Candidate Clinical Nurse Specialist, Respiratory Outreach, University Hospital

Background to the cCNS pathway

The Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice (DOH, 2019) outlines a pathway to support a change for specialist practice to develop and meet service need, including the revised eligibility criteria for CNS as follows:

· A minimum of 1 years’ experience in practice prior to completing the required post graduate qualification in the specialist area at level 9 (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above)

· Recognition as a CNS to meet service needs therefore requires the completion of a postgraduate qualification together with a minimum of 1 years’ specialist experience

· This is in addition to meeting the requirements set by the HSE to ensure the delivery of safe, effective practice to meet service demands

In response to an identified service need a candidate CNS pathway has been established and sets out the following:

(a) A recruitment campaign will be organised by the CHO/HG between local HR and services.

(b) Nurses who are successful at interview for candidate CNS post will:

Ø be offered a contract for a candidate CNS post (Respiratory Outreach) at CNM1 grade with a job description outlining the cCNS competencies to be achieved.

Ø be required to demonstrate their specialist experience or if they do not possess the relevant specialist experience, they will be supported to attain one year’s clinical specialist experience

Ø be required to demonstrate that they have completed the required postgraduate education, or agree and are supported to undertake the required postgraduate education, at level 9 qualification (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above) relevant to the specialist area.

Ø be required to demonstrate that they have continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area or will be supported to obtain the required CPD.

(c) All of the above must be achieved within 2 years from appointment for this pathway.

The clinical experience requirements for this cohort of nurses remain consistent with the DoH (2019) policy, i.e. a minimum of 1 years’ experience in practice and a minimum of 1 years’ experience in the specialist area and they could be supported to progress on a candidate CNS Pathway.

The above pathway is valid from May 2023 to September 2026

Purpose of the Post

As outlined in this job description, the cCNS pathway will facilitate the post holder to be supported to professionally and clinically develop the skills and knowledge required to achieve the competencies of the CNS role.

The cCNS post holder will be enabled to 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.

Caseload

The cCNS will focus initially on the following service user groups:

Inpatient and outpatient adults with acute and chronic pain.

The cCNS clinical role is based on the core concepts and associated competencies for the CNS (adapted from NCNM 4th edition 2008)

The concepts are:

· Clinical Focus (Direct and Indirect Care)

· Service user/Service User Advocacy

· Education and Training

· Audit and Research

· Consultancy (including leadership in clinical practice)

The purpose of this Clinical Nurse Specialist (Respiratory Outreach) post is to provide pivotal role co-ordinating patient care and managing activity and resources within the clinical area. The main responsibilities are: managing a patient case load, planning assessing and treating patients in consultation with the Respiratory Outreach team using best evidence based practise.

Deliver care in line with the five core concepts of the role set out in the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse Specialist Posts, 4th edition, National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM) 2008.

The successful candidate will work as a key member of the multidisciplinary (Respiratory Outreach) team providing a patient / client centred quality service to patients / clients and this specialist practice will encompass a major clinical focus which comprises assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care given to patients / clients and their families.

Caseload

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Respiratory Outreach) will focus on Respiratory Outreach patient groups.

Informal Enquiries

Nora Twomey, Assistant Director of Nursing

Mobile: 087 2186170

Email: Nora.twomey@hse.ie