Nutrition Nurse Specialist, Gastroenterology

NHS; Maryland; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare trust is seeking a committed Nutrition Nurse Specialist to join their nutrition support team. The role involves providing specialist clinical care and advice for patients requiring nutrition support, including managing complex cases and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. Candidates should be registered nurses with relevant experience in gastroenterology or nutrition. This position offers flexible working hours.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Supportive multidisciplinary team

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience within gastrointestinal specialist setting.
• Ability to discuss difficult emotionally upsetting issues with patients.
• Evidence of being up to date with current issues relating to professional practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist clinical leadership to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Collaborate with peers to develop protocols and pathways for nutritional care.
• Provide telephone support to patients to enhance coordinated care.

Skills

Specialist knowledge in nutrition support

Excellent written and communication skills

Teaching expertise

Ability to manage complex caseload

Gastrostomy tube insertion

PICC line insertion

Education

Registered Nurse on sub part 1 of the NMC professional register

Masters Degree in Health and Social Needs Assessment

Independent and Supplementary Prescribing Qualification

Job description

Nutrition Nurse Specialist, Gastroenterology

Closing date: 26 October 2025

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated, committed individual in a new post to join our established nutrition support team at Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust.

You will be required to give specialist clinical care, support and advice for patients requiring both enteral and parenteral nutrition support; advanced knowledge and skills on feeding device insertion techniques and methods of administration, to include liaising with and referring to other healthcare professionals as required.

This also includes clinical triage of PEG referrals, being an integral part of the nutrition MDT and facilitating tube placements.

Excellent communication skills are essential and the ability to manage a caseload and work independently is crucial.

This will be a countywide appointment; however, the majority of surgical services and Gastroenterology are based on the Worcester Site.

Although prior experience as a nutrition nurse is desirable; applicants with relevant experience in related areas such as endoscopy, ITU, gastroenterology and surgical wards are encouraged to apply.

Although we are looking to recruit to full time (37.5 hrs per week), we are open to discussing flexible working and part time hours.

Main duties of the job

You will also be required to oversee TPN administration and work closely with other members of the nutrition support team. This will also include providing telephone support to patients, their carers and GPs in the community with tube problems to avoid A&E attendance.

As well as being a resource to all disciplines on matters pertaining to nutrition, you will be required to undertake audit, training and education, quality and risk management.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester.

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be an expert practitioner in Nutrition Specialist Nursing for adult patients with enteral and parenteral feeding devices. Will work autonomously using professional skills and knowledge, but also recognise when a problem arises outside normal and established guidelines and seek advice from the Lead Nutrition Clinical Nurse Specialist.

The post holder will be an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, acting as an expert resource and providing education to other health care professionals involved in the management of patients primarily with artificial feeding devices.

To provide specialist clinical leadership within the wider multidisciplinary team to reduce inappropriate referrals to hospital, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and/or reduce length of stay for patients with artificial feeding devices.

To collaborate with peers to develop protocols and pathways to promote safe, effective evidence-based practice, implementing audits and research to enhance the quality of the service.

The clinical base will be in the hospital, flexibly working across all Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust sites according to patient demand; in addition to providing a telephone response service to multi-professional groups and patients within the community to enhance coordinated care and prevent admission to hospital.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR THIS POSITION.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

• Specialist knowledge and expertise on nutrition support and the effect of malnutrition on health. Ability to address complex multi-dimensional issues relating to nutrition which may be highly distressing. Ability to discuss difficult emotionally upsetting issues with patients which may include end of life decisions. Evidence of being up to date with current issues relating to professional practice. Knowledge of key national nutrition groups and recommendations. Can demonstrate practical application of quality standards within the clinical setting e.g. Care Quality Commission, NICE guidance. Credible clinical expert. Evidence of research-based practice. Organisational skills. Fully aware of clinical governance agenda. Experience and knowledge within nutrition. Ability to manage complex caseload, working independently with effective time management. Able to promote equality, diversity and rights. Fully aware of infection control and health and safety issues. Excellent written and communication skills.
• Teaching expertise. Evidence of implementing change in the workplace. Complaints handling. Gastrostomy tube insertion. Nasogastric tube insertion. PICC line insertion. Prescriber.

Experience

• Clear understanding of the nutrition nurse specialist role.
• Experience within gastrointestinal specialist setting.
• Experience of working with patients with a wide range of medical conditions.
• Ability to demonstrate evidence of counselling & communication skills. Ability to demonstrate commitment to high quality patient care.
• Experience of nursing clinical audit.
• Experience in a nursing leadership role.

Other Job Requirements

• Ability to work at all locations across the Trust.
• Ability to work flexible shifts where required.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse on sub part 1 of the NMC professional register.
• Degree Evidence of significant Continuing Professional Development. Evidence of structured self-study or professional development taken in nutrition related subject.
• NMC recognised Teaching / Assessing qualification.
• Masters Degree Health and Social Needs Assessment.
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing Qualification.

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.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust