Job Summary
The heart failure nurse plays a critical role in the management and care of patients diagnosed with heart failure.The successful candidate will display a thorough understanding of heart failure pathophysiology, treatment modalities, and the ability to recognize early signs of deterioration. Candidates should have strong clinical assessment and advanced history taking skills, excellent communication abilities, and a passion for patient education and advocacy.

For the correct candidate this role would support professional development progression from band 6 to band 7 including training for; Clinical assessment and advanced history taking, Heart Failure Management and Independent Non-Medical Prescribing (V300), enabling the post holder to further enhance patient care and clinical decision-making. To allow progression the candidate would need to display completion of the Heart Failure Nurse competency framework as outlined by the British Society Of Heart Failure

Main Duties of the Job

• Assessing patients with heart failure, providing clinical decision-making, and developing care plans to optimise medications and alternative therapies within the community outpatient setting
• Assessing patients with heart failure, providing clinical decision-making, and developing care plans to optimise medications and alternative therapies within the acute intravenous diuretic outpatient capacity
• Managing medications including or working towards non-medical prescribing.
• To provide patient, family and carer education and psychological care, promoting self-management strategies to minimise risk of hospitalisation from decompensated heart failure
• Collaborating with other healthcare professionals through primary, secondary or private care services to ensure coordinated care and timely escalation of care needs.

About Us
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - BHT - A great place to work (buckshealthcare.nhs.uk)

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We're committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Job Description
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person Specification
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential

• Registered General Nurse - Currently registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council
• MSc in nursing or working towards
• Cardiology experience
• ENB 998/ Mentorship Course

Desirable

• Assessment and diagnostic experience and qualification or willing to work towards.
• Independent non-medical prescribing qualification or willing to work towards
• Post registration cardiac specialist heart failure qualification e.g. Caledonian
• Advanced Life Support Course
• Substantial experience in delivering community based cardiac care

EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Evidence of continued professional development related to cardiology.
• Experience of managing Heart Failure conditions
• Evidence of ability to measure and evaluate outcomes of audits of cardiology patients
• A significant contribution to practice and service development

Desirable

• Evidence of effective budget and resource management
• Experience in delivering formal and informal education and teaching self-management to complex patients / patient groups

SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Excellent communication skills: interpersonal, written and verbal
• Understanding of evidence-based practice

Desirable

• Leadership and management skills
• Innovative and motivated
• Reflective practitioner

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Essential

• Car driver- able to travel between sites and to external meetings
• Ability to work as a team and form professional relationships with colleagues

Desirable

• Experience with finance, budget management

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.

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