Job summary
This exciting newly developed rotational role offers access to a wide range of experiences across the vascular surgery service. It would suit motivated and enthusiastic nurses who have an interest in vascular patients, a passion for wound care, and a desire to develop specialist knowledge and skills within vascular nursing.

The post is based on our 36-bed vascular ward for six months of the year, with a further six-month rotation within our Rapid Access Service based in Outpatients. We offer a well-supported role within a friendly, experienced, and motivated team. This unique opportunity provides a varied and comprehensive experience for qualified nurses wishing to pursue a career in vascular nursing.

• Our Major Arterial Centre provides the vascular service for the 1.12million people of Bristol, North Somerset, Bath, North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, delivering both elective and emergency care.
• Vascular surgery has been recognised as a leading service at our Trust, alongside our regional trauma, renal, neurosurgery and plastic units. We have a 34-bedded vascular ward in the Brunel building and both a dedicated operating theatre and hybrid theatre available for our service.
• We support our nurses to develop specialist skills, including training for specialized dressings, tissue viability and wound care, including vac therapy, Thrombolysis, Doppler scanning, IV, PICC and CVP care.

Main duties of the job
Working within our department, your main duties will include:

• Organising and participating in the delivery of high standards of evidence-based nursing care.
• Taking responsibility to carry out required planned, direct patient care to a high standard without direct supervision, in accordance with established nursing procedures and policies.
• Contributing towards the health promotion for all patients by provided education, support and advice as necessary, ensuring referral to appropriate professionals or agencies as required.
• In the absence of senior staff, taking responsibility for the delegation and supervision of appropriate work to other qualified staff, healthcare support workers and students.
• Where relevant, be responsible and assist in the co-ordination of discharge planning in partnership with the multidisciplinary team.
• Taking personal responsibility for treating all patients with courtesy, respecting their individual needs and maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Ensuring provision of a safe and therapeutic environment for all patients, relatives, visitors and colleagues.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities
For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.

Main Duties and Responsibilities (In addition to the duties listed earlier in the advert):

• Organise and participate in the delivery of high standards of evidence-based nursing care.
• Take regular responsibility to carry out required planned, direct patient care to a high standard without direct supervision in accordance with established nursing procedures and policies.
• To report to the appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team any significant changes in a patients condition or situation.
• Responsible for taking charge of the ward/department on a regular basis in the absence of the person who has continuing responsibility.
• Take personal responsibility as a team leader for the delivery of care of patients in a defined area.
• To contribute towards health promotion for all patients by providing education, support and advice, as necessary Ensure referral to appropriate professionals or agencies as required.
• Ensure the safe ordering, administration and custody of patients medication according to Trust policies and procedures.
• In the absence of senior staff be responsible for delegation and supervision of appropriate work to other qualified staff, health care assistants and students
• Where relevant to be responsible for and assist in co-ordinating discharge planning in partnership with the multidisciplinary team
• Where relevant, responsible for the admission, assessment and preparation of patients undergoing treatment or investigations.
• Escort patients to other wards or departments as required.
• To take personal responsibility for ensuring that patients are treated with courtesy at all times, the individual needs of patients are respected and confidentiality is maintained at all times.
• Liase effectively with other disciplines or departments as appropriate.
• To be able to act in emergency situations and to be familiar with emergency procedures including fire and resuscitation.
• To be responsible for the support and direction of junior staff in such situations according to Trust policy.
• To be responsible for ensuring provision of a safe and therapeutic environment for all patients, relatives, visitors and colleagues.
• Ensure the readiness for use of special equipment and the availability of nursing supplies in conjunction with the senior ward nurses.
• Ensure the safe custody of patients valuables and property according to Trust policies.
• Report to nurse in charge/line manager all complaints, incidents or accidents involving self, staff, patients, visitors and complete relevant documentation according to Trust procedure.
• Be responsible for reporting and documenting any broken or damaged equipment according to Trust policy.
• To have detailed knowledge of Manual handling regulations particularly with regards to the moving and handling of patients.
• To be responsible for ensuring that assessment of patients manual handling needs are carried out and ensure junior staff and students follow these requirements in the course of care delivery.
• Ensure safe storage and disposal of substances hazardous to health in accordance with Trust policy. Ensure availability of facilities for disposal of sharps, toxic/cytoxic waste in accordance with trust policy.
• In support of senior staff or ward manager assist with monitoring and report to ensure stock levels are maintained and that the correct quantities are in supply.
• Monitor the use of supplies by junior staff to promote efficient use of all supplies.
• To be aware of the directorate bleep holding function.
• To have an awareness of the requirements for staffing the ward or department.
• Undertake aspects of ward administration as agreed by the ward /department manage.
• Report reliably any episodes of sickness for self or that are reported to you to the Registered nurse in charge to enable skill mix to be maintained.

Working Conditions/Effort

• Nursing staff may be required to work in any location owned, managed or attributed to the Trust sites depending on the demands of the service.
• Workloads may be unpredictable on a day to day basis and variations in activity should be expected
• Staff are required to walk or stand for the majority of the shift time.
• Weekend and night working may be expected as part of the role, unless otherwise agreed with relevant managers.
• Manual handling of loads and patients using the appropriate aids and assessments will be required on all shifts.
• Pushing commodes, trolleys, beds and other furniture according to manual handling policies may be required on all shifts.
• Contact with blood and bodily fluids on all shifts.
• The staff nurse may be expected to deal with distressed, violent or aggressive (verbally or physically) patients and relatives on occasion.
• The requirement to take responsibility for nursing acutely ill and vulnerable patients at times.
• Due to the nature of the workload staff will be required to concentrate at a high level often during the shift in relation to carrying out instructions/documentation/communication. This will involve the use of computer screens for short periods of time.
• The staff nurse will be required to be responsible for multiple tasks, delegation, other staff/carers and patients simultaneously frequently throughout a shift.
• Staff maybe required to act quickly and immediately in the event of emergencies or other unexpected events within the ward area.

Person Specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Adult Nurse, with current live Registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Teaching and assessing qualification or willing to undertake after 2 years post registration (secured a position on this type of course)

Work Experience
Essential

• Expectation to undertake training for extended roles required by the ward / department. i.e. IV drug administration, Cannulation, venepuncture, ECGs, male catheterisation, PCA and Epidural training
• Currently working in a hospital setting, as a Qualified Nurse or a Qualifying Student

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Essential

• Advanced communication skills, verbal & written, to include report writing and record keeping
• Excellent interpersonal skills with patients and multidisciplinary team
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Basic computer / IT skills and expectation to develop these in line with the needs of the service i.e. IHS, Acis, Email use.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.