Job summary
Are you a compassionate and motivated Registered Nurse with a passion for caring for older people? Do you thrive in a dynamic clinical environment where acute nursing care, rehabilitation and person-centred dementia care come together?

We are looking for a dedicated Registered Nurse to join our Healthcare for Older People ward, providing high-quality care to patients with a range of complex medical conditions, frailty, cognitive impairment and rehabilitation needs.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within a supportive multidisciplinary team, helping older people recover from acute illness, regain their independence and achieve the best possible outcomes. You will play a vital role in supporting patients living with dementia, ensuring their care is compassionate, individualised and focused on maintaining dignity, choice and quality of life.

Main duties of the job
For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients to stay healthy, when they need it most.

About us
Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within peoples own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

Its never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as youll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Details
Date posted: 20 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 185-1533-14513
Job locations: North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4JB, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.

More detail about the role
As a Registered Nurse, you will be responsible for delivering safe, effective and evidence-based nursing care to older people throughout their hospital journey. You will work collaboratively with medical colleagues, healthcare support workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other members of the multidisciplinary team to support recovery, rehabilitation and discharge planning.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating individualised nursing care for older patients with acute and complex healthcare needs.
• Recognising and responding promptly to clinical deterioration, escalating concerns and supporting timely medical intervention.
• Supporting patients through rehabilitation, promoting mobility, independence, confidence and recovery following acute illness or injury.
• Delivering compassionate, person-centred care to patients living with dementia, adapting communication and care approaches to meet individual needs.
• Recognising and responding appropriately to delirium, confusion, distress and changes in cognition or behaviour.
• Promoting a positive, dementia-friendly environment that supports orientation, reassurance, meaningful engagement and emotional wellbeing.
• Managing complex nursing needs, including medication administration, wound care, nutrition, hydration, continence and pain management.
• Preventing avoidable harm through effective falls prevention, pressure area care, infection prevention and safeguarding practices.
• Working closely with patients, families and carers to support shared decision-making and ensure care reflects individual preferences, needs and values.
• Contributing to effective multidisciplinary assessments, rehabilitation goals, discharge planning and continuity of care.
• Maintaining accurate clinical documentation and ensuring compliance with professional standards, clinical policies and best practice.
• Supporting healthcare assistants, students and junior colleagues, contributing to a positive and collaborative learning environment.

About You
We are seeking a nurse who is clinically competent, adaptable and passionate about improving outcomes for older people. You will demonstrate excellent assessment and communication skills, alongside the empathy and patience needed to support patients with frailty, complex medical conditions and dementia.

Essential criteria

• Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as an Adult Nurse.
• A commitment to delivering safe, effective, evidence-based and person-centred nursing care.
• Good clinical assessment, observation and escalation skills.
• The ability to prioritise care and respond effectively in a changing acute clinical environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to adapt communication for people living with dementia.
• An understanding of rehabilitation principles and the importance of promoting independence and functional recovery.
• A commitment to dignity, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• The ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team while maintaining professional accountability.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in acute medicine, healthcare for older people, frailty, rehabilitation or dementia care.
• Knowledge of delirium, dementia, frailty and the management of complex needs in older adults.
• Experience contributing to rehabilitation planning, discharge coordination and integrated care.
• Additional training or professional development in older people's nursing, dementia care or acute clinical assessment.

What We Offer
We are committed to supporting our nursing team to develop their skills, build confidence and deliver excellent patient care. We offer:

• A supportive and welcoming multidisciplinary working environment.
• Opportunities to develop expertise in acute care, rehabilitation, frailty and dementia care.
• Access to learning, training and continuing professional development.
• Supportive clinical leadership, supervision and opportunities for career progression.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to patients and their families during periods of illness, recovery and transition.

Why Join Our Team?
Working in Healthcare for Older People offers a rewarding opportunity to develop a broad range of clinical skills while making a real difference to patients' lives. Every day brings the opportunity to support recovery from acute illness, promote independence through rehabilitation and provide compassionate care for people living with dementia.

We value nurses who are proactive, kind, curious and committed to delivering care that sees the person beyond their diagnosis. If you share these values and want to contribute to a team dedicated to improving outcomes and experiences for older people, we would love to hear from you.

Working Pattern: 34.5 hours per week including weekends and bank holidays
Interview Date: To be confirmed
For further information please contact: Kate Barnard, Ward Manager on 01271 322330 or email katebarnard@nhs.net

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Benefits
We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we'll help you get there.

Looking after you is important to us.
We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you're starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You'll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary is not the only financial benefit
You'll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.

You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter.
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme.

These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we'd love to hear from you.

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address: North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4JB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://royaldevon.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact: Recruiter, Royal Devon NHS Recruitment Team, rduh.recruitment@nhs.net, 01392403642