UHWN Staff Nurse Sexual Health

***PLEASE COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM FULLY***

Professional Responsibilities

The Staff Nurse will:

• Provide a specialist nursing service for patients who present to the sexual infectious disease clinic who require support and treatment through the continuum of care.
• Practice Nursing according to the Code of Professional Conduct as laid down by the Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing Midwifery Board Ireland) and Professional Clinical Guidelines.
• Adhere to national, regional and local Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines, policies, protocols and legislation surrounding sexual health.
• Work within their scope of practice and take measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice.
• Maintain a high standard of professional behaviour and be accountable for their practice.
• Be aware of ethical policies and procedures which pertain to the area of sexual infectious diseases.
• Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient.
• Follow appropriate lines of authority within the Nurse Management structure.

Clinical Practice

The Staff Nurse will:

• Deliver the nursing care of an assigned group of patients within a best practice / evidence-based framework.
• Manage a designated caseload.
• Have a significant understanding of sexual health, undertake detailed sexual histories, provide education and promote safer sexual practices.
• Promote the sexual and overall health, welfare and social wellbeing of patients within our services.
• Interpret and action lab reports as appropriate.
• Demonstrate cultural competency when working with the LGBT community and an awareness of the issues affecting this community.
• Actively participate as a multi-disciplinary / inter-disciplinary team member in all aspects of service delivery including case conferences, clinical meetings, team meetings.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual person centred care programmes within an agreed framework and in accordance with best practice.
• Ensure that care is carried out in an empathetic and ethical manner and that the dignity of the patient is respected.
• Promote and recognise the patients’ social and cultural dimensions of care and the need for links with their local community.
• Report and consult with senior nursing management on clinical issues as appropriate.
• Maintain appropriate and accurate written nursing records and reports regarding patient care in accordance with local / national / professional guidelines.
• Participate in innovation and change in the approach to patient care delivery particularly in relation to new research findings, evidence based practice and advances in treatment.
• Participate in clinical audit and review.
• Undertake Key Worker/Link Nurse role as appropriate.
• Promote a positive health concept with patients and colleagues and contribute to health promotion and disease prevention initiatives of the Health Service Executive.
• Delegate to and supervise the work of other grades of staff within the remit of their role, as appropriate.
• Refer clients to other services as required.

Clinical Governance

The Staff Nurse will:

• Participate in clinical governance structures within the local / regional / national clinical governance framework.
• Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role / care setting, for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
• Contribute to ongoing monitoring, audit and evaluation of the service as appropriate.
• Participate in managing appointments, ensuring appointments are made in a timely manner, rearranged if needed and/or cancelled in cooperation with administrative staff.
• Accurately record and report all complaints to appropriate personnel according to local service policy.
• Participate in the development of policies / procedures and guidelines to support compliance with current legal requirements, where existing, for the safe storage and administration of medicines and other clinical products.
• Participate in the development of policies / procedures and guidelines with health, safety, fire, risk and management personnel and participate in their development in conjunction with relevant staff and in compliance with statutory obligations.
• Observe, report and take appropriate action on any matter which may be detrimental to patient care or well being.
• Be aware of, and comply with, the principles of clinical governance including quality, risk and health and safety and be individually responsible for clinical governance, risk management / health and safety issues in their area of work.
• Participate in the development, promotion and implementation of infection prevention and control guidelines.
• Adhere to organisational dress code.
• Assume responsibility for and coordinate the management of the unit / care setting in the absence of the Clinical Nurse Manager 2, if appropriate.

Education, Training & Development

The Staff Nurse will:

• Take responsibility for own competency and learning and development needs and actively contribute to the learning and development of the interdisciplinary team.
• Complete all mandatory training as deemed necessary by the Director of Nursing and Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing Midwifery Board Ireland).
• Have undertaken or plans to undertake further education/continuing professional development courses specific to the area of sexual health.
• Participate in performance evaluation / review with their line manager, identifying areas for improvement and appropriate plans / measures to achieve them..
• Develop and use reflective practice techniques to inform and guide practice as part of their daily work.
• Identify and contribute to the continual enhancement of learning opportunities within a population health framework.
• Participate in the clinical / workplace induction of all new nursing and support staff.
• Contribute to the identification of training needs pertinent to the clinical area.
• Develop teaching skills and participate in the planning and implementation of orientation, training and teaching programmes for nursing students and other health-care staff as appropriate.
• Having undergone appropriate training, act as a mentor / preceptor or clinical assessor for students.
• Participate in the development of performance indicators in conjunction with the Clinical Nurse Manager.
• Participate in innovation and change in the approach to service user care delivery, and contribute to the service planning process, based on best practice and under the direction of Nurse Management / Nurse Practice Development, particularly in relation to new research findings and advances in treatment.

Administration

The Staff Nurse will:

• Ensure that records are safeguarded and managed as per HSE / local policy and in accordance with relevant legislation.
• Maintain strict confidentiality appropriate to sexual health in line with NMBI, national and local guidelines.
• Work closely with colleagues across the integrated services programme in order to provide a seamless service delivery to the client within the integrated services programme.
• Maintain records and submit activity data / furnish appropriate reports to their line manager.
• Contribute to policy development and formulation, performance monitoring, business planning and budgetary control.
• Maintain professional standards including patient and data confidentiality.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways, individual care plans and shared care arrangements.
• Contribute to ongoing monitoring, audit and evaluation of the service as appropriate.
• Ensure that the care setting is maintained in good order using appropriate models, that supplies are adequate and that all equipment is in good working order and ready for immediate use.
• Ensure that equipment is safe to use and report any malfunctions in a timely manner.
• Assist with ordering of supplies as required and ensure the appropriate and efficient use of supplies is made and exercise economy in the use of consumables.
• Undertake other duties as required by the Director of Nursing or his / her designate.

Health & Safety

• 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 etcand comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.