Purpose of the Post
The CMS (Ultrasonography) (Obstetrics/Gynaecology) will deliver care in line with the five core concepts of the role set out in the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialist Posts, 4th edition, National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM) 2008.
The Clinical Midwife Specialist (Ultrasonography) Obstetrics/Gynaecology will provide clinical expertise and support to staff working in Maternity Services. The post holder will provide leadership in the delivery of specialised services. This will ensure the ultrasound service is part of a dynamic and growing healthcare facility responding to the health needs of women at all stages during pregnancy and the postnatal period, in addition to gynaecological assessment.
Caseload
The CMS (Ultrasonography) (Obstetrics/Gynaecology) will focus initially on:
* service users who require USS investigations in all trimesters of pregnancy as per referral pathway.
* All CMS Ultrasonographers will work within their scope f practice.
The concepts are:
* Clinical Focus (Direct and Indirect Care)
* Service user/client Advocacy
* Education and Training
* Audit and Research
* Consultancy (including leadership in clinical practice)
The post holder will support the principle that care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree
* Maintain throughout the Group's awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.
* Performance management systems are part of the role and you will be required to participate in the Group's performance management programme
Clinical Focus
The CMS will support the principle that the care of the service user comes first at all times and will approach the responsibilities of their role with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the most significant possible degree. Performance management systems are part of the CMS role, and the post holder will be required to participate in the agreed processes.
The CMS will:
Develop a strong service user focus whereby the speciality defines itself as nursing/midwifery and subscribes to the overall purpose, functions and ethical standards of nursing/midwifery.
The clinical practice role may be divided into direct and indirect care. Direct care comprises assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating care to the service user, family and/or carer. Indirect care relates to activities that influence and support the provision of direct care.
Direct Care
The CMS will:
* Have the ability to work independently and report on all ultrasound examinations performed
* Provide a specialist service for women who require ultrasound investigation in all trimesters of pregnancy as per referral pathways
* Be responsible for providing direct clinical involvement and specialist advice on foetal assessment.
* Undertake comprehensive patient assessment to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care using best evidence-based practice in Obstetric Ultrasound care
* Work as a multidisciplinary team member providing specialist foetal ultrasound assessment.
* Diagnose foetal abnormalities with subsequent counselling and management of the patient care during pregnancy involving all the relevant multidisciplinary teams.
* Monitor high-risk pregnancies
* Use the outcomes of patient assessment to plan and initiate care and treatment modalities within agreed interdisciplinary protocols to achieve patient/client-centred outcomes; evaluate their effectiveness.
* Make alterations in managing the patient's condition in collaboration with the MDT and the patient in line with agreed pathways and policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPGs).
* Accept appropriate referrals from MDT colleagues
* Co-ordinate investigations, treatment therapies and patient follow-up
* Communicate with patients, family and /or carer as appropriate to assess patient's needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling as required
* Where appropriate, work collaboratively with MDT colleagues across Primary and Secondary Care to provide seamless service delivery to the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate
* Where appropriate participate in medication reconciliation and support medical and pharmacy staff with medication reviews and medication management
* Identify and promote specific symptom management strategies as well as the identification of triggers which may cause worsening of symptoms. Provide patients with appropriate self-management strategies and escalation pathways.
* Manage Obstetric Ultrasound clinics with MDT input
* Identify health promotion priorities for the patient, family and/or carer and support patient self-care in line with best evidence. This will include the provision of educational and health promotion material which is comprehensive, easy to understand and meets women's needs
* Support the principle that the patient's care comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the most significant possible degree.
Indirect Care
The CMS will:
* Identify and agree on appropriate referral pathways for all pregnant women – identifying their specific needs and initiating a plan of care applicable to the clinical picture
* Participate in case review with MDT colleagues
* Use a case management approach to patients with complex needs in collaboration with MDT in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate
* Take a proactive role in the formulation and provision of evidence-based PPPGs relating to optimal care and the use of ultrasound as an aid to diagnosis
* Take a lead role in ensuring the service for patients with any high-risk condition is in line with best practice guidelines and the Safer Better Healthcare Standards (HIQA, 2012)
Service user/Client Advocate
The CMS will:
* Communicate, negotiate and represent service user, family and carer values and decisions about their condition to MDT colleagues in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate
* Develop and support the concept of advocacy, particularly about service user participation in decision-making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options
* Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the service user, family and carers
* Establish, maintain and improve procedures for nursing/midwifery collaboration and cooperation between Acute Services, Primary Care and Voluntary Organisations as appropriate
* Proactively challenge any interaction, nursing/midwifery or otherwise, which fails to deliver quality service to service users.
Education & Training
The CMS will:
* Maintain clinical competence in service user management within the specialist area of midwifery practice. Keep up-to-date with relevant research to ensure the implementation of evidence-based practice.
* Provide the service user, family and/or carer with appropriate information, education and other supportive interventions to increase their knowledge, skill confidence and autonomy in care delivery at the CMS level.
* Contribute to the design, development and implementation of education programmes and resources for the service user, family and/or carer to enable them to manage their condition.
* Provide mentorship and preceptorship for midwifery/nursing colleagues as appropriate.
* Participate in training programmes for nursing/midwifery, MDT colleagues and key stakeholders as appropriate.
* Create an exchange of learning opportunities within the MDT in relation to evidence-based midwifery delivery of care through journal clubs, conferences, etc.
* Develop and maintain links with Regional Centres for Nursing & Midwifery Education (RCNMEs), the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Units (NMPDUs) and relevant third-level Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in the design, development and delivery of nursing/midwifery educational Programmes in the specialist area of midwifery practice.
* In tandem with the line management structure, be responsible for addressing your own continuing professional development (CPD) needs to maintain the competencies required for the role.
* Use agreed-protected time for research, education and professional development.
* With the line manager, use the Professional Development Planning Framework for Nurses and Midwives to plan and self-assess additional CPD needs.
Audit & Research
The CMS will:
* Establish and maintain a register of all service user care within the CMS Caseload.
* Identify, initiate and conduct audit and research projects/quality improvement plans relevant to the area of practice.
* Identify, critically analyse, disseminate and integrate the best evidence relating to standards of Ultrasound examinations into practice
* Contribute to research on all aspects of the use of obstetric ultrasound.
* Use the audit outcomes to improve service provision and advocate where appropriate for service improvement.
* Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through the use of audit data and specialist knowledge
* Monitor, access, utilise and disseminate current relevant research to advise and ensure the provision of informed evidence-based practice
* Maintain a record of local and nationally agreed clinically relevant data aligned to National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)/clinical targets as directed and advised by the DoM/Services in conjunction with the senior clinical decision maker.
Consultant (including leadership in clinical practice)
The CMS will:
* Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for the optimal practice of Obstetric Ultrasound.
* Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines and support implementation
* Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance generalist midwifery practice
* The CMS will develop collaborative working relationships with local Clinical Midwife Specialists/Registered Advanced Midwife Practitioner/MDT colleagues as appropriate, developing person centred care pathways to promote the integrated care delivery model.
* With the support of the DOM/ADOM, attend integrated care planning meetings as required.
* Where appropriate, develop and maintain relationships with specialist services in organisations that support community patients.
* Liaise with other health service providers in developing and delivering the National Maternity Strategy.
* Network with other CMSs roles through the Maternity Strategy and in related professional associations.
* Please Note CV's will not be accepted for this campaign ******
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