Clinical Nurse Specialist - Diabetes

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Dublin; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackrock Clinic in Dublin is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist (Diabetes) to deliver expert care within the Wards team. This permanent, full-time CNS role focuses on advanced diabetes management from assessment to outcomes, working closely with the MDT on site.

The post requires NMBI registration, 1+ year of post-registration experience in diabetes care, and a Level 9 qualification. The CNS will lead clinics, education, and service development across care pathways.

Qualifications

• Be registered in the General Division of the active Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or be eligible for registration.
• Minimum of one year post-registration full-time nursing experience in the relevant division.
• Minimum of one year’s full-time experience in specialist diabetes care.
• Hold a Level 9 qualification relevant to the specialist area of care.
• Demonstrate clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to discharge the role.

Responsibilities

• Provide a specialist nursing service for patients with diabetes.
• Undertake comprehensive patient assessment covering physical, psychological and social aspects.
• Develop and implement care plans with the MDT.
• Monitor and adapt care plans based on patient response.
• Coordinate investigations, therapies and follow-up.
• Educate patients and carers, promoting self-management and healthy lifestyle.

Skills

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Clinical leadership

Evidence-based practice

Education

NMBI registration

Level 9 qualification

Specialist diabetes qualification

Job description

Location: On site / South Dublin, Co. Dublin, Ireland job type: Permanent / Full-time Sector and subsector: Medical & Healthcare | Nursing & Midwifery Salary: Negotiable salary

Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist - Diabetes

Department: Wards

Job Type: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 per week (Full-Time)

Blackrock Clinic is the leading and longest established private hospital and clinic in Ireland. Since it opened in the mid-1980s, the clinic has consistently built an unparalleled reputation in new high-tech surgical procedures, medical treatments, and ground-breaking diagnostics.

Blackrock Clinic is now part of Blackrock Health private hospital group along with the Hermitage Clinic, Galway Clinic, and Limerick Clinic, some of the most advanced hospitals in Irish private healthcare. As a JCI accredited hospital, Blackrock Clinic is a progressive and pioneering hospital in which care for the patient is central to everything we do.

Role Purpose

Clinical Nurse Specialist (Diabetes) will have a strong patient focus whereby the specialty defines itself as Nursing and subscribes to the overall purpose, functions and ethical standards of Nursing. The clinical practice role may be divided into direct and indirect care.

Direct care comprises the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to the patient, family and/or carer.

Indirect care relates to activities that influence and support the provision of direct care.

Qualifications/Experience

Candidates should meet the following requirements:

• Be registered in the General Division of the active Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or be entitled to be so registered. In exceptional circumstances, registration in another appropriate division may be considered in line with applicable requirements.
• Have a minimum of one year’s post-registration full-time nursing experience (or an aggregate equivalent) in the relevant division of the register.
• Have a minimum of one year’s full-time experience (or an aggregate equivalent) in the specialist area of care. Where the relevant specialist experience is not yet held, the successful candidate may be supported to attain the required specialist clinical experience, subject to organizational approval and the requirements of the post.
• Hold a relevant third-level qualification at not less than Level 9 (or higher), relevant to the specialist area of care and consistent with specialist nursing practice requirements (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above). Where the relevant Level 9 qualification is not yet held, the successful candidate may be supported to undertake the required postgraduate education, subject to an agreed development plan and will be appointed as Candidate CNS.
• Demonstrate the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to effectively discharge the functions of the role.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and multidisciplinary working skills.
• Demonstrate evidence of continuing learning, professional development and commitment to evidence-based practice.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Care

The Clinical Nurse Specialist in Diabetes will:

