Staff Nurse (Discharge Lounge)

NHS; Slough; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Slough is seeking a motivated Staff Nurse to join the Discharge Lounge team at Wexham Park Hospital. The Staff Nurse will handle patient assessments and responsibilities associated with discharges, ensuring high-quality patient care in a dynamic environment. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and experience in elderly patient care, particularly with dementia. This position offers a competitive salary ranging from £32,602 to £39,686 per annum, with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

First class development opportunities

Flexible working patterns

Inclusive and disability confident employer

Qualifications

• Recent experience within a healthcare setting.
• Experience in caring for elderly patients who have dementia.
• Previous experience managing patients with chronic medical conditions.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care.
• Maintain high standards of patient care.
• Organise and deploy staff to meet patients' needs.
• Liaise with transport and pharmacy.
• Provide prescribed medications to patients.

Skills

Effective communication skills (written and verbal)

Good interpersonal skills

Ability to manage change

Able to prioritise workload

Able to train and supervise junior staff

Education

Dementia course or study days

Job description

We are seeking an enthusiastic, organised, and patient-focused Staff Nurse to join our busy Discharge Lounge team at Wexham Park Hospital. The Discharge Lounge plays a vital role in supporting hospital flow by providing a safe, comfortable environment for patients awaiting discharge home. By facilitating timely, well-coordinated discharges, the Lounge helps release essential bed capacity for both emergency and elective admissions.

As a Staff Nurse within the Discharge Lounge, you will work closely with the Discharge Team, Site Managers, and ward colleagues to ensure seamless, patient-centred discharges. This is a dynamic role that requires strong communication skills, excellent clinical judgement, and a commitment to delivering high-quality care at the final stage of a patient's journey.

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care with minimal supervision.
• To implement and be responsible for maintaining high standards of patient care.
• To carry out all administrative and nursing duties as delegated by the team leader and senior sister.
• To organise and deploy staff according to their competence to meet patients' needs.
• To demonstrate a sound knowledge of infection control standards and promote these within the ward environment.

About us

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

Job responsibilities

The Discharge Lounge nurse will assist patients with:

• The prescribed medications required to take home on discharge. These will be explained by the trained member of staff.
• Follow up District nurse referrals if needed.
• Administer any medications as needed and indicated.
• Liaise Site Managers and Discharge Coordinators and care providers.
• Liaise with transport.
• Liaise with pharmacy.
• Contact next of kin.
• Check observations when needed.
• Any support you in all matters relating to your discharge.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Dementia course or study days

Experience

• Recent experience within a healthcare setting.
• Awareness of current professional nursing issues.
• Own professional development.
• Experience in caring for elderly patients who have dementia
• Previous experience managing patients with chronic medical conditions.

Skills & Knowledge

• Effective communication skills (written and verbal)
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to manage difficult / stressful situations
• Able to prioritise workload (self and others) and meet deadlines.
• Able to train and supervise junior staff.
• Ability to manage change within the working environment.

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.

£32,602 to £39,686 a year per annum incl HCAS