Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist (Heart Failure)
Department: Nursing and Midwifery
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Heart Failure will provide specialist nursing services to patients with a diagnosis of heart failure. The CNS will work closely with the multi-disciplinary team to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for patients with heart failure.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Clinical Focus:
Provide specialist nursing service for patients with a diagnosis of heart failure who require support and treatment through the continuum of care.
* Undertake comprehensive patient assessment to include physical, psychological, social, and spiritual elements of care using best evidence-based practice in Heart Failure Care.
* Use the outcomes of patient assessment to develop and implement plans of care/case management in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and the patient, family, and/or carer as appropriate.
Patient/Client Advocate:
Communicate, negotiate, and represent patient's family and/or carer values and decisions in relation to their condition in collaboration with MDT colleagues in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.
* Develop and support the concept of advocacy, particularly in relation to patient participation in decision-making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.
* Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity, and confidentiality of the patient, family, and/or carer.
Education & Training:
Maintain clinical competence in patient management within Heart Failure nursing/midwifery, keeping up-to-date with relevant research to ensure the implementation of evidence-based practice.
* Provide the patient, family, and/or carer with appropriate information and other supportive interventions to increase their knowledge, skill, and confidence in managing their Heart Failure condition.
* Contribute to the design, development, and implementation of education programs and resources for the patient, family, and/or carer in relation to Heart Failure thus empowering them to self-manage their condition.
Audit & Research:
Establish and maintain a register of patients with Heart Failure disease within Clinical Nurse Specialist (Heart Failure) caseload.
* Maintain a record of clinically relevant data aligned to National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as directed and advised by the DoN.
* Identify, initiate, and conduct nursing and MDT audit and research projects relevant to the area of practice.
Consultant:
Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for Heart Failure practice.
* Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines and support implementation.
* Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance generalist nursing practice.
Health & Safety:
Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to quality, risk, and safety.
* Initiate, support, and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with local organisational quality, risk, and safety requirements.
* Ensure completion of incident/near miss forms and clinical risk reporting.
Management/Administration:
Provide an efficient, effective, and high-quality service, respecting the needs of each patient, family, and/or carer.
* Effectively manage time and caseload in order to meet changing and developing service needs.
* Implement and manage identified changes.