Overview
Job Title: Liaison Nurse/CNM1
Department: Breast Centre
Reports to: Breast Care Program Manager
Date: 2025
An overview of Breast Care Service at Beacon Hospital
The aim of the Breast care service at Beacon Hospital is to provide a high standard of treatment and care to Breast care patients with benign breast disease, a diagnosis of breast cancer and a family risk of breast cancer. The Breast liaison nurse carries out a central role in the assessment, counselling, surveillance and support of patients with malignant, benign breast disease and a family risk of breast cancer.
Responsibilities
* To provide specialist knowledge, expertise and care to breast care patients.
* To offer advice and support recognising the possible differences in the psychosocial impact of a breast diagnosis.
* To ensure continual optimal care for inpatients and out-patients and their families.
* To assess, plan, implement and evaluate all aspects of the patient’s physical, psychological and social needs.
* Monitor patients on an ongoing basis, to evaluate outcomes and adjust nursing care practice to ensure optimum coordination and delivery of care.
* To assess, plan, implement, and evaluate all aspects of the patient’s physical, psychological and social needs maintaining autonomous practice.
* To develop and participate in follow-up and results clinics.
* The Breast care liaison shall provide pre and post-operative counselling, fitting of prosthesis both temporary and permanent when required.
* To provide pre and post treatment care and support including in-depth information re treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine treatment.
* To develop and participate in family history clinics, follow-up and results clinics.
* Provide practical information on all aspects of altered image, which can be caused by the disease and treatment (e.g. surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and endocrine therapy).
* To keep accurate, legible records and be aware of the legal implications of these documents.
* To liaise closely with the patient’s primary health care teams.
* To demonstrate ability to participate in multi-disciplinary conferences with all professionals involved in delivery of patient care.
* To establish and monitor standards of nursing practice in relation to ensuring best practice.
* To work in collaboration with the Surgical, Medical and Radiation Oncology Teams to develop care pathways, implement best practice guidelines and standards of care.
* Provides leadership in clinical practice and acts as a resource and role model for specialist practice.
* Attend Breast MDT weekly and action the outcomes for the patient.
Interventional Radiology
* The Breast Liaison nurse will provide care when rostered with Interventional Radiology assisting with Ultrasound biopsies working alongside the Consultant Radiologist.
* The role includes assisting with SAVI Clip Insertions, Stereo Biopsies in an aseptic environment.
* The IR role includes working with the IR HCA with specimen ordering, collection of specimens and timely delivery to the laboratory.
* IR role includes annual competencies with Specimen management, time out, and Surgical safety checklist.
Management
* To independently manage own caseload of patients and associated responsibilities.
* To ensure that policies, protocols, and guidelines for breast care patients are developed and implemented.
* To identify the service development needs on a six monthly basis.
* To ensure a safe and healthy environment is maintained for patients and staff involved with Breast care service at Beacon Hospital.
Personal and Professional Development
* To develop the required skills and knowledge to support the service needs within the scope of professional practice.
* To undertake appropriate further training to enhance nursing practice within the specialist area.
* Identifies own continuing professional development needs and engages accordingly.
Education
* To possess highly specialised knowledge regarding breast disease, acquired through relevant study and experience.
* To provide an educational service for patients and their families, formally and informally.
* To incorporate health promotion principles into all aspects of nursing care.
* To participate in teaching programmes and in-service training programmes for all staff.
* To ensure adequate patient education material is available and contribute to developing new educational material where required.
* Recognise opportunities for clinical supervision and access if appropriate.
Quality Assurance, Audit and Research
* To initiate and audit the clinical effectiveness of the Breast care services in conjunction with the Medical Oncology Team.
* Ensure relevant statistics are collected, collated, updated and highlighted for individual caseloads and referrals to breast care services.
* Ensure clinical practice, procedures and standards of care are evidence-based and dynamic to meet patients’ needs.
* Encourage, initiate and participate in nursing research where appropriate.
* Evaluate findings and assist with implementing changes to improve the service.
* Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through audit, data and specialist knowledge.
* Develop and monitor Interventional Radiology KPIs annually and participate with the Breast Centre’s QIP.
Governance
* Operate to high standards of probity and comply with Health and Safety regulations, Beacon Hospital policies, Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, and NMBI guidelines.
* For this post, competence in CNS domains as regulated by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery/commitment to undertake postgraduate studies within 2 years.
* Support the aims and vision of Beacon Hospital and Beacon Breast Care.
* Act with honesty and integrity; be a positive ambassador for the hospital; demonstrate high standards of personal conduct.
Employee Profile
* Registration: Minimum of 5 years post-registration experience; 3 years in Acute Health care setting.
* Excellent communications and organisational skills; ability to work within a multidisciplinary team; ability to work alone and manage own caseload; ability to work under pressure; ability to initiate and manage change; good IT and computer skills.
* Interest in breast care services and development of service for future. Flexible towards working hours.
* BSc Nursing Level 8. Expectation of role: to undertake Post Grad Diploma in Oncology Breast service within 2 years from employment in Breast Centre.
* Management Development: 2 years in medical oncology or 2 years in surgical nursing.
This job description is not intended to be a complete list of duties and responsibilities. It may be reviewed to meet changing needs of the Hospital.
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