• Provide a specialist nursing service for patients with a diagnosis of diabetes who require support and treatment through the continuum of care.
• Undertake comprehensive patient assessment to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care using best evidence-based practice in diabetes care.
• Use the outcomes of patient assessment to develop and implement plans of care/case management in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.
• Monitor and evaluate the patient's response to treatment and amend the plan of care accordingly in conjunction with the MDT and patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.
• Make alterations in the management of patient's condition in collaboration with the MDT and the patient in line with agreed pathways and policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPG's),
• Accept appropriate referrals from MDT colleagues.
• Co-ordinate investigations, treatment therapies and patient follow-up.
• Communicate with patients, family and /or carer as appropriate, to assess patient's needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling as required.
• Where appropriate work collaboratively with MDT colleagues across Primary and Secondary Care to provide a seamless service delivery to the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate
• Participate in medication reconciliation taking cognisance of polypharmacy and support medical and pharmacy staff with medication reviews and medication management.
• Identify and promote specific symptom management strategies as well as the identification of triggers which may cause exacerbation of symptoms. Provide patients with appropriate self-management strategies and escalation pathways.
• Develop and manage nurse led clinics with Multidisciplinary team input
• Identify health promotion priorities for the patient, family and/or carer and support patient self-care in line with best evidence. This will include the provision of educational and health promotion material, which is comprehensive, easy to understand and meets patient's needs.

Indirect Care

The Clinical Nurse Specialist in Diabetes will:

• Identify and agree appropriate referral pathways for patients with diabetes.
• Participate in case review with MDT colleagues.
• Use a case management approach to patients with complex needs in collaboration with MDT in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.
• Take a proactive role in the formulation and provision of evidence based PPPGs relating to diabetic care.
• Take a lead role in ensuring the service for patients with diabetes is in line with best practice guidelines and the Safer Better Healthcare Standards (HIQA, 2012).
• Communicate, negotiate and represent patient's family and/or carer values and decisions in relation to their condition in collaboration with MDT colleagues in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.
• Develop and support the concept of advocacy, particularly in relation to patient participation in decision making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options
• Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient, family and/or carer.
• Establish, maintain and improve procedures for collaboration and cooperation between Acute Services, Primary Care and Voluntary Organisations as appropriate.
• Proactively challenge any interaction which fails to deliver a quality service to patients.

Education & Training:

The Clinical Nurse Specialist in Diabetes will:

• Maintain clinical competence in patient management within Diabetic Nursing, keeping up-to-date with relevant research to ensure the implementation of evidence based practice.
• Provide the patient, family and/or carer with appropriate information and other supportive interventions to increase their knowledge, skill and confidence in managing their diabetes.
• Contribute to the design, development and implementation of education programmes and resources for the patient, family and/or carer in relation to diabetes thus empowering them to self-manage their condition.
• Provide mentorship and preceptorship for nursing colleagues as appropriate.
• Participate in training programmes for Nursing, MDT colleagues and key stakeholders as appropriate.
• Create exchange of learning opportunities within the MDT in relation to evidence based diabetic care delivery through journal clubs, conferences, etc.
• Develop and maintain links with colleagues within Blackrock Health and wider private and public health systems.
• Be responsible for addressing own continuing professional development needs.

Audit & Research:

The Clinical Nurse Specialist in Diabetes will:

• Establish and maintain a register of patients with diabetes within Clinical Nurse Specialist Caseload.
• Maintain a record of clinically relevant data aligned to National Key Performance Indicators (KPl's) as directed and advised by the DON.
• Identify, initiate and conduct Nursing and MDT audit and research projects relevant to the area of practice.
• Identify, critically analyse, disseminate and integrate best evidence relating to diabetic care into practice.
• Contribute to nursing research on all aspects of diabetic care.
• Use the outcomes of audit to improve service provision.
• Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through use of audit data and specialist knowledge.
• Monitor, access, utilise and disseminate current relevant research to advise and ensure the provision of informed evidence-based practice.

Audit expected outcomes including:

• Collate data which will provide evidence of the effectiveness of Clinical Nurse Specialist (Diabetes) interventions undertaken 3 or 4 - Refer to the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Nursing final report. They should have a clinical Nursing focus as well as a breakdown of activity - patients seen and treated.
• Evaluate audit results and research findings to identify areas for quality improvement in collaboration with nursing management and MDT colleagues (Primary and Secondary Care).

Consultant:

The Clinical Nurse Specialist in Diabetes Service will:

• Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for diabetes practice.
• Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines and support implementation.