Senior Staff Nurse

NHS; Waterlooville; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a Senior Staff Nurse at Rowans Hospice, responsible for contributing to care programs, supervising staff, and ensuring high nursing standards. Ideal candidates will have palliative care experience and leadership skills, with responsibilities including patient assessment and drug administration, ensuring continuity of care during their shifts.

Qualifications

• Experience in palliative care and supervising A to D grades.
• Understanding of palliative care principles and philosophy.
• Basic pain and symptom control knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to patient assessment and care programme development.
• Administer drugs and ensure patient care continuity.
• Mentor students and junior staff while ensuring quality care.

Skills

Nursing Skills

Communication Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal Skills

Ability to Prioritize

Record-keeping

Education

RGN or RN Adult Branch

On NMC Register parts 1 or 12

ENB 931/285/237/998 or equivalent

Diploma qualification

Teaching qualification/experience

Job description

The Senior Staff Nurse role will work across the In-Patient Unit, which is led by the Ward Manager who is responsible to the Clinical Director. The role is based at Rowans Hospice, Purbrook.

The post holder is responsible for contributing to and implementing programmes of care in association with the sister. The post holder is also expected to carry out all relevant forms of care without direct supervision and to supervise, where necessary, other qualified and unqualified staff within the primary nursing team. To ensure continuity of set programmes of care in the absence of the primary nurse.

Main duties of the job

1. Contribute to patient assessment and development of programmes of care, ensuring implementation throughout the 24-hour period.
2. Maintain personal contact with patients and their relatives, and evaluate programmes of care.
3. Carry out and supervise specific treatments and clinical procedures based on current research evidence.
4. Assess the needs of patients and carers requiring intervention from other professionals/therapies within and outside the hospice, and refer appropriately.
5. Act as a clinical lead as appropriate, e.g., infection control, wound care.
6. Provide advice on symptom control and care management to other healthcare professionals out of hours.
7. Verify when a death has occurred, notify relatives and carers as appropriate.
8. Care for the deceased patient by administering last offices and ensuring the safe and timely removal of the body from the hospice.
9. Administer drugs, assist with their ordering and storage, in accordance with NMC Standards for the Administration of Medicines, and report any errors or omissions.

About us

Rowans Hospice is a charity providing free care and support to adults and their families in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire with a life-limiting illness. Established in 1994, our income is generated through community support, donations, legacies, fundraising, and retail shops.

We support people to live well with their illness from diagnosis through bereavement, emphasizing living with a life-limiting illness. Our volunteers are crucial in supporting our teams to ensure a compassionate environment for living well and achieving a good death.

Job responsibilities

• Contribute to patient assessment and care programme development, ensuring 24-hour implementation.
• Maintain contact with patients and relatives, evaluate care programmes.
• Supervise clinical treatments and procedures, based on current evidence.
• Assess and refer patients requiring additional professional interventions.
• Act as clinical lead for infection control, wound care, etc.
• Provide out-of-hours advice on symptom management.
• Verify deaths, notify relatives, care for the deceased, and ensure body removal.
• Report relevant patient information to the Sister/Nurse Co-ordinator/Hospice Doctor, including out-of-hours concerns.
• Report concerns, feedback, or complaints, and assist investigations.
• Administer medications, assist with their ordering and storage, and report medication errors.
• Adhere to NMC Code of Professional Conduct and maintain confidentiality.
• Communicate courteously with patients, relatives, and visitors.
• Promote high standards of nursing care and support within Day Care.
• Contribute to clinical records, assessments, and discharge planning.
• Complete bereavement assessments and manage clinical stores efficiently.
• Educate patients, carers, and staff, and contribute to ongoing training and development.
• Mentor students and junior staff, and stay informed on research and developments in palliative care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RGN or RN Adult Branch
• On NMC Register parts 1 or 12
• ENB 931/285/237/998 or equivalent
• Experience in palliative care and supervising A to D grades
• Diploma qualification or willingness to attain
• Teaching qualification/experience

Knowledge

• Understanding of palliative care principles and philosophy
• Basic pain and symptom control knowledge

Experience

• Experience in palliative care/oncology

Skills

• Excellent nursing, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Leadership and team coordination skills
• Ability to prioritize and adapt to changing demands
• Record-keeping and knowledge-sharing abilities
• Effective coping strategies

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to a DBS check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975, with necessary disclosures made to the DBS.