Staff Nurse (AW) R1

NHS Scotland; Melrose; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Induction and preceptorship support

Professional development opportunities

Ongoing education and training

Challenging and rewarding role in a 
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Job summary

NHS Borders is seeking a Band 5 Staff Nurse for the Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU). This fixed-term 12-month post is based at Borders General Hospital and focuses on urgent medical care without hospital admission.

You will undertake patient assessments, provide safe nursing care and work with a multidisciplinary team to support same-day emergency care pathways and improve patient flow.

Qualifications

• Deliver safe, effective and compassionate nursing care.
• Undertake comprehensive patient assessments and ongoing monitoring.
• Work collaboratively with medical, nursing and allied health professionals.
• Support same-day emergency care pathways.
• Contribute to improving patient flow and reducing unnecessary admissions.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and service development.
• Actively support patient safety, clinical governance and infection prevention standards.

Responsibilities

• Deliver safe, effective and compassionate nursing care.
• Undertake comprehensive patient assessments and ongoing monitoring.
• Work collaboratively with medical, nursing and allied health professionals.
• Support same-day emergency care pathways.
• Contribute to improving patient flow and reducing unnecessary admissions.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and service development.
• Actively support patient safety, clinical governance and infection prevention standards.

Skills

Clinical nursing

Patient assessment

Team collaboration

Emergency care pathways

Quality improvement

Patient safety

Education

Nursing degree or equivalent

Job description

OUR VALUES IN ACTION

• Care and Compassion
• Quality and Teamwork
• Dignity and Respect
• Openness, honesty and responsibility

Band 5 Staff Nurse – Ambulatory Care Unit

NHS Borders – Borders General Hospital

Band 5 Staff Nurse

Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU)

Fixed Term for 12 months - Post vacant 30th November 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Staff Nurse to join our Ambulatory Care Unit. The service provides assessment, treatment and ongoing management for patients requiring urgent medical care without the need for hospital admission. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will play an essential role in delivering high-quality, person-centred care while supporting patients to return home safely on the same day whenever appropriate.

About the Role

The Ambulatory Care Unit manages a wide range of acute medical presentations and offers an excellent opportunity to develop skills in assessment, clinical decision-making and the management of patients with complex needs.

As a Staff Nurse, you will:

• Deliver safe, effective and compassionate nursing care.
• Undertake comprehensive patient assessments and ongoing monitoring.
• Work collaboratively with medical, nursing and allied health professionals.
• Support same-day emergency care pathways.
• Contribute to improving patient flow and reducing unnecessary admissions.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and service development.
• Actively support patient safety, clinical governance and infection prevention standards.

What We Offer

• A supportive and experienced multidisciplinary team.
• Comprehensive induction and preceptorship support where applicable.
• Opportunities for professional and career development.
• Access to ongoing education and training programmes.
• A challenging and rewarding role within an innovative and evolving service.

If you are passionate about providing high-quality care and wish to be part of a team committed to delivering excellent patient outcomes, we would love to hear from you. Informal enquiries are welcomed and encouraged.

If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact: [e-mail]

Whether you’re early in your career or looking to take the next step into a more senior role, NHS Borders offers a supportive environment where you can grow, influence change, and make a real impact.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.

As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early

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• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.