Qualifications / Experience Be registered in the general division of the Register of Nurses maintained by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) Minimum five years post-registration nursing experience (full-time or equivalent hours part-time) in an acute hospital. Have a minimum of four years experience, including experience in wound care management. Have a post-graduate qualification in wound care / or commitment to follow an education pathway in this regard. A Management Qualification is desirable. Duties and Responsibilities of Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES To provide expert knowledge, clinical skills and advice on wound management and pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. To recommend and advise multi-disciplinary team on appropriate, evidence based treatment regimes e.g. compression therapy, ABPIS, Topical Negative Pressure. To refer patients to appropriate members of the multidisciplinary teams when necessary. To clinically treat wounds requiring specialist knowledge and skills. To provide clinical leadership by advising and assisting with the assessment, planning and evaluation of care on prevention and treatment of tissue damage. To act as a clinical role model through the provision of professional leadership and demonstration of competent practice of all matters concerning wound-care. To assist the multidisciplinary team to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for tissue damage. Makes expert recommendations and advise multidisciplinary teams on appropriate evidence based treatment regimes. To liaise with medical teams to ensure that correct diagnosis and investigations are carried out before treatment. To record any interventions or advice given in the unified health care records. To guide, support, teach, and to work closely with the Clinical Nurse Managers and Nursing Staff in the delivery of high standard patient care. To lead in the provision and updating of a comprehensive set of wound care guidelines. To lead on the provision of expert opinion and advice on pressure ulcer risk assessment, pressure relieving/reducing supports and correct implementation or prevention/management for individual patients. To participate in tender processes or review of pressure relieving equipment as appropriate. To regularly review and update policies pertaining to the speciality. To review all incidents of pressure ulcers reported and ensure that appropriate care plans are in place. To complete wound-care and pressure ulcer occurrence surveillance and report to the Quality & Risk committee. To trial new equipment and products and recommend subsequent purchases. To liaise with procurement manager regarding appropriate dressings/products to ensure effective use of resources. Ensure that the wound Formulary is up to date and is consistently used across the service. To holistically assess wounds and implement dressing management for patients referred to the Wound Management Service. TEACHING/EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES To identify educational needs of staff, patients and carers. To act as a resource to members of the multidisciplinary team. Participate in the identification, development and delivery of education, training and development programmes. To promote patient/ carer independence through relevant teaching and support. To work closely with multidisciplinary team in the delivery of group and individual education sessions with patients and family members. PATIENT/CLIENT ADVOCATE To work as a strong patient advocate maintaining effective channels of communication with residents/patients, relatives and all members of the multidisciplinary team. To review and assess referred patients taking into account their opinions and decisions. Communicate, negotiate and represent the plan of care for the patient with clinical, nursing and medical staff. AUDIT & RESEARCH To use hospital resources to access applicable research to support evidence based practice i.e. library journals and internet access. To critically evaluate research findings to clinical practice via wound-care guidelines and pressure ulcer prevention policy. To identify and encourage research based practice, policies and standards in relation to tissue viability and quality and practice. To facilitate the development of research appreciation and critical awareness of clinical staff, demonstrating awareness of application of evidence based practice in their clinical decision making. To monitor and audit prevalence of pressure ulceration using European Wound Management (EWMA) validated tool. Utilise information to inform practice and education strategies. To network with other clinical nurse specialists and incorporate national and local initiatives and standards of practice where appropriate. To evaluate the effectiveness of nursing practice and participate in multidisciplinary audit. To actively participate in the development of clinical policies, protocols and guidelines in liaison with the MDT and Director of Nursing. To participate in setting realistic objectives in order to maintain a personal professional profile and demonstrate a high level of specialist practice. To identify and participate in research related to tissue viability and quality. To write up case studies when using new treatments. Professional Responsibilities: It is essential that the appointee will have a personal commitment to pursue an educational pathway to gain knowledge and skills to manage and co-ordinate all aspects of this post. The post holder will act as a patient / staff advocate providing the ethical, legal and professional knowledge for patient and staff in clinical practice. Conditions of Employment: Annual Leave Entitlement: 25 28 days per annum pro- rata (according to criteria in Circular 111/99). Annual leave is calculated January to December of each year. Sick Leave Regulations: Please refer to contract of employment and hospital sick leave policy. A minimum of three months notice of termination of employment is required. Notice of termination of employment must be received in writing. Uniform Policy must be adhered to at all times. Hospital uniform must not be worn outside of the hospital. Please note the following: The Hospital Board is not responsible for loss or theft of personal belongings. Fire orders must be observed and staff must attend fire lectures every 2 years. Mandatory training must be adhered to and recertified before expiry timeframes occur i.e. Manual Handling, Basic Life support, Intravenous assessment, Hand hygiene education, waste management and Mission effectiveness programme. All accidents within the department must be reported immediately. In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (1989 & 2005), smoking within the Hospital building is not permitted. All Staff are advised to avail of Hepatitis B Vaccination with Occupational Health. The use of personal mobile phones is prohibited in clinical care areas. Hygiene: During the course of employment staff are required to ensure that the hospitals hygiene and infection control policies are adhered to at all times. All employees have responsibility to prevent transmission of infection by adhering to and implementing optimal hand hygiene and adhering to the Hospitals Hygiene processes. Hygiene is a fundamental component of St Michaels Hospitals quality system to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its patients and staff and plays a role in the prevention and control of healthcare associated infection. Policies/Legislation: All hospital policies and procedures form an integral part of an employment contract and may be subject to update and revision, from time to time, in consultation with union representatives as appropriate. Employees are required to comply with all hospital policies, procedures (e.g. Dignity at work, Trust in Care, Computer Usage Policy) and the hospitals ethical codes of practice. Mandated Person Children First Act 2015 As a mandated person under the Children First Act 2015 you have A LEGAL obligation: To report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to TUSLA To assist TUSLA, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report To complete the HSE e-learning programme An Introduction to Children First To complete the HSE e- learning training for Mandated Persons (CHO6) You will remain a mandated person for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the legislation Mandated Person Children First Act 2015 Confidentiality: In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of patients, students, staff and / or other health service business. Such records and information are strictly confidential and, unless acting on the instruction of an authorised officer, such information must not be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition, records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required. Skills: BSc in nursing 5yrs post registration experience in a acute hospt 4yrs experience in wound care management Excellent interpersonal skills Registered with NMBI Post graduate qualification in wound care Excellent organisational skills Benefits: on site parking excellent access to public transport subsidised canteen group discount for health insurance access to health service credit union tax saver commuter ticket scheme bike to work scheme