Staff Nurse - Emergency Department

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Dorchester is seeking a Staff Nurse for the Emergency Department. The role involves permanent rotation across ED areas (Majors, Minors, EDAU, Resus) with 12.5-hour shifts, day and night, and a strong emphasis on patient-centred care.

Applicants should have significant ED post-registration experience and be committed to CPD, with opportunities for teaching and professional development within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Significant and recent post registration ED experience is desirable.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced ED environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of infection control and clinical governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality patient care in the Emergency Department, including Majors, Minors, EDAU and Resus.
• Work flexibly as part of a multidisciplinary team and on own initiative.
• Develop personal practice and participate in ongoing education.

Skills

ED experience

Time management

Confidentiality & records

Infection control

Clinical governance understanding

Education

Registered Nurse/RSCN/Paramedic

CPD

ILS / PILS / TILS

Teaching qualification

Student assessor/supervisor

Speciality qualification progression

Job description

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Staff Nurse - Emergency Department

The closing date is 25 October 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for RN / RSCN to join our happy and cohesive Emergency Department team on a permanent basis as we start a multi-million transformation and expansion. Are you enthusiastic, motivated, keen learner, innovative and forward thinking? If so, we would like to hear from you.

We are a busy working environment with a high turnover of patients which sees and treats children and adults with a range of conditions including minor injuries, major trauma, medical and surgical emergencies and mental health conditions. Clinical working areas include Majors, Minors, EDAU and Resus. We have a dedicated Clinical Practice Educator to ensure robust support and education as you begin your new journey.

Main duties of the job

Successful applicants should have good communication skills and enjoy working in a swiftly changing and challenging environment. You will be required to work as part of a motivated team as well as being able to work on own initiative.

Opportunities exist to develop personal practice and gain experience in all aspects of emergency care.

This job involves internal rotation for all ED staff and we work 12.5 hour shifts (1 hour break), day and night.

About us

At Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.

Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate's individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

Job responsibilities

Right to Work in the UK: This role is not available for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to support visa applications for this post in line with UKVI regulations.

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Significant and recent post registration experience with previous ED preferable
• Understanding of professional nursing issues.

Education, Qualifications & Training

• Registered Nurse/RSCN/Paramedic
• Evidence of CPD
• ILS / PILS / TILS
• Teaching qualification. Student assessor/supervisor
• To be working towards /completed relevant speciality qualification

Skills & Abilities

• Evidence of ability to practice as a proficient practitioner
• Evidence of ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors
• Evidence of an ability to manage time effectively in a high pressured environment
• Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and required standards for documentation and records management both paper and electronic
• Evidence of understanding safeguarding in adults and children
• Able to administer medication safely
• Evidence of an area of special interest
• Evidence of ability to develop leadership skills
• Evidence of critical appraisal skills
• Evidence of understanding the principles of infection control
• Understanding of clinical governance and its requirements

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.

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£32,073 to £39,043 a yearPer annum , pro rata per annum