L Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner

Purpose of the post

The advanced practice service is provided by nurses who practice at a higher level of capability as independent, autonomous and expert advanced practitioners. The overall purpose of the service is to provide safe, timely, evidence-based nurse-led care to service users at an advanced nursing level. This involves undertaking and documenting complete episodes of patient/client care, which include comprehensively assessing, diagnosing, planning, treating, and discharging Service Users in accordance with collaboratively agreed local policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines, and/or service-level agreements/memoranda of understanding.

Key responsibilities of the RANP include:

· Conduct advanced clinical assessments including history taking, physical examination and interpretation of diagnostic tests

· Management of patient results and follow-up treatment plans.

· Diagnose, treat and manage conditions within the scope of practice

· Prescribe medications and initiate treatment plans in line with organisational and regulatory guidelines

· Deliver ongoing monitoring and follow up care

· Identify early signs of deterioration and escalate appropriately

· Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and primary care providers

· Promote patient education, self-management and health promotion strategies

· Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation and contribute to service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives

The RANP demonstrates advanced clinical and theoretical knowledge, critical thinking, clinical leadership and complex decision-making abilities.

The RANP practices in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (NMBI, 2021), the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (NMBI, 2015), Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements (NMBI, 2017), and the Values for Nurses and Midwives in Ireland (Department of Health, 2016).

The RANP service provides clinical leadership and professional scholarship in the delivery of optimal nursing services and informs the development of evidence-based health policy at local, regional and national levels.

The RANP contributes to nursing research that shapes and advances nursing practice, education and health care policy at local, national and international levels

The RANP demonstrates advanced clinical and theoretical knowledge, critical thinking, clinical leadership and complex decision-making abilities.

The RANPservice provides clinical leadership and professional scholarship in delivering optimal advanced nursing services. It informs the development of evidence-based health policy at local, regional and national levels.

The RANP participates in and contributes to nursing/midwifery and other relevant research that shapes and advances nursing practice, education and health care policy at local, national and international levels.

Principal duties and responsibilities

The RANP practices to a higher level of capability across six domains of competence as defined by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements (NMBI, 2017).

The six domains of competence are as follows:

• Professional Values and Conduct
• Clinical-Decision Making
• Knowledge and Cognitive Competences
• Communication and Interpersonal Competences
• Management and Team Competences
• Leadership and Professional Scholarship Competences

Each of the six domains specifies the standard which the RANP has a duty and responsibility to demonstrate and practise.

Domain 1: Professional Values and Conduct

Standard 1

The RANPwill apply ethically sound solutions to complex issues related to individuals and populations by:

• Demonstrating accountability and responsibility for professional practice as a lead healthcare professional in the specific area of advanced nursing practice.

The initial caseload* and scope of practice for the RANP will be formally agreed and will include inclusion and exclusion criteria for the caseload as per the PPPG.

*The caseload and scope of practice for advanced nursing service will evolve to reflect changing service needs

· Articulating safe boundaries and engaging in timely referral and collaboration for those areas outside the scope of practice for the role, experience, and competence using established referral pathways as per locally agreed policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPGs).

· Demonstrating leadership by practising compassionately to facilitate, optimise, promote and support the health, comfort, quality of life and wellbeing of persons whose lives are affected by altered health, chronic disorders, disability, distress or life-limiting conditions.

• The RANP practices according to a professional practice model that focuses on person-centred care, interpersonal interactions and the promotion of healing environments.
• The chosen professional practice model for nursing emphasises a caring therapeutic relationship between the RANP and the Service Users and recognises partnership, collaboration and integrated working with multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Articulating and promoting the RANP role in clinical, political and professional contexts by (for example, presenting key performance outcomes locally and nationally; contributing to the service’s annual report; participating in local and national committees to ensure best practice as per the relevant national clinical and integrated care programme).

Domain 2: Clinical-Decision Making Competences

Standard 2

The RANPwill utilise advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities to engage in senior clinical decision-making by:

• Conducting a comprehensive holistic health assessment using evidence-based frameworks and PPPGs to determine diagnoses and inform autonomous advanced nursing care.
• Synthesising and interpreting Service User assessment information, particularly history, including prior treatment outcomes, physical findings and diagnostic data, to identify normal, at-risk, and subnormal states of health.
• Demonstrating timely use of diagnostic investigations/additional evidence-based advanced assessments to inform clinical decision-making.
• Demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of therapeutic interventions, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological advanced nursing interventions, supported by evidence-based policies, PPPGs, relevant legislation, and relevant professional regulatory standards and requirements.
• Initiating and implementing health promotion activities and self-management plans in accordance with the wider public health agenda.

