Respiratory Nurse Specialist

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in London is seeking a Respiratory Nurse Specialist to manage nursing care for patients with respiratory conditions. The role involves coordinating clinical teams, ensuring high standards of care, and providing expert support. Candidates should have a minimum of three years post-registration experience and a relevant respiratory diploma. This position offers opportunities for professional development and collaboration in a multidisciplinary setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years post registration experience.
• spirometry experience.
• Teaching experience.
• Level 1 Smoking cessation training.

Responsibilities

• Ensure nursing care is assessed, planned, implemented and evaluated using evidence.
• Provide nursing expertise and support for patients with respiratory diseases.
• Co-ordinate the clinical team and ensure safe staffing levels.

Skills

Ability to prioritize work and help coordinate the service

Good verbal and written communication abilities

Arterial/capillary blood sampling

6-minute walk test assessments

O2 therapy assessments - ambulatory and long-term oxygen

Education

RN (general)

Respiratory related diploma/degree module

Job description

Go back St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Respiratory Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 19 October 2025

To establish and develop skilled practice in the multidisciplinary management and nursing care of adult patients with a range of respiratory conditions, predominantly Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), asthma, COPD and those requiring oxygen therapy.

To identify specific needs in education of patients, relatives, and staff and facilitate meeting these requirements.

To offer an individualised service respecting the many diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds of each family, offering confidentiality and maintaining trust.

Main duties of the job

To ensure that nursing care is assessed, planned, implemented and evaluated using research evidence as appropriate.

To ensure that all nursing procedures are carried out in accordance with St George's Healthcare NHS Trust policies taking appropriate action in emergency situations.

To provide nursing expertise, follow up and support for patients with respiratory diseases.

In conjunction with the multidisciplinary team, be responsible for setting, monitoring and maintaining excellent standards of care particularly for patients with multiple needs who require complex packages of care.

Maintaining personal contact with patients, relatives and carers, being sensitive to their needs for courtesy, dignity and privacy and ensuring a friendly environment at all times.

Assist in the management of all respiratory services in the absence of the senior nurse within the department. Co‑ordinating the clinical team and delegating duties as appropriate, maintaining safe staffing levels and informing the Matron of any problems or incidents that might arise.

Ensuring that accurate and timely nursing records are maintained, monitoring standards and taking appropriate corrective action as necessary.

Storing, checking and administering drugs in accordance with Trust policy.

To work in an unsupervised capacity throughout all areas of the speciality, including wards and outpatients.

To prioritise own work and that of others to ensure the respiratory service is managed effectively.

About us

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000‑strong workforce.

Job responsibilities

Main Duties/Key Results Areas:

To ensure that nursing care is assessed, planned, implemented and evaluated using research evidence as appropriate.

To ensure that all nursing procedures are carried out in accordance with St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust policies taking appropriate action in emergency situations.

To provide nursing expertise, follow up and support for patients with respiratory diseases.

In conjunction with the multidisciplinary team, be responsible for setting, monitoring and maintaining excellent standards of care particularly for patients with multiple needs who require complex packages of care.

Maintaining personal contact with patients, relatives and carers, being sensitive to their needs for courtesy, dignity and privacy and ensuring a friendly environment at all times.

Assist in the management of all respiratory services in the absence of the senior nurse within the department. Co‑ordinating the clinical team and delegating duties as appropriate, maintaining safe staffing levels and informing the Matron of any problems or incidents that might arise.

Ensuring that accurate and timely nursing records are maintained, monitoring standards and taking appropriate corrective action as necessary.

Storing, checking and administering drugs in accordance with Trust policy.

To work in an unsupervised capacity throughout all areas of the speciality, including wards and outpatients.

To prioritise own work and that of others to ensure the respiratory service is managed effectively.

ORGANISATIONAL

Co‑ordinating the admission of patients from clinic in conjunction with the Bed Management Team.

