Job Title: Staff Nurse - Dual Qualified RGN & RCN
Department: Surgical Day Unit, Inpatient Unit, PACU
Reports to: Nurse Manager
Date: 2025
Overall Purpose of Job
We will provide exceptional patient care in an environment where quality, respect, caring and compassion are at the centre of all we do.
To provide direct nursing care to assigned patient load and demonstrate skills in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the nursing care for assigned patients.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
Provides direct care to assigned paediatric patients and adult patients.
This role requires the post holder to be competent to take charge at night.
Takes the nursing history, summarises data, and states nursing diagnoses or patient care needs.
Observes and records signs, symptoms, and behaviours, including the physiological status of patients; presents the assessment of changes, the proposed revision of interventions, and desired outcomes.
Follows policy for activating an individualised plan of care for newly admitted patients.
Delivers designated nursing interventions to assigned patients that are consistent with the stated medical plan of care.
Performs admission, discharge and transfer procedures, and assists others with patient's activities and care.
Executes consultants' orders for all assigned patients; safely and properly administers medications and treatments.
Notifies appropriate nursing and medical staff to changes in the patient's status.
Independently performs duties and assumes responsibility for care of assigned patients.
Performs techniques and routines in the specialty service area.
Performs or assists others to perform proper aseptic techniques, isolation procedures, and infection control measures.
Documents nursing care in all assigned patient records.
Maintains patient's privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times.
Evaluates care given including the patient response.
Reassesses and documents the proposed revision of interventions and desired outcomes.
Demonstrates ability to assess patient's understanding of and compliance with instructions and health care teaching.
Reviews documentation of instructions, teaching topics, and patient response with the Head Nurse or designee.
Adheres to internal controls established for department.
Performs ad hoc duties as required.
Clinical Responsibilities
The post holder will be familiar with and adhere to The Professional Scope of Practice Framework (NMBI 2015).
The post holder will ensure:
The patients' needs are individually assessed.
A care plan and evaluation process is planned and implemented.
The patient's families or significant others are involved as appropriate.
Patients are cared for in the optimum clinical environment, adhering to all nursing and hospital wide policies and guidelines.
Full nursing participation in and supervision of patient's meal and special dietary requirements.
Visiting time policies are adhered to.
Delegation is appropriate to the skill level and knowledge of the individual to whom the task is delegated.
Documentation is recorded in a professional, legible and timely fashion.
The post holder will partake in the Total Quality Management processes thereby contributing to:
The identification of quality, policy or guideline issues.
The evaluation of current practices to best practice.
The setting of standards utilising structure, process and outcome.
All hospital, regional and national audit processes.
The Hospital Wide Accreditation Cycle.
Health Promotion initiatives.
Managerial Responsibilities
The timely identification and communication of any issues to the Nurse Manager.
Demonstrate a confidence or competence in all hospital policies and guidelines.
Efficient recording of all necessary documentation.
Effective management of complaints.
Monitoring of all risk management processes.
Maintaining an effective interdisciplinary communication process.
Efficient utilisation of pay and non-pay resources.
Deputise for the Nurse Manager as appropriate.
Participate in all ward and hospital nursing communication processes.
Professional Responsibilities
The post holder is expected to:
Attend in a timely manner all mandatory education sessions.
Maintain a professional portfolio.
Ensure their professional and personal persona positively reflects the profession of nursing and Beacon Hospital.
Identify potential and beneficial topics for nursing research.
Utilise all practical opportunities to educate the patient and their families.
Attend appropriate study days or courses.
Be a preceptor and or supervisor to students and newly appointed staff.
Educational Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Nurse Manager the post holder will:
Develop teaching skills and participate in the planning implementation of orientation and teaching programmes for student nurses in the clinical setting.
Provide feedback to Nurse Manager in the compilation of proficiency assessments for student nurses in the clinical setting.
Contribute to the identification of training needs pertinent to the clinical area.
Identify and contribute to the continual enhancement of learning opportunities in the clinical area.
Participate in the clinical induction of all new nursing and support staff.
Develop leadership ability in order to act as an effective role model.
Assume responsibility for own learning and development needs.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
Utilises effective time management skills.
Maintains professional appearance and dress code.
All employees are expected to remain flexible to meet the needs of the hospital, which may include floating to other departments to assist as the patient needs fluctuate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) Registered Childrens' Nurse licence in good standing
Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) Registered General Nurse licence in good standing.
Experience
Acute hospital experience essential
Job Specific Competencies and
Knowledge
Teamwork
Demonstrate ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to job.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
Demonstrate an understanding of change management.
Planning & Organising
Demonstrate evidence of effective planning, organising and time management skills.
Demonstrate flexible approach - to internal rotations, rostering, e.g. night duty, theatre on call, attitude to work.
Knowledge
Demonstrate evidence of recent and relevant experience in the specialised area and in an acute hospital setting.
Demonstrate knowledge of new developments in specialised area.
Demonstrate knowledge of national strategies where appropriate to nursing care.
Patient & Customer Focus
Demonstrate a focus on quality.
Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.
Personal Competencies
All posts in Beacon Hospital require a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. Therefore, the post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager or hospital management.
This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility and deliverables at the time of its writing. As the Hospital and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the Hospital.