Purpose of the Role: The advanced practice service is provided by nurses who practice at a higher level of capability as independent, autonomous and expert advanced practitioners.
The overall purpose of the service is to provide safe, timely, evidenced based nurse-led care to patients at an advanced nursing level.
This involves undertaking and documenting complete episodes of patient care, which includes comprehensively assessing, diagnosing, planning, treating, and discharging patients in accordance with collaboratively agreed local policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines and/or service level agreements/memoranda of understanding.
The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care demonstrates advanced clinical and theoretical knowledge, critical thinking, clinical leadership, and complex decision-making abilities.
The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care practices in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (NMBI 2025), Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements (NMBI 2017), and the Values for Nurses and Midwives in Ireland (Department of Health 2016).
The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care service provides clinical leadership and professional scholarship in the delivery of optimal nursing services and informs the development of evidence based health policy at local, regional, and national levels.
The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care contributes to nursing research which shapes and advances nursing practice, education and health care policy at local, national, and international levels.
The role will contribute to nursing research to shape and advance nursing practice, education and health care policy at local, national, and international levels.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: The post holders practice is based on developing a higher level of capability across the six domains of competences as defined by Bord Altranais agus Cnimhseachais na hireann Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements (NMBI 2017).
The domains are: Professional Values and Conduct Clinical-Decision Making Knowledge and Cognitive Competences Communication and Interpersonal Competences Management and Team Competences Leadership and Professional Scholarship Competences Each of the six domains specifies the standard which the RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care has a duty and responsibility to demonstrate and practise.
Domain 1: Professional Values and Conduct: Standard 1 The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will apply ethically sound solutions to complex issues related to individuals and populations by:
1. Demonstrating accountability and responsibility for professional practice as a lead healthcare professional in the acute care of patients with Falls, Syncope and Dizziness.
2. Articulating safe boundaries and engaging in timely referral and collaboration for those areas outside their scope of practice, experience, and competence.
3. Demonstrating leadership by practising compassionately to facilitate, optimise, promote, and support the health, comfort, quality of life, and wellbeing of persons whose lives are affected by altered health, chronic disorders, disability, distress, or life-limiting conditions.
4. The chosen professional practice model for nursing emphasises a caring therapeutic relationship between the RANP and their patients, recognising that RANPs work in partnership with their multidisciplinary colleagues (Slatyer et al. 2016).
5. Articulating and promoting the RANP role in clinical, political, and professional contexts by presenting key performance outcomes locally and nationally; contributing to the services annual report; participating in local and national committees to ensure best practice as per the relevant national clinical and integrated care programme.
6. Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements in relation to Health and Safety as outlined in the Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005 and the Hospital Safety Statement.
Domain 2: Clinical-Decision Making: Standard 2 The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will utilise advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities to engage in senior clinical decision making by:
1. Conducting a comprehensive holistic health assessment using evidenced based frameworks, policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines to determine diagnoses and inform autonomous advanced nursing care.
2. Synthesising and interpreting assessment information particularly history including prior treatment outcomes, physical findings, and diagnostic data to identify normal, at risk and subnormal states of health.
3. Demonstrating timely use of diagnostic investigations/additional evidence based advanced assessments to inform clinical-decision making.
4. Exhibiting comprehensive knowledge of therapeutic interventions including pharmacological and non-pharmacological advanced nursing interventions.
5. Initiating and implementing health promotion activities and self-management plans in accordance with the wider public health agenda.
6. Discharging patients from the service as per an agreed supporting policy, procedure, protocols, guidelines, and referral pathways.
Domain 3: Knowledge and Cognitive Competences: Standard 3 The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will actively contribute to the professional body of knowledge related to their area of advanced practice by:
1. Providing leadership in the translation of new knowledge to clinical practice (for example teaching sessions; journal clubs; case reviews; facilitating clinical supervision to other members of the team).
2. Educating others using an advanced expert knowledge base derived from clinical experience, on-going reflection, clinical supervision, and engagement in continuous professional development.
3. Demonstrating a vision for advanced practice nursing based on a competent expert knowledge base that is developed through research, critical thinking, and experiential learning.
4. Demonstrating accountability in considering access, cost and clinical effectiveness when planning, delivering and evaluating care (for example key performance areas, key performance indicators, and metrics).
Domain 4: Communication and Interpersonal Competences: Standard 4 The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will negotiate and advocate with other health professionals to ensure the beliefs, rights and wishes of the person are respected by:
1. Communicating effectively with the healthcare team through sharing of information in accordance with legal, professional, and regulatory requirements as per established referral pathways.
2. Demonstrating leadership in professional practice by using professional language (verbally and in writing) that represents the plan of care, which is shared with the person and other members of the inter-professional team as per the organisations policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines.
3. Facilitating clinical supervision and mentorship through utilising ones expert knowledge and clinical competences.
4. Utilising information technology, in accordance with legislation and organisational policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines, to record all aspects of advanced nursing care.