· Discharging Service Users from the advanced practice service as per agreed PPPGs to include agreed referral pathways.

Domain 3: Knowledge and Cognitive Competences

Standard 3

The RANP will actively contribute to the professional body of knowledge related to their area of advanced practice by:

• Providing leadership in the translation of new knowledge to clinical practice,for example, teaching sessions; journal clubs; case reviews; facilitating clinical supervision to other members of the team.
• Educating others using an advanced expert knowledge base derived from clinical experience, ongoing reflection, clinical supervision and engagement in continuous professional development.
• Demonstrating a vision for advanced practice nursing based on service need and a competent expert knowledge base that is developed through research, critical thinking, and experiential learning.
• Demonstrating accountability in considering access, cost and clinical effectiveness when planning, delivering and evaluating care, for example, key performance areas, key performance indicators, and metrics.

Domain 4: Communication and Interpersonal Competences

Standard 4

The RANP will negotiate and advocate with other health professionals to ensure the beliefs, rights and wishes of the person are respected by:

• Communicating effectively with the healthcare team through sharing of information in accordance with legal, professional and regulatory requirements as per established referral pathways.
• Demonstrating leadership in professional practice.
• Facilitating clinical supervision and mentorship through expert knowledge and clinical competence.
• Utilising information technology, in accordance with legislation and organisational PPPGs, to record all aspects of nursing care.

Domain 5: Management and Team Competences

Standard 5

The RANP will manage risk to Service Users who access the service through collaborative risk assessments and promotion of a safe environment by:

• Promoting a culture of quality care.
• Proactively seeking and utilising quantitative and qualitative feedback from Service Users, families and members of the multidisciplinary team to enhance service delivery.
• Implementing practice changes using negotiation and consensus building, in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Domain 6: Leadership and Professional Scholarship Competences

Standard 6

The RANP will lead in multidisciplinary team planning for transitions across the continuum of care by:

• Demonstrating clinical leadership in the design and evaluation of services, for example, findings from research, audit, metrics, new evidence.
• Contributing to health policy development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Contributing to the quality, effectiveness and safety of the Service User, service and advanced nursing practice.

· Leading and implementing evidence-informed change.

Management and Leadership

The RANP will support the principle that person-centred care always comes first and will approach the effective, efficient and resourceful planning, organisation and delivery of RANP nursing service with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every service user.

• The RANP will adopt a professional leadership role within the clinical governance structures, influencing both clinical and non-clinical processes that impact upon the experience and/or outcomes for patients within the RANP nursing service.
• The RANP will participate in the appropriate and effective management of the service.
• The RANP will participate in the development of the overall service plan and in the monitoring and review of RANP activity against the plan.
• The RANP will provide innovative and effective leadership, support, and advice to nursing and allied staff at all levels related to their area of practice.
• The RANP will participate in and engage in projects and service developments by representing senior nursing on committees and groups as relevant to the RANP nursing service.
• The RANP will participate in audit, research and KPI(Key Performance Indicators) processes.
• The RANP will participate in the overall financial planning of the service, including the assessment of priorities in pay and non-pay expenditure relating to the RANP nursing service.
• The RANP will promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• The RANP will manage and promote liaisons with internal and external bodies as appropriate, for example, intra-hospital service, community services, or voluntary organisations.
• The RANP will engage in digital developments as they apply to service users and service administration.
• The RANP will undertake other relevant duties as may be determined from time to time by the Director of Nursing or another designated officer.

Risk management, quality, health & safety

• Adequately identifies, assesses, manages and monitors risk within their area of responsibility.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role, for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards, etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
  Support, promote, and actively participate in sustainable energy, water, and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low-carbon, and efficient health service.

· Participate with key stakeholders in KPI identification, development, data collection and evaluation.

· Participates in clinical audit and evaluates audit results and research findings to identify areas for quality improvement.

Education & training

· Maintain a professional practice portfolio, incorporating evidence of learning from continuing professional development, clinical supervision, reflective practice and review of the advanced practice nursing scope of practice in accordance with regulatory requirements and service need.

· Engage in the HSE performance achievement (Digital PDP) process in conjunction with your Line Manager.

· Develop digital capability to support service users with Virtual and Telehealth where appropriate.

The above job specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved; consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties appropriate to the post, which may be assigned to them from time to time, and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

****** Please Note CV’s will not be accepted for this campaign ******

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