Staff Nurse - Same Day Emergency Department

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain a professional behaviour at all times and promote a positive image of

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust at all times, in line with World Class Care

values.

• To be responsible for the unsupervised assessment of patient care needs and the

development, implementation and evaluation of plans of care, ensuring high

standards of evidence based care.

• To undertake all nursing procedures in accordance with Trust policies and ensure

that these procedures and policies are understood and adhered to by all staff, within

own management responsibility.

• To contribute to the development of evidence based guidelines/policies relating to

speciality.

• To ensure accurate and comprehensive nursing records are maintained using

appropriate written and electronic documentation.

• To collect data and provide essential information in a timely and accurate manner

when requested for e.g. audits or monitoring CQC standards.

• To measure patient acuity and/or dependency to inform evidence-based decision

making on staffing and workforce.

• To monitor and record planned vs actual staffing levels and escalate issues when

necessary.

• To be responsible for ensuring effective mechanisms are in place so that all clinical

and non-clinical incidents, including serious incidents are properly reported,

investigated and changes made to avoid recurrence.

• To establish effective working relations with all members of the multi-disciplinary

team to promote good communication and a multi-disciplinary approach to patient

care.

• To supervise unqualified staff, to ensure that they have the knowledge, skills and

resources to carry out delegated aspects of care.

• To ensure high standards of care are given to all patients, monitoring this through

spot checks and clinical quality indicators outcome measures.

• Contribute to patient and relative feedback by undertaking daily clinical rounds with

the aim of providing excellent standards of care.

• To collaborate in the assessment of patient care needs and the development,

implementation and evaluation of plans of care, ensuring high standards of evidence

based care.

• To ensure communication with patients and significant others is established,

ensuring empathy and reassurance regarding, assessment, care and treatment.

• Be accountable at all times for ensuring that safeguards are in place for patients, in

particular those adults or children at risk.

• To facilitate early discharge planning being carried out to enable appropriate

arrangements to be in place for patients leaving hospital or transferring in order to

achieve a safe and timely discharge from hospital.

• To ensure that all patients are cared for in a clean and well-maintained clinical area,

ensuring that all staff are aware that they are directly responsible for cleanliness

standards when in charge and escalating issues when necessary.

• Ensure that all staff act in accordance with Trust policies such as Infection
• Prevention and Control, Confidentiality, Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities.
• Assist with the development of, and implementation of, local and trust wide policies,

procedures, guidelines and protocols.

• To be aware of the research process and current trends.
• In collaboration with the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse, audit agreed clinical guidelines of practice, policies and benchmarks within area of clinical responsibility.

• Resolve any concerns about levels of care or incidents involving patients escalating

to the Matron/Senior Sister and reporting via the Trust’s incident reporting system.

• Contribute to discussions and plans regarding service improvements and initiatives.

• Takes an active role in the ward environment needs, being alert to possible sources

of cross-infection, maintaining safe and clear walkways and bed areas, ensure fire

exits remain clear and equipment and supplies are stored correctly.

• To be responsible for ensuring confidentiality and safekeeping of patient records.
• Accountable for efficient and economical use of ward supplies.

• Take an active role in the induction and orientation of new Nursing Assistants.
• Demonstrates effective time management and prioritisation of workload.
• Demonstrates good leadership skills and ensure that communication is effective

between the patient, relatives and members of the multidisciplinary team.

• In the absence of the junior sister take charge of the ward
• To develop skills to be able to investigate accidents, incidents and complaints,

implementing corrective actions where necessary and in consultation. To liaise with

the Senior Matron and Complaints and Clinical Risk Management Teams

appropriately.

• Have an awareness of cost implications and assist in the management of resources

within the clinical area e.g. equipment, supplies.

• To contribute to the planning and organising of service improvements.

• To be responsible for ensuring confidentiality and safekeeping of patient records.
• To ensure that there is effective communication systems in place to allow staff to

keep abreast of developments in the organisation including unit meetings.

• To be aware of the research process and current trends.
• In collaboration with the Matron, and clinical lead, audit agreed clinical guidelines of

practice, policies and benchmarks within area of clinical responsibility.