as required, including undertaking role of preceptor.
7. To deliver care in line with evidence-based practices and latest nursing research.
8. To delegate as appropriate within the team, taking accountability for delegation.
9. To work a full range of shifts including days, nights, weekends and bank holidays.
10. To escalate incidents in real time and report these on Datix.
MANAGEMENT
1. To effectively manage and supervise allocated areas within the Emergency Department.
2. Maintain effective communication between team members, patients and their families.
3. Work always as part of the team, liaising closely with senior colleagues, and respond positively to feedback from colleagues and service users.
4. Take on a link nurse role and work with the nursing leadership team to ensure service standards are met, audits are undertaken, and quality improvement is championed.
5. Be aware of and adhere to Trust and departmental policies, guidelines and procedures.
6. Have responsibility for appropriate and cost-effective use of resources.
7. Work within the Health and Safety at Work Act, following Trust policies for reporting accidents/incidents, showing an awareness of risk management in the workplace.
8. Ensure equipment is in good working order, and report appropriately when defective.
EDUCATION
1. Demonstrates commitment to supporting education within the department.
2. Assist in the planning and implementation of induction programmes for new members of staff.
3. Demonstrate a continuing process of professional development regarding clinical and leadership skills.
4. Participate in and utilise the Trusts clinical supervision and annual appraisal processes.
5. Maintain compliance with Trust mandatory training requirements.
PROFESSIONAL
1. Observe the NMC Code of Professional Conduct for nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors at all times.
2. Be responsible for maintaining an up-to-date registration on the NMC register.
3. Maintain a professional portfolio which will meet the requirements of NMC revalidation.
4. Always work in such a manner that protects colleagues, patients and visitors from any hazards (which involves recognising and reporting such hazards should they arise).
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities but rather a framework within which the post holder will be given the flexibility to define the detail in conjunction with the Senior Nurse for Practice Development and other senior members of the Nursing Team.
PERSONAL CONDUCT
All staff are expected to treat others with courtesy and respect. The hospitals rules and policies including the disciplinary procedure apply to all staff without exception.
Senior Staff Nurses are expected to plan their annual leave well in advance so that their absence is not detrimental to the service.
Senior Staff Nurses are expected to be exemplary role models within the organisation, always adhering to the dress code and uniform policy.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse (Adult) or RGN Practice Assessor course Immediate Life Support (ILS) and Trauma Intermediate Life Support (TILS) Post registration course in Emergency Nursing
Desirable
Level 2 trauma course (e.g. Advanced Trauma Nursing Course) Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS)
Skills & Abilities Essential
Ability to work independently in all areas of the Emergency Department Ability to manage own workload, and supervise junior staff Excellent verbal and written communication skills Competent in phlebotomy, cannulation and IV drug administration Triage/initial assessment skills
Desirable
Experience of managing areas of the Emergency Department Plastering competency
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Completion of RCN Emergency Nursing Level 1 competencies and working towards level 2 Experience of regularly working in Triage, Resus, Majors and Paediatrics independently Knowledge of adult and children's safeguarding principles Knowledge of Emergency Department Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Desirable
Knowledge of NCL HASU, Major Trauma and Cardiac transfer protocols
Personal Qualities Essential
Genuine interest in Emergency Nursing Ability to demonstrate Trust values Ability to demonstrate professionalism and leadership skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
Address Whittington Hospital - Accident & Emergency Level 5
Magdala Avenue
London
N19 5NF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)