Clinical Nurse Specialist - Orthopaedics

Job TitleClinical Nurse Specialist - Orthopaedics (Fixed Term for one year - possibility to extend)DepartmentWard and OutpatientsReporting toAssistant Director of NursingLocationBlackrock Health Hermitage ClinicJob PurposeAs a key member of the Nursing team, the post holder will demonstrate excellent clinical skills, quality patient care initiatives and facilitate effective interpersonal communication with colleagues in the unit(s) and hospital. The role will provide comprehensive nursing care to patients using evidence-based practice and adjusting resources to ensure continuity of care, will act as a role model for excellence in patient care and be the clinical nurse lead for Orthopaedic nursing, will develop, deliver and evaluate a comprehensive education programme for Orthopaedic Nursing. The CNS will communicate and collaborate with the medical/nursing staff teams in the delivery of quality continuing care for the patient, including liaison with other Hospitals North and South of Ireland, Consultants, and GP’s. The CNS will schedule and co-ordinate the pre-operative and post-operative patient review clinics monitor and review data entry and assume super user status of the hospital Orthopaedic register. The position requires a strategic approach to the development of services and structures, embracing continuous quality improvement and the management of changes necessary to achieve organisational objectives.Job Background/ContextBlackrock Health Hermitage Clinic is a private hospital providing a full range of medical and surgical care across a broad spectrum of specialities. Each department provides a range of services and this role is important in making a significant contribution, developing and maintaining best practice in nursing services at ward level.Key Responsibilities  OperationsThe Orthopaedic CNS will:Plan and initiate care and treatment modalities within agreed protocols to achieve patient centred outcomes and evaluate their effectiveness.Utilize assessment skills and techniques to determine each patient/family needs.Plan all care in collaboration with the patient.Provide specialist advice to patients on appropriate products to meet their needsLiaise as appropriate with other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) regarding any aspect of patient careDevelop, document and update care, discharge and teaching plans and documentation as necessary.Evaluate the care/information given and reassess accordinglyCo-ordinate and track the completion of the patient reported outcome measures (P.R.O.M.S.) at the pre and post-operative assessments, review the patient post-operatively at 6 months, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years and record any complications in accordance with the Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR) template. The Orthopaedic CNS will liaise with the consultant surgeon on abnormal clinical issues. This enables better identification and management of patients to improve their experience and outcomes following surgery.Monitor and review data input from this hospital. This facilitates multidisciplinary clinical audit, research, assist in developing and leading on best practice.Attend to the routine calls from patients by the use of a telephone helpline, provide timely specialist advice or consultation as appropriate.Provide support for the ward staff in managing the care of this patient on the day of their admission / discharge. Lead the establishment of a joint school The role of the Orthopaedic CNS will include;Obtaining informed consent from the patient at the pre-operative assessment clinic for the  INOR register.Caring for patients pre and post Orthopaedic surgeryEnter PROM's (patient outcome measures) at pre-operative clinic and post-operative nurse led clinics at six months, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years.Schedule interdisciplinary referrals as required.Establishment of a joint school to prepare patient for early discharge and reduced length of stay.Run reports as requested by Consultants or hospital leadership.Increase patient satisfaction with the service.Improve patient outcomes through education and health promotion.Attend ward rounds and clinics as required. Clinical Focus - Indirect CareThe Orthopaedic CNS will:·      Provide patients/carers with advice, support and reassurance via telephone calls·       Maintain effective and appropriate communication and collaboration with  members of the multidisciplinary teams, colleagues, personnel, patients and their relatives/carers·      Complete and maintain relevant documentation in a thorough and accurate manner. Patient/client advocateThe Orthopaedic CNS will:·      Use a patient centred approach in all aspects of practice ascertaining their views on aspects of their care.·      Influence practice and promote improved/new standards of care in relation to patients ·      Respect the dignity and confidentiality of patients, serving as their advocate when necessary. Learning and EducationThe Orthopaedic CNS will:·      Develop and deliver a comprehensive education programme in Orthopaedic nursing, including the development and evaluation of competencies, in conjunction with other relevant personnel. ·      Maintain clinical, nursing and managerial competence in the field of Orthopaedic nursing, including keeping up to-date with relevant research to ensure evidence-based practice and research utilisation.·      Be responsible for identifying his/her own training development needs in consultation with the line manager in order to keep professionally and clinically updated.·      To be responsible for creating an environment that is conducive to learning and development of self and others. To provide professional, clinical and education advice to nursing and other healthcare staff as appropriate. This includes the assessment of competency of student nurses, and other staff on placement to the specialist area, as appropriate, and providing assistance with the orientation and induction of new staff.·      Educate and provide supportive care to patients, their families/their carers through all stages of their disease.·      Attend all mandatory training days.·      Keep abreast of current trends in Orthopaedic nursing through reading, attending seminars and having thorough knowledge of nursing policy and standards·      Participate in in-service education. Take personal responsibility for own professional development and keep up to date with evidence based practice and research.·      Identify areas where scope of practice can be advanced·      Provide mentorship, preceptor ship, teaching, facilitation and professional supervisory skills for nurses and other health care workers.·      Act as preceptor to undergraduate and post-graduate student nurses on placement·      Plan and deliver staff teaching in relation to individual setting.·      Maintain and update a personal development portfolio Audit, Research and QualityThe Orthopaedic CNS will:Identify, critically analyse, disseminate and integrate nursing and other evidence into the area of Orthopaedic nursingEstablish, implement and evaluate audit programmes of the service, the quality of care and the Clinical Nurse Specialist current practice.Contribute to service planning through use of audit data and specialist knowledge.Record information on patients electronically, which will provide data for auditing the service.Monitor, access, utilize and disseminate current relevant research to advise and ensure the provision of informed evidence based practice in Orthopaedic nursingUnderstand the need for nursing research and be able to implement this process to contribute to the development of services provided.Ensure that there is compliance with all relevant Hermitage Clinic guidelines, policies, procedures and relevant legislation and regulatory requirements. This includes responsibility for dealing with regulatory or professional bodies and inspections.·      Encourage continuous review and evaluation of policies, guidelines and existing practices through regular audit programmes and review engaging with the multi-disciplinary team where required.·      Promote a culture of continuous quality improvement across the department involving the team in continuous improvement initiatives and encouraging innovation. ·      Set and monitor core objectives, standards and key performance indicators for the service and monitor performance against these standards through internal and (where applicable) external audit.Lead out on the requirements of the hospitals accreditation process.Participate fully in the requirement of the hospital’s risk management programme.Promote the delivery of a high standard of care to all patients. Encourage evidence-based practice and assist in the dissemination and implementation of research findings.·      Work with members of the Multidisciplinary team in devising Standard Operating Procedures Provide clinical nursing leadership in proactively addressing ethical and quality of service issues with multidisciplinary team members and hospital management.Develop a culture of safety, promoting positive reporting of incidents and near misses; investigate and take remedial action on incidents or near misses involving patients and staff according to hospital policies, protocols and guidelines.Identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Orthopaedic service and hospital performanceDevelop Action Plans to address KPI targets.The management and delivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective ConsultantThe Orthopaedic CNS will:·      Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a role model to staff nurses who work in the acute services or in the community·      Network with other CNS’ in the hospital, nationally and other organisations·      Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines.·      Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance nursing practice.·      Contribute to nursing quality assurance by assisting in identification of recurring nursing problems and data collection