Respiratory Nurse Specialist

Louder Than Words; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Plymouth is seeking a qualified individual to undertake comprehensive respiratory assessments and lead community nursing efforts. Responsibilities include mentoring staff, implementing care plans, and ensuring adherence to clinical guidelines. Ideal candidates have relevant healthcare qualifications and experience in respiratory care. This role offers an opportunity to impact patient care significantly.

Qualifications

• Experience in respiratory disease management.
• Ability to perform complex clinical decisions.
• Strong clinical reasoning and assessment skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive respiratory assessments.
• Lead and mentor nursing team members.
• Ensure adherence to clinical policies and guidelines.
• Evaluate and implement patient care plans.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Oxygen therapy assessment

Patient education

Team leadership

Education

Relevant healthcare qualifications

Job description

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Undertake comprehensive respiratory assessments of patients with breathlessness or worsening symptoms of Respiratory Disease.
• Use developed specialist clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate assessment of their condition, utilizing skills such as:

• Use of and trial with nebuliser
• Inhaler technique
• Drug assessment
• Peak flow measurement
• Oximetry measurements
• Oxygen therapy assessment

Undertake Pulmonary Rehabilitation assessments and classes. Undertake Oxygen assessment in oxygen clinic under PTH honorary contract, or in the patients home/care home as required. Utilise knowledge and clinical reasoning to make complex decisions and seek advice where needed.

Maintain knowledge and competency in this practice. Be responsible for the planning, implementing, development, delivery and evaluation of care across community nursing teams and clinics. Manage and prioritise a defined caseload and delegate where appropriate to the skill mix of the team.

Act as a role model for other staff and students, demonstrating high standards of specialist practice and professional conduct. Provide and maintain a learning environment and maximise opportunities for educational and development in the clinical area to enhance individual development and performance in the delivery of high standards.

Act as an expert resource and assist in teaching knowledge and clinical skills for other health care professionals. Participate in the process of clinical supervision and support clinical supervision and reflective practice for team members. Develop strategies for continued professional development as Non-Medical Prescriber if suitable for position.

Support recruitment and selection of new staff, which may include being part of an interview panel. Act as mentor for new staff and students, including leading on a structured induction and training program for new members of staff. Support the coordination of study leave, annual leave, and rotas to ensure the service is operationally covered.

Take responsibility for own personal and professional development, maintaining competence, knowledge and skills commensurate with the role. Undertake all required training to develop competencies required for the role. Integrate theory into practice. Support staff to complete documentation within agreed organisational timeframes.

In the absence of the service manager, be responsible for the day-to-day management of the team and patient care provided to agreed local and professional standards. Maintain effective verbal and written communication with the clinical team and keep staff informed of changes to prescribing intervention or treatment provided to service-users.

Work in partnership with medical staff and service-users in the development and implementation of clinical management plans related to an individual's treatment and prescribing needs. Establish and maintain good liaison with key stakeholders in the individual's care, including sharing prescribing information and rationale.

Responsibility for People who use our Services

Be accountable for the direct delivery of service by providing holistic evidence-based practice to patients and their carers, ensuring maximum independence and quality of life in a constantly changing environment. Achieve positive patient outcomes in partnership with multi-professional agencies.

Utilise a range of specialised clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical setting in which they are seen. Exercise a high level of judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care. Act as a patient advocate as required, ensuring individual needs, preferences and choices are delivered by the Service.

Provide patients, families, and carers with tailored education, and evaluate impact of programmes. Provide advice and support that may precipitate symptoms of acute exacerbation of underlying conditions or illness, and include lifestyle changes that would be advantageous to health.

Work within professional guidelines to make clinical decisions without supervision. Triage and accept appropriate routine and urgent referrals directly from other disciplines, patients, carers, and members of the public, and refer to other agencies where appropriate. Ensure all referrals are prioritised accordingly.

Responsibility for Implementation of Policy and or Service Developments

Ensure adherence to Livewell Southwest Policies. Develop, review and audit guidelines, protocols, policies for specific aspects of own service in line with NICE guidance, best practice guidance and professional forums, and support implementation into practice, ensuring clinical practice reflects national and local drivers.

Promote sharing of best practice with other Teams and Departments within the region. Be involved with the development, implementation, and monitoring of standards. Identify community health needs and participate in new projects, research, and audit. Support staff to initiate change.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant government targets, providing leadership and acting as a change agent, disseminating this knowledge across the organisation. Facilitate the development of service objectives within own area, considering relevant guidelines and the needs of the Organisation.