Clinical Nurse Specialist Radiotherapy

Blackrock Health Group; Lucan; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic invites applications for a Radiotherapy Clinical Nurse Specialist to deliver expert radiotherapy nursing care, lead education, and ensure patient safety across inpatient, day-case and outpatient pathways.

The role requires registration with NMBI, 5+ years post‑registration experience in acute care, and at least 2 years in radiotherapy/oncology. A commitment to quality improvement and multidisciplinary collaboration is essential.

Qualifications

• Be registered in the general division of the NMBI.
• Have at least five years post‑registration nursing experience in an acute hospital setting.
• Minimum of two years nursing experience in the radiotherapy/oncology area or related specialist field.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver radiotherapy nursing care across inpatient, day-case and outpatient pathways.
• Act as a specialist resource for radiotherapy patients and support MDT with education and consultancy.
• Lead and participate in audits, quality improvement and service development activities.

Job description

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

Job Purpose

The Radiotherapy CNS will contribute to the delivery of high-quality specialist radiotherapy nursing services, ensuring safe, effective, and patient-centeredcare. This role is suitable forappointmentat CNS level. The post holder willdemonstrateadvanced clinical knowledge, leadership, and management skills within radiotherapy and will support the coordination and development of services in alignment withorganizationalgoals and evidence-based practice.

As a key member of the Radiotherapy multidisciplinary team, the CNS willfacilitateeffective communication, promote continuous quality improvement, and activelyparticipatein service development and change management.

The role demands a broad range of professional skills and knowledge as well as skills in communication, leadership, teaching, education, research and counselling all in keeping with the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialist Posts, 4th edition, National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM) 2008.

Job Background/Context

Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic provides advanced radiotherapy services including stereotactic, external-beam, and image-guided radiotherapy. The Radiotherapy CNS plays a critical role in ensuring the highest standard of nursing practice, contributing to clinical excellence, patient safety, and service enhancement across the department. .

A career in Hermitage Clinic will ensure you are joining a diverse, dynamic and enthusiastic team of professionals, passionate about developing services to ensure we provide the best care in the most modern of facilities.

We offer new recruits an array of supports to ensure you are enabled to develop your career.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Focus

The CNS 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 Radiotherapy CNS role incorporates the core domains of specialist practice (clinical practice, education, leadership, consultation,audit/research) as defined for Clinical Nurse Specialists in Ireland. All responsibilities include elements of both direct and indirect care, patient advocacy, multidisciplinarycollaborationand service development.

Direct Care

• Coordinate, assess, plan, implement and evaluate radiotherapy nursing care for patients across inpatient, day-case and outpatient pathways.
• Act as a specialist resource for patients undergoing radiotherapy, managing a definedcaseloadandinitiatingchanges in management to improve symptom control, treatmenttoleranceand psychological well-being.
• Provide patient assessment, nurse-ledreviewand consultation services in collaboration withthe radiotherapy,oncologyor other relevantteams.
• Deliver expert education and support to patients and familiesregardingtreatment, side-effectmanagementand survivorship.
• Maintaina strong patient-centeredfocus, incorporating advocacy, communication of patient values and involvement in shared decision-making.
• Act as a specialist radiotherapy nursing resource for nursing, medical, and allied health colleagues.
• Establishand maintain clear referral pathways to multidisciplinary and specialist services.
• Support andparticipatein strategic planning for radiotherapy service expansion and quality initiatives.
• Maintainaccurateand comprehensive clinical and statistical records, contributing to activity and performance reporting.
• Provide tailored education to patients and families regarding the radiotherapy process, immobilisation devices, skin care, nutrition, fatigue management, sexual health, fertility considerations and survivorship.
• Identify, assess and manage radiotherapy side-effects and complications (e.g., radiation dermatitis, mucositis, dysphagia, nausea/vomiting, bowel/bladder symptoms, fatigue, lymphoedema) using evidence-based interventions and agreed protocols.
• Facilitate shared decision-making and advocacy, ensuring patient values, preferences and concerns are communicated to the MDT.
• Develop, document and update care plans, discharge plans and patient teaching plans for radiotherapy patients.
• Coordinate investigations, treatment therapies and follow-up appointments related to radiotherapy care pathways.
• Organise hospital admission/referral where clinically indicated.
• Promote a safe clinical environment with attention to health and safety, infectionpreventionand risk-management principles.

