Job Title: Radiotherapy CNS / Liaison Department: Radiotherapy Reports to: Radiotherapy Services Manager / Head of Cancer Services Date: March **** Overall Purpose of Job To provide professional nursing skills in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the nursing care for assigned patients and provide exceptional patient care in an environment where quality, respect, caring and compassion are at the centre of all we do.
The CNS / Liaison is accountable for the effective delivery of competent, compassionate and efficient care for all patients attending the Radiotherapy Department.
The management position includes all aspects of clinical, human resource, physician relationship building and financial management so that the unit delivers optimum care.
You will be required to demonstrate high standards of clinical practice providing holistic care to patients receiving radiotherapy.
You will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for radiotherapy patients with complex needs.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables § Ensures the effective delivery of competent, compassionate, and efficient care by monitoring and evaluating patient care processes and outcomes on the patient care unit.
§ Promotes a work environment that demonstrates caring by accessibility of safe equipment and adequate supplies in an efficiently arranged physical setting.
§ Take the nursing history, summarise data and state nursing diagnoses/patient care needs.
§ Observe and record signs, symptoms and behaviours, including the physiological status of patients; present the assessment of changes, the proposed revision of interventions, and desired outcomes.
§ Follow policy for activating an individualised plan of care for newly referred patients.
§ Ensure patient is educated in the treatment procedure and related side effects.
§ Assess patients for radiation therapy side effects and provide appropriate nursing interventions.
§ Provide emotional support to patients and families and make appropriate referrals to community and hospital support services, such as Medical Social Work, Home Care, ICS, etc as needed.
§ Deliver designated nursing interventions to assigned patients that are consistent with the stated medical plan of care.
§ Perform admission, discharge and transfer procedures, and assist others with patient's activities and care.
§ Execute physician's orders for all assigned patients; safely and properly administer medications and treatments.
§ Notify appropriate nursing, medical and allied health staff to changes in the patient's status.
§ Independently perform duties and assume responsibility for care of assigned patients.
§ Perform techniques and routines in the specialty service area.
§ Perform or assist others to perform proper aseptic techniques, isolation procedures, and infection control measures.
§ Document nursing care in all assigned patient records.
§ Maintain patient's privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times.
§ Evaluate care given including the patient response.
§ Reassess and document the proposed revision of interventions and desired outcomes.
§ Demonstrate ability to assess patient's understanding of and compliance with instructions and health care teaching.
§ Review documentation of instructions, teaching topics, and patient response with the Radiotherapy Services Manager/Clinical Nurse Manager.
§ Adhere to internal controls established for department.
§ Attend MDT meetings as required.
§ Conduct daily and weekly handover with hospital departments responsible for care of patients undergoing Radiotherapy treatment.
§ Identifies appropriate internal controls for department; provides mechanisms to monitor and enforce compliance.
§ Perform related duties as required.
Clinical Responsibilities The post holder will be familiar with and adhere to The Professional Scope of Practice Framework (NMBI ****).
The post holder will ensure: § The patient's needs are individually assessed.
§ A care plan and evaluation process is planned and implemented.
§ The patient's families/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.
§ 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/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 Radiotherapy Services manager and/or Clinical Nurse Manager.
§ Operationalises and participates in continuous quality improvement and risk management programmes at the unit level in a collaborative manner with multi-disciplinary colleagues.
§ Demonstrate a confidence/competence in all hospital policies and guidelines.
§ Effective management of complaints.
§ Enhances the collegial consultant-nursing relationship recognising the value in the development of respectful working environment.
§ Maintaining effective interdisciplinary communication processes.
§ Efficient utilisation of pay and non-pay resources.
§ Participate in all departmental and hospital nursing communication.
Personal/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 UPMC 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/courses.
§ Be a preceptor and or supervisor to students/newly appointed staff.
§ Participate in their performance review with their Clinical Nurse Manager.
Educational Responsibilities Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Managers 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 Clinical Nurse Managers in the compilation of proficiency assessments for student nurses in the clinical setting.
§ Identify potential and beneficial topics for nursing research.
§ 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 § Utilise effective time management skills.
§ Maintain professional appearance and dress code.
§ Comply with guidelines for absence or tardiness.
§ Attend staff meetings, read email and other postings.
§ Attend all required in-services.
§ 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.
§ Wear Identification badge when working.
Person Specification Qualifications § An Bord Altranais Registered General Nurse licence in good standing.
§ Hold a post graduate qualification in an Oncology or Radiotherapy Master Programme Experience § Five years clinical experience § Three years' experience in an oncology setting is required.
§ Must have experience of implementing new ways of working and new services.
Teamwork § Demonstrate ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
§ Demonstrates the ability to lead a team, motivate others and effectively delegate tasks and responsibilities.
§ Communication