Job summary
We are looking for exceptional and committed Band 5 nurses to provide outstanding care for our complex patients. If you are eager to learn and develop new skills, have good communication and assessment skills and would relish a challenging opportunity in Critical Care this is the post you have been waiting for.

Adult Critical Care comprises of three main units:

Adult Intensive Care (AICU - QMC), a 29-bedded Intensive Care Unit which facilitates the treatment of seriously ill patients with failure of one or more organ systems.

High Dependency Unit (HDU/E12 - QMC) has 20 beds and is an area which facilitates the care of patients who require high dependency nursing.

Specialties for both units include neurosurgery, neurology, gastroenterology, major trauma, hepatobiliary, vascular, spinal, ENT and maxillo-facial surgery.

Critical Care Department (CCD - City Campus) is a17 bedded purpose built unit comprised of intensive care and high dependency beds. Specialities catered for include: thoracics, burns, haematology, oncology, gastroenterology, renal, upper GI surgery, respiratory, general medical and surgical patients.

It is mandatory that you rotate to all of the critical care units and that you work both days and night shifts.

Please note this advert may close early if demand is high. You will also be expected to attend the interview face to face.

Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for providing care for patients who are Critically ill. The patients may have failure of one or more organs and require varying amounts of support. They may be mechanically ventilated and sedated or be on high amounts of oxygen. They may have invasive lines, needing inotropic infusions and will be closely monitored. Some patient may require additional support such as hemofiltration.

You will be responsible for assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating nursing care in a timely manner. You will work closely with your team.

After a settling in period you will be expected to mentor students and will be encouraged to join a link team or be involved with projects.

About us
With over 20,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.

Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.

Job responsibilities
Your responsibilities will include:-

• Accountability for the safe, effective delivery of high clinical standards of care and patient satisfaction
• Assess the care needs of patients and develop a programme of care which is evaluated and amended as appropriate
• Embrace and promote trust values and behaviours required to deliver an excellent patient and staffexperience, ensuring patient satisfaction and staff retention.
• Share knowledge and learning with peers and students using skills in mentorship and clinical supervision to ensure competencies are maintained.
• Using effective communication with patients and relatives to maximise productivity as well as maintain high standards of patient led care.
• Ensuring that your Professional Revalidation demonstrates new knowledge, innovations and evidence based practice
• You will be required to work variable hours including nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Person Specification
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust values and behavioural framework

Training &Qualifications
Essential

• NMC Registered Adult Nurse
• Diploma in health/nursing-related studies
• Enhanced CRB clearance.
• Completion of the Critical Care National Lead Nurses (CC3N) Steps Competencies Level 1, or willing to work towards.

Desirable

• Degree in health related studies or equivalent academic standard
• Formal Teaching or Mentoring qualification.
• An accredited postgraduate Critical Care Nursing course at either Level 6 or 7.
• Completion of the Critical Care National Lead Nurses (CC3N) Steps competencies, Levels 2 and 3.
• Completion of the Critical Care National Lead Nurses (CC3N) Bolt-on competencies in either Burns, Neuro, or Maternity.

Communication and Relationship skills
Essential

• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrate clear communication in high-pressure situations, such as medical emergencies.
• Recognition of own level of competence and limitations and able to communicate these to senior staff and seek help when needed.

Desirable

• Demonstration of team working and ability to work within a team
• Aware of human factors in clinical practice and how these can affect clinical outcomes.

Analytical and Judgement Skills
Essential

• Ability to identify own learning needs and proactively work to address these in line with the local or national competency frameworks
• Demonstrate an ability to assess, plan, deliver, prioritise and evaluate complex patient care
• Ability to analyse a large amount of complex clinical data and make sound clinical decisions when needed, and seek support from senior staff.
• Ability to apply a wide range of evidence-based critical or acute care skills in patient care.
• Ability to study at the degree and master's level to achieve necessary post-graduate qualifications
• Ability to work within a highly simulated environment while maintaining focus.

Desirable

• Demonstrate a knowledge of current issues related to Critical Care Services with the NHS.
• Awareness of change management within the NHS and personal roles and responsibilities in support of such programmes.

Physical skills
Essential

• Dexterity and accuracy in undertaking complex clinical skills in confined spaces.
• Ability to work within a highly simulated environment while maintaining focus.
• Competent use of a wide range of complex medical equipment.
• Able to undertake patient manual handling manoeuvres and non-patient manual handling manoeuvres. Including complex techniques such as proning, management of patients with unstable spinal injuries and transfer of complex critically ill patients from the unit to receive care or treatment
• Ability to undertake such moving and handling procedures regularly throughout a shift.
• Demonstrate ability to use a wide range of IT software, including Office 365 and electronic patient record software

Experience
Essential

• 6 months of experience caring for acutely unwell, unstable adult patients in an acute hospital setting, undertaken within the last 12 months.
• Experience using electronic patient record systems and EPMA systems
• Experience using a wide range of medical devices and technology.
• Experience working in a large team, ensuring high-quality nursing care.
• Experience in managing medical emergencies, ensuring effective teamwork.
• Experience learning and education through both high and low fidelity simulation programmes

Desirable

• 18 months post-registration critical care experience, caring for both Level 2 and 3 patients.
• Experience in delivering complex organ support, including artificial ventilation, Blood Pressure augmentation, Renal replacement therapy, etc.
• Experience in teaching and mentoring learners within the clinical area.
• Demonstrate an involvement in link nurse or project work

Planning and organisation skills
Essential

• Demonstrate an ability to prioritise own workload and recognise, prioritise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.
• Demonstrate ability to support the wider MDT with the coordination of patient care within the team.
• Demonstrate ability to manage own time to ensure achievement of role-specific training and competency achievement.

Desirable

• Formal Project or Quality Improvement training or experience.

Other requirements specific to the role (eg be able to drive or work shifts)
Essential

• Positive approach to working within other units across critical care at short notice.
• Ability to travel between campuses at short notice 7 days a week.
• Ability to work a wide range of shifts, including long days, Night duty, weekend and bank holidays.
• Ability to work a minimum of 23hrs/ week
• Ability to care for a patient in an emotionally stressful, traumatic situation, including withdrawal of life-sustaining care, and seeking support when needed.

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