Paediatric Pre-operative Assessment Nurse

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; Reading; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is seeking a paediatric pre-operative assessment nurse to provide comprehensive, nurse-led reviews for children and young people, primarily via telephone with some face-to-face contact as the service expands.

You will assess history, medications, anxiety and prior anaesthetic experiences, and coordinate investigations to support safe, timely surgery and reduce cancellations.

Qualifications

• NMC registration as a Children's Nurse (RN Child)
• Experience caring for children in an acute paediatric setting
• Excellent telephone assessment and communication skills
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team

Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive nurse-led pre-operative assessments for children and young people, primarily via telephone, with face-to-face assessments as the service develops.
• Assess medical history, current health, medications, anxiety, allergies and previous anaesthetic history, escalating concerns to the MDT.
• Ensure all required investigations and documentation are completed to support safe surgery and minimise cancellations.
• Provide information, advice and reassurance to children, young people and families throughout the pathway.
• Liaise with surgeons, anaesthetists, ward/day surgery and outpatient teams to coordinate care.
• Maintain accurate patient records in line with the NMC Code, safeguarding and Trust policies.
• Participate in service development, audit and quality improvement activities.

Job description

The post holder is responsible for the pre-operative assessment of children and young people scheduled to undergo a variety of surgical procedures and investigations requiring a general anaesthetic. The role will primarily involve undertaking comprehensive pre-operative assessments via telephone, ensuring children and their families are prepared for admission and surgery. The post holder will complete a nursing assessment, obtaining relevant medical history, identifying potential risks or concerns, and ensuring all required investigations and results are completed, reviewed and documented. Where clinically indicated, arrangements will be made for baseline measurements and any additional assessments required before admission. The post holder will provide information, advice and support to children, young people and their families throughout the pre-operative pathway, ensuring appropriate planning before admission and during their hospital admission. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, including anaesthetists, surgeons, children's unit and day surgery teams, the post holder will communicate concerns that may affect surgery or anaesthesia, supporting timely decision-making and patient safety. The post holder will contribute to the ongoing development, evaluation and continuous improvement of the service, ensuring high-quality, patient-centred care in line with best practice., Undertake comprehensive nurse-led pre-operative assessments for children and young people undergoing elective surgery or investigations requiring a general anaesthetic, primarily via telephone. Assess medical history, current health, medications, anxiety, allergies and previous anaesthetic history, identifying and escalating any clinical concerns to the multidisciplinary team. Ensure all required investigations, documentation and referrals are completed to support safe, timely surgery and minimise avoidable cancellations. Provide information, advice and reassurance to children, young people and their families throughout the pre-operative pathway, promoting informed decision-making and reducing anxiety. Liaise with surgeons, anaesthetists, ward, day surgery and outpatient teams to coordinate care and optimise patient outcomes. Maintain accurate patient records and work in accordance with the NMC Code, Trust policies and safeguarding requirements. Contribute to audit, quality improvement and the ongoing development of the pre-operative assessment service., Undertake comprehensive pre-operative assessments for children and young people undergoing elective surgery, primarily via telephone, with face-to-face assessments introduced as the service develops. Assess medical history, current health, medications, allergies, and previous anaesthetic history, identifying and escalating any concerns to the multidisciplinary team. Ensure all required investigations and documentation are completed to support safe surgery and minimise cancellations. Provide information, advice, and reassurance to children, young people, and their families regarding their surgical journey. Liaise effectively with surgeons, anaesthetists, ward and theatre teams to coordinate care. Maintain accurate patient records and work in accordance with the NMC Code, safeguarding, and Trust policies. Participate in service development, audit, and quality improvement activities while contributing to the ongoing development of the pre-operative assessment service.

• Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Children's Nurse (RN Child) with evidence of ongoing professional development, Experience of caring for children and young people in an acute paediatric setting, with the ability to undertake holistic nursing assessments and recognise and escalating clinical concerns appropriately.
• Communication and Organisational Skills - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to undertake telephone assessments, provide information and reassurance to children and families, prioritise workload effectively, and work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Pre-operative Assessment Qualification/Competency Completion of a recognised pre-operative assessment course or evidence of competency in undertaking pre-operative assessments, or willingness to work towards this within an agreed timeframe.
• Relevant Clinical Experience Experience of working within a paediatric surgical, day surgery, pre-operative assessment or perioperative setting, including coordinating the elective patient pathway.
• Experience of clinical audit, service improvement or quality improvement initiatives, with competence in using electronic patient record systems and Microsoft Office applications.

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