Domain 5: Management and Team Competences: Standard 5 The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will manage risk to those who access the service through collaborative risk assessments and promotion of a safe environment by:
1. Promoting a culture of quality care.
2. Proactively seeking feedback from persons receiving care, families and members of the multidisciplinary team on their experiences of the service, analysing same and making suggestions for improvement.
3. Implementing practice changes using negotiation and consensus building, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and persons receiving care.
Domain 6: Leadership and Professional Scholarship Competences: Standard 6 The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will lead in multidisciplinary team planning for transitions across the continuum of care by:
1. Demonstrating clinical leadership in the design and evaluation of services (for example findings from research, audit, metrics, new evidence).
2. Engaging in health policy development, implementation, and evaluation.
3. Identifying gaps in the provision of care and services pertaining to their area of advanced practice and apply the best available evidence and expanding the service to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and safety of the service in response to emerging healthcare needs.
4. Leading in managing and implementing change.
Advanced Practice Performance Management and Evaluation Performance Indicators (PIs) are required to evaluate nursing interventions and implement initiatives to improve quality and quantity of the nursing care provided.
They should have a clinical nursing focus as well as a breakdown of activity, including patients seen and treated.
In addition, they identify areas of good practice that must be recognised and celebrated (HSE 2015).
Department of Health (2017) Framework for National Performance Indicators for Nursing and Midwifery provides a guiding framework for the development of Nursing and Midwifery PIs.
In collaboration with the Director of Nursing, the RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will identify and develop Nursing PIs for their area of practice, collect and collate data which will provide evidence of the impact and effectiveness of the interventions undertaken.
The RANP will participate in and evaluate audit results and research findings to identify areas for quality improvement in collaboration with nursing management and multidisciplinary team colleagues (primary and secondary care).
Professional/Clinical The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will practice nursing according to: ?
The Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (NMBI 2025); ?
Values for Nurses and Midwives in Ireland Care, Compassion and Commitment (Department of Health 2016); ?
Advanced Practice Nursing Standards and Requirements (NMBI 2017); ?
National Health Policies and Procedures (latest versions) ?
HSE (2013, revised 2016) National Consent Policy; ?
Local policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines ?
Current legislation ?
Government of Ireland (2015) Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Act and as appropriate to the RANP Syncope, Dizziness and falls related management service Education and Training The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will: Contribute to service development through appropriate continuous education, research initiatives, keeping up to date with nursing literature, recent nursing research, and new developments in nursing practice, education, and management.
Provide support and advice to those engaging in continuous professional development in their area of advanced nursing.
Ensure own mandatory learning and training is kept up to date.
Professional Practice Portfolio The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care must maintain a professional practice portfolio, incorporating evidence of learning from continuing professional development, clinical supervision, reflective practice and review of their own scope of practice in accordance with regulatory requirements and service need.
Management and Leadership The RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care will: Support the principle that person-centred care comes first at all times and will approach the effective, efficient and resourceful planning, organisation and delivery of RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care nursing service with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient.
Adopt a professional leadership role within the clinical governance structures influencing both clinical and non-clinical processes that impact upon the experience and/or outcomes for patients within the RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care nursing service.
Participate in the appropriate and effective management of the RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care service.
Participate in the development of the overall service plan and in the monitoring and review of RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care activity against the plan.
Provide innovative and effective leadership, support, and advice, to nursing and allied staff at all levels related to their area of practice.
Participate and engage in projects and service developments by representing senior nursing on committees and groups as relevant to the RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care nursing service.
Participate in the overall financial planning of the service including the assessment of priorities in pay and non-pay expenditure relating to the RANP in Falls, Syncope & Dizziness Acute Care nursing service.
Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
Manage and promote liaisons with internal and external bodies as appropriate, for example; intra-hospital service, community services, or voluntary organisations.
Engage in digital developments as they apply to service user and service administration.
Undertake other relevant duties as may be determined from time to time by the Director of Nursing or other designated officer.
* The above Role Profile is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
This Role Profile will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances.
Required: Professional Qualifications and Experience Eligible applicants must:
1. Be a Registered Nurse or Midwife on the NMBIs Active Register.
2. Annual registration: Practitioners must maintain active annual registration on the Advanced Nurse Practitioner Division of the register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnimhseachais na hireann) for the role.
3. Must possess the requisite knowledge and ability including a high standard of suitability and clinical, professional and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.
And Confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).
4. Minimum of 5 years experience in falls, syncope, and dizziness management.
5. Postgraduate qualification in cardiology care.
And
1. Demonstrate I.T. skills including excellent keyboard and Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word skills.
2. Experience in teaching and assessing junior staff/nursing students.
3. Experience in developing and delivering education programs.
4. Competent in ECG interpretation and Cardiac Rhythm management.
5. Competent in Vestibular diagnostic and treatment manoeuvres Desirable: Working knowledge of healthcare patient record systems.
Experience in developing and maintaining service Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Experience in Service Development.
Experience with change management.
Skills: Nursing Clinical Health Care Acute care Medical