Nursing Associate Outpatients

Job Purpose

The post holder is a

member of the direct care team and will provide advanced support to the

registered nurse to meet patients needs. You will be responsible for providing

care to patients as delegated by the registered nurse to ensure a seamless

service to patients.

Key Duties

• Service Delivery Responsibilities
• To
• ensure own actions support equality, diversity and rights in the delivery of a
• high standard of patient care.

To

contribute to the prevention and control of infection by monitoring and

recording any issues

To

comply with Trust Policies and Regulations and attend mandatory training.

To

be competent to work across multi-professional disciplines and make referrals

for additional assessments and treatments as required.

To

assist in maintaining own and others Health, Safety and Security in the

workplace for self and others.

To

act as champion where appropriate and as requested for areas such as Manual

Handling, Tissue Viability, Infection Prevention and Control and Nutrition,

and falls prevention.

Clinical

• Responsibilities
• Undertake
• a range of delegated clinical duties within the Outpatients Department, working
• independently within the scope of competence and escalating concerns
• appropriately to a Registered Nurse or other appropriate clinician.

Maintain

and demonstrate competence in area-specific and generic clinical skills in

accordance with Trust policies, procedures and competency frameworks.

Undertake

• appropriate clinical observations and assessments as required within the
• outpatient setting, recognising and responding to changes in a patient's
• condition and escalating concerns promptly.
• Measure,
• monitor and accurately record clinical observations as required.

Calculate

and record the National Early Warning Score where clinically indicated

and take appropriate action in accordance with Trust policy and escalation

procedures.

Undertake

venepuncture, cannulation and other approved clinical procedures following

appropriate training, competency assessment and within the scope of the role.

Undertake

complex dressings, including compression bandaging, within Vascular and other

clinics after completion of appropriate training and competency assessment.

Perform

capillary blood glucose monitoring and urinalysis where clinically indicated,

recording results accurately and escalating abnormal findings appropriately.

Perform

electrocardiograms following appropriate training and competency

assessment, ensuring recordings are of an appropriate standard and promptly

communicated to the relevant clinician.

Support

clinicians with outpatient investigations, procedures and treatments within the

individual's scope of competence and following appropriate training.

Prepare

patients appropriately for planned outpatient investigations and procedures,

ensuring relevant information, clinical observations and documentation are

completed accurately.

Provide

appropriate support and reassurance to patients before, during and following

outpatient investigations and procedures.

Observe

patients following procedures or interventions where required, recognising

signs of deterioration, adverse reactions or complications and escalating

concerns immediately to the appropriate Registered Nurse or clinician.

Assist

Registered Nurses and other clinicians in the management of patients who become

acutely unwell within the Outpatients Department, initiating appropriate

immediate action within the scope of competence and Trust policy.

Identify

and report clinical risks or changes in a patient's condition to the

appropriate Registered Nurse or clinician.

Undertake

appropriate assessments relevant to the outpatient environment, including falls

risk, safeguarding, wellbeing and other clinical assessments as required by the

service.

Contribute

to the management of patients with additional needs,

including those requiring reasonable adjustments, communication support or

assistance to access outpatient services.

Maintain

accurate, timely and comprehensive clinical documentation in accordance with

Trust policies and professional standards, ensuring records are clear, concise and legible.

Obtain and communicate investigation results as appropriate, ensuring abnormal

or clinically significant results are escalated promptly to the relevant

clinician.

Support

the safe and effective flow of patients through the Outpatients Department,

contributing to the efficient preparation, assessment, treatment and discharge

of patients.

Provide

patients with appropriate information relating to their appointment,

investigation, treatment or onward care, within the scope of the role, and

ensure patients know how to seek further advice or support when required.

Recognise

and escalate safeguarding concerns in accordance with Trust policies and

procedures, contributing to the protection of children and adults at risk.

Maintain

effective communication with patients, relatives and carers, demonstrating

compassion, respect and sensitivity, particularly when patients may be anxious,

distressed or receiving difficult information.

Demonstrate

effective communication skills when supporting patients with additional

communication needs, language barriers, sensory impairment, learning

disabilities or other individual requirements.

Maintain

patient dignity, privacy, confidentiality and choice at all times, recognising

the importance of a positive patient experience within the outpatient

environment.

Demonstrate

excellent customer care skills and act as a positive role model for colleagues,

contributing to a welcoming, professional and patient-centred outpatient

service.

Recognise

challenging or potentially aggressive behaviour and use appropriate

communication and de-escalation techniques, seeking assistance when required

and following Trust procedures.

Maintain

high standards of Infection Prevention and Control at all times, ensuring

clinical areas, equipment and patient environments are maintained in accordance

with Trust policy.

Ensure

clinical equipment is appropriately prepared, cleaned, maintained and stored,

reporting faults or concerns promptly and following relevant departmental

procedures.

Contribute

to maintaining a safe, clean and well-organised clinical environment and report

any environmental, health and safety or infection prevention concerns to the

appropriate person.

Support

the safe management of clinical stock and supplies, monitoring stock levels and

ensuring appropriate equipment and consumables are available for outpatient

clinics and procedures.

Ensure

incidents, accidents, near misses and other safety concerns are reported

promptly and managed in accordance with Trust policy, including the completion

of Datix.

Contribute

to the development and production of appropriate patient information and

support patients to access relevant health information and services.

Promote

health and wellbeing and provide appropriate health promotion information

within the scope of the role.

Maintain

accurate and timely patient and service-related data, contributing to audit and quality improvement activities as required.

Work

collaboratively with ALL colleagues to support the delivery of effective outpatient

services.

Provide

support, guidance and appropriate delegation to Healthcare Support Workers within the limits of the role, ensuring delegated activities

are undertaken safely and effectively.

Participate

in the induction, orientation and support of newly appointed staff and

students, sharing knowledge and demonstrating good practice.

Participate

in departmental meetings, training and professional

development activities as required.

Maintain

and develop clinical knowledge and skills appropriate to the role, undertaking

mandatory and role-specific training.

Work

within the boundaries of the Nursing Associate role, recognising limitations of

competence and seeking advice appropriately.

Uphold

and promote high standards of professional practice, behaviour and

patient-centred care at all times, working in accordance with Trust policies,

procedures, values and relevant professional standards.

Personal Development

Act

as an Assessor for staff

Act

as a Practice Assessor for students

Maintain

a personal development plan and an annual programme of learning and development

to ensure clinical practice is based on best practice and up to date.

To

be responsible for own practice.

Maintain

responsibility for the identification of own continuing educational needs.

Formulate

a personal development plan, take part in annual appraisal and keep

revalidation records up to date.

Administration and Clerical

• Responsibilities
• Demonstrate
• the use of information technology to benefit the service.
• Record,
• report and where required take responsibility for a variety of systems required
• for delivering the service, e.g. supplies and
• environmental estates issues.

Utilise

the information systems for reporting relevant data.

Use

of clinical databases e.g. patient records, order systems, etc.

To

obtain blood results from the appropriate IT system.

Quality Improvement

Carry

out relevant audits as delegated by the Outpatients Sister and assist in the development of action plans as a result of findings.

Work

with the department staff on quality improvement initiatives and support the embedding of change initiatives into

clinical practice.