Registered Nurse - Renal Ward 8b

So, you’re eager to learn more about Registered Nursing opportunities within our Renal Department at North Bristol NHS Trust. Here are some of the reasons we’re unique… 

We are part of the Richard Bright Renal Unit, a regional renal transplant centre with six Haemodialysis Satellite Units across Bristol area. Our Trust is a centre of excellence for the delivery of care for people with renal impairment and our teams are proud to participate in pioneering clinical trials, including H4RT, Prepare for Kidney Care and the Bioempendence Trial. 

As a nurse working in our service you will be supported to learn the skills required to manage patients requiring renal replacement, both haemodialysis/ haemodiafiltration and peritoneal dialysis, as well as gaining experience looking after those patients who have undergone a kidney transplant. 

We are passionate about professional development. Within our Individual Performance Reviews, our nurses can share their personal career aspirations with the senior team and discuss opportunities available for additional training, including external specialist renal courses and internal management training hosted by the Learning and Development team at our Southmead site. 

We currently have opportunities available for: 

• Experienced Registered Nurses with current NMC Registration 
• Newly Qualified and Newly Qualifying Nurses 

Main duties of the job

• Working within our department, your main duties will include: 
• Organising and participating in the delivery of high standards of evidence-based nursing care. 
• Taking responsibility to carry out required planned, direct patient care to a high standard without direct supervision, in accordance with established nursing procedures and policies. 
• Contributing towards the health promotion for all patients by provided education, support and advice as necessary, ensuring referral to appropriate professionals or agencies as required.  
• In the absence of senior staff, taking responsibility for the delegation and supervision of appropriate work to other qualified staff, healthcare support workers and students. 
• Where relevant, be responsible and assist in the co-ordination of discharge planning in partnership with the multidisciplinary team. 
• Taking personal responsibility for treating all patients with courtesy, respecting their individual needs and maintaining confidentiality at all times.  
• Ensuring provision of a safe and therapeutic environment for all patients, relatives, visitors and colleagues. 

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered. 

We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services. 

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Main Duties and Responsibilities (In addition to the duties listed earlier in the advert):  

• Organise and participate in the delivery of high standards of evidence-based nursing care.  
• Take regular responsibility to carry out required planned, direct patient care to a high standard without direct supervision in accordance with established nursing procedures and policies. 
• To report to the appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team any significant changes in a patient’s condition or situation.  
• Responsible for taking charge of the ward/department on a regular basis in the absence of the person who has continuing responsibility.  
• Take personal responsibility as a team leader for the delivery of care of patients in a defined area.  
• To contribute towards health promotion for all patients by providing education, support and advice, as necessary Ensure referral to appropriate professionals or agencies as required.  
• Ensure the safe ordering, administration and custody of patients’ medication according to Trust policies and procedures.  
• In the absence of senior staff be responsible for delegation and supervision of appropriate work to other qualified staff, health care assistants and students 
• Where relevant to be responsible for and assist in co-ordinating discharge planning in partnership with the multidisciplinary team 
• Where relevant, responsible for the admission, assessment and preparation of patients undergoing treatment or investigations.  
• Escort patients to other wards or departments as required.  
• To take personal responsibility for ensuring that patients are treated with courtesy at all times, the individual needs of patients are respected and confidentiality is maintained at all times.  
• Liase effectively with other disciplines or departments as appropriate.  
• To be able to act in emergency situations and to be familiar with emergency procedures including fire and resuscitation.  
• To be responsible for the support and direction of junior staff in such situations according to Trust policy.  
• To be responsible for ensuring provision of a safe and therapeutic environment for all patients, relatives, visitors and colleagues.  
• Ensure the readiness for use of special equipment and the availability of nursing supplies in conjunction with the senior ward nurses.  
• Ensure the safe custody of patients’ valuables and property according to Trust policies.  
• Report to nurse in charge/line manager all complaints, incidents or accidents involving self, staff, patients, visitors and complete relevant documentation according to Trust procedure.  
• Be responsible for reporting and documenting any broken or damaged equipment according to Trust policy.  
• To have detailed knowledge of Manual handling regulations particularly with regards to the moving and handling of patients.  
• To be responsible for ensuring that assessment of patients’ manual handling needs are carried out and ensure junior staff and students follow these requirements in the course of care delivery.  
• Ensure safe storage and disposal of substances hazardous to health in accordance with Trust policy. Ensure availability of facilities for disposal of sharps, toxic/cytoxic waste in accordance with trust policy.  
• In support of senior staff or ward manager assist with monitoring and report to ensure stock levels are maintained and that the correct quantities are in supply. 
• Monitor the use of supplies by junior staff to promote efficient use of all supplies.  
• To be aware of the directorate bleep holding function.  
• To have an awareness of the requirements for staffing the ward or department.  
• Undertake aspects of ward administration as agreed by the ward /department manage.  
• Report reliably any episodes of sickness for self or that are reported to you to the Registered nurse in charge to enable skill mix to be maintained. 

Working Conditions/Effort 

• Nursing staff may be required to work in any location owned, managed or attributed to the Trust sites depending on the demands of the service.  
• Workloads may be unpredictable on a day to day basis and variations in activity should be expected  
• Staff are required to walk or stand for the majority of the shift time.  
• Weekend and night working may be expected as part of the role, unless otherwise agreed with relevant managers.  
• Manual handling of loads and patients using the appropriate aids and assessments will be required on all shifts. 
• Pushing commodes, trolleys, beds and other furniture according to manual handling policies may be required on all shifts.  
• Contact with blood and bodily fluids on all shifts.  
• The staff nurse may be expected to deal with distressed, violent or aggressive (verbally or physically) patients and relatives on occasion.  
• The requirement to take responsibility for nursing acutely ill and vulnerable patients at times.  
• Due to the nature of the workload staff will be required to concentrate at a high level often during the shift in relation to carrying out instructions/documentation/communication. This will involve the use of computer screens for short periods of time.  
• The staff nurse will be required to be responsible for multiple tasks, delegation, other staff/carers and patients simultaneously frequently throughout a shift. 
• Staff maybe required to act quickly and immediately in the event of emergencies or other unexpected events within the ward area. 

Person specification

Qualification

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse with current live NMC registration

Desirable criteria

• Teaching and assessing qualification (998 or equivalent) or willing to undertake

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Excellent interpersonal skills with patients and the multidisciplinary team
• Advanced communication skills, verbal & written, to include report writing and record keeping
• Basic computer / IT skills and expectation to develop these in line with the needs of the service i.e. IHS, Acis, Email use
• Ability to work as part of the team

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Sound knowledge of the guidelines set out in the NMC code of professional conduct and current nursing issues

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in an acute hospital setting
• Expectation to undertake training for extended roles required by the unit