Job summary
A Band 5 Intensive Care Nurse at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) is responsible for delivering high-quality, patient-centred care to critically ill patients by assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating individualised care plans. The role involves acting as a named nurse, coordinating patient care and discharge planning, supporting patients and their families, maintaining accurate documentation, and working closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure safe and effective care. The post holder is also expected to contribute to quality improvement, clinical governance, education, and mentorship activities while developing specialist critical care knowledge and competencies in line with national ICU standards.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver high-quality, patient-centred nursing care to critically ill patients within the Intensive Care Unit.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualised programmes of care as a named nurse.
• Monitor patients' condition, respond promptly to clinical changes, and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure safe and effective care.
• Coordinate discharge planning and support patients and families throughout the care journey.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and ensure patient confidentiality at all times.
• Promote health education and provide information to patients and carers to support informed decision-making.
• Contribute to maintaining a safe clinical environment and adhere to Trust policies, professional standards, and infection prevention practices.
• Participate in clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, and risk management activities to enhance patient outcomes.
• Support the teaching, supervision, and development of students, newly qualified nurses, and healthcare support workers.
• Develop specialist critical care knowledge and competencies through ongoing professional education and training.

About us
We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17,600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people. We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners. By working together, we make a real difference for our patients, each other, and our community. Every role matters in delivering the exceptional, person-centred care we're proud of. We're committed to a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is championed, differences are valued, and diversity makes us stronger. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We prioritise staff wellbeing - and yes, we even have a pool! Discover what it's like to live and work in Bath, explore our RUH staff benefits, and learn how we're building healthcare for the future through the Dyson Cancer Centre and our commitment to research.

Job responsibilities
Deliver safe, effective, patient-centred care to critically ill patients requiring intensive monitoring and support. Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care plans. Monitor and interpret complex physiological observations and act appropriately on any changes in patient condition. Manage patients requiring:

• Mechanical ventilation
• Non-invasive ventilation (NIV)
• Tracheostomy care
• Renal replacement therapy
• Invasive haemodynamic monitoring
• Vasoactive and inotropic support

Administer medications safely in accordance with Trust policies and NMC guidelines. Perform advanced nursing procedures within competency levels. Recognise and respond promptly to signs of clinical deterioration. Participate in emergency situations, including cardiac arrests and major incidents. Maintain accurate and clear patient records in accordance with Trust Policy.

Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Ability to work collaboratively within a busy critical care environment
• Ability to assess, monitor, and respond to deteriorating patients
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and vulnerable patients.

Desirable

• Experience supporting student nurses, newly qualified nurses, or healthcare support Workers
• Experience using electronic patient record systems such as Cerner or others hospital systems
• Participation in clinical audits, research, quality improvement projects, or evidence-based practice initiatives

Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Registered Nurse with NMC registration (Part 1)
• Previous experience in an acute Hospital setting (medica, surgical, ED, theatres, HDU or ICU).
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

• Previous Critical Care or High Dependency experience.
• Knowledge of national critical care standards (e.g Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and Intensive Care Society guidance).
• Completion of preceptorship programme
• Immediate Life Support (ILS) certification
• Experience caring for patients requiring invasive monitoring or organ support

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. 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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.