Indirect Care

• Provide advice, support and reassurance via telephone/virtual reviews as appropriate.
• Take a proactive role in developing evidence-based policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPGs) relevant to radiotherapy nursing.
• Complete and maintain documentation accurately and in a timely manner, including radiotherapy nursing records and activity statistics
• Promote a safe clinical environment with attention to infection prevention and control, radiation safety principles
• Maintain records of education, training, and competency assessments.
• Promote advocacy and patient participation in decision-making, enabling informed choice regarding treatment options.
• Use a patient-centred approach in all aspects of practice, ascertaining and respecting patient views and preferences.
• Liaise with other departments/services to ensure high quality and seamless radiotherapy care.
• Contribute to the development and review of patient information materials specific to radiotherapy pathways and tumour sites.
• Respect dignity and confidentiality of patients, advocating on their behalf when required.
• Contribute to improved patient outcomes through education, health promotion and early identification of complications.

Audit, Research and Quality

• Identify, critically analyse, disseminate and integrate nursing and other evidence into radiotherapy nursing practice.
• Establish, implement and evaluate audit programmes for radiotherapy nursing service and CNS practice.
• Record patient/service information electronically to support audit and quality reporting.
• Monitor and disseminate current research relevant to radiotherapy supportive care and symptom management.
• Contribute to service planning and pathway redesign through audit findings and specialist knowledge.
• Promote a culture of continuous quality improvement and innovation in the radiotherapy service.
• Ensure compliance with Hermitage Clinic guidelines, policies, procedures, radiation protection requirements and relevant legislation/regulatory standards.
• Participate fully in accreditation processes and the hospital risk management programme.
• Investigate and take remedial action on incidents/near misses involving patients or staff in accordance with hospital policies; disseminate learning.
• Ensure compliance with all Hermitage Clinic policies, guidelines, regulatory standards, andradiotherapy specificrequirements.
• Engage in continuous audit cycles, service evaluation, and quality initiatives.
• Promote a culture of quality improvement and encourage staff participation in innovation.
• Monitor and evaluate departmental KPIs and contribute to annual reporting.
• Participate in accreditation andrisk managementprogrammes.
• Lead or support investigations of incidents andnear misses, ensuringappropriate correctiveactions and learning dissemination.
• Promote safe, ethical,evidence basedradiotherapy nursing care.

Consultant

• Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a role model to nursing staff within the radiotherapy service.
• Network with other CNS posts within the hospital and nationally to support benchmarking and service development.
• Generate and contribute to development of clinical standards and guidelines for radiotherapy nursing practice.
• Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance nursing practice within radiotherapy and across the wider organisation.
• Contribute to nursing quality assurance through identification of recurring issues, data collection and feedback to the MDT and leadership.

Learning and Education

• Develop and deliver a comprehensive education programme in radiotherapy nursing (including competencies) in conjunction with relevant personnel.
• Maintain clinical, nursing and managerial competence in radiotherapy and oncology care through ongoing CPD and engagement with current evidence.
• Identify own learning needs with line manager and maintain an up-to-date professional development portfolio in line with NMBI requirements.
• Create an environment conducive to learning and development for self and others; provide clinical advice and education to nursing and healthcare staff.
• Support orientation and induction of new staff and assess competency of student nurses and staff on placement.
• Provide education and supportive care to patients and families throughout the radiotherapy journey.
• Attend mandatory training and participate in in-service education.
• Identify areas where scope of practice can be advanced within radiotherapy services (subject to governance and NMBI guidance).
• Provide mentorship/preceptorship and clinical supervision where appropriate.

Other Duties

• The Radiotherapy CNS will undertake additional duties appropriate to the role as assigned by the Radiotherapy Services Manager or ADON.

Knowledge / Experience

• Be registered in the general division of the Register of Nurses maintained by NMBI
• Have at least five years recent relevant post-registration nursing experience (full-time or equivalent hours part-time) in an acute hospital setting and a minimum of two years nursing experience in the specialist area
• Have acquired a level 8 post registration Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic award relevant to the specialist area of radiotherapy/ oncology nursing or be willing to complete within one year of taking up post.
• Clinical Skills
• Quality focus
• Clinical audit
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Desireable Skills

Knowledge/ Experience

• Postgraduate qualification in oncology, radiotherapy or another relevant specialty.
• Experience in service development or project leadership.

This Job Description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the position and is subject to regular review and amendment. The role holder will be required to be flexible in this position and is expected to facilitate working additional hours on occasion, when requested.