Arranging in consultation with the multidisciplinary team the discharge/transfer of patients and initiating appropriate community care services.

Communicating and co‑operating with other wards and departments giving accurate information as required, particularly with regard to notification of incidents and accidents to staff, patients and visitors.

Maintaining and monitoring a safe and clean environment within the clinical area in accordance with the Trust Health and Safety, Clinical Risk and Infection Control Policies.

Representing the Service at meetings participating in audit, research, and projects.

Maintaining and monitoring levels of stock and ensuring that there are adequate supplies and that resources are used effectively.

To maintain accurate records of clinical service, ensuring confidentiality of information.

To take appropriate action to address unexpected changes and situations, informing the Lead nurse or Matron as necessary.

To be familiar with and use the Iclip and EPR system and any other computerised system integral to the running of the service.

To actively contribute to Clinical Governance and achieving the goals of the care group and the Nursing Strategy.

To demonstrate a willingness to lead and motivate a team, providing clear direction and consistent leadership at all times.

SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

To provide a respiratory service for patients under the care of Physicians in the Trust, and provide advice and guidance to colleagues within primary care.

To have a good understanding of national guidelines for ILD, COPD and asthma, including diagnosis and evidence based interventions.

To provide support, treatment and on‑going review of patients with ILD, administration of medication, including monitoring for side effects of medication, assessment of functional ability (e.g. 6 minute walk test), palliation of symptoms.

To manage and supervise clinical care respiratory patients including assessment, care planning, and on‑going support, monitor adherence, including inhaler technique, untoward side effects of the drugs, and assess and arrange provision of oxygen therapy.

To be able to provide effective smoking cessation advice and recommend interventions and support.

To provide advice, assessment and arrange the installation of oxygen therapy.

To perform diagnostic procedures such as spirometry, capillary blood gas sampling, and phlebotomy.

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

In consultation with the respiratory nurse consultant, to be involved in the education and assessment of all pre and post registration students in accordance with the University and Trust requirements.

To be responsible for personal and professional development and practice, recognising own limitations and the need for continuing education.

To take a lead in initiating, implementing and evaluating new ideas and changes in clinical practice.

In conjunction with the Lead nurse, plan and participate in the orientation of new staff and the development of junior staff, including those in training.

Promote health education and provide appropriate information and advice to patients and their carers.

Participate in and lead quality initiatives to promote and ensure that nursing care is evidence and research based.

General

To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirement of the Health and Safety Regulations.

To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.

To work in accordance with the Trusts Equal Opportunities policy to eliminate unlawful discrimination in relation to employment and service delivery.

To ensure skills are up‑to‑date and relevant to the role, to follow relevant Trust policies and professional codes and to maintain registration where this is a requirement of the role.

To comply with St. Georges Healthcare No Smoking Policies.

To undertake such duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and the needs of the service.

This job description is not an exhaustive document but is a reflection of the current position. Details and emphasis may change in line with service needs after consultation with the postholder.

St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer and operates a No Smoking Policy.

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• RN (general)
• Minimum of three years post registration experience
• Awareness of professional responsibilities
• Knowledge of current nursing issues
• Respiratory related diploma/ degree module
• Spirometry experience
• Teaching experience
• Level 1 Smoking cessation training

Experience

• Minimum of three years post registration experience
• 18 months working within the respiratory speciality

Skills

• Ability to prioritise work and to help co‑ordinate the service
• Ability to assess, plan and evaluate patient care according to individual needs.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the application of leadership skills
• Has good verbal and written communication abilities
• Arterial/ capillary blood sampling
• 6‑minute walk test assessments
• 02 therapy assessments - ambulatory and long term oxygen

Knowledge

• Up to date knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of ILD, Asthma and COPD
• Able to manage a case load of patients & supervise junior staff in caseload management.
• Knowledge of relevant local and national policies relating to the provision of respiratory services
• Experience in audits.
• Previous experience in respiratory research

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.

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust