Job summary
To coordinate and supervise a shift, communicating effectively with members of a multidisciplinary team to deliver high quality, evidence-led care to patients. 2. To exercise clinical judgment and decision making about patient needs in terms of long term goals or plans. 3. To participate fully in the day to day organization and running of clinical trials including the recruitment, education and monitoring of patients entering a clinical trial and liaison as required with trial sponsors. 4. To assume personal accountability for nursing care delivered to a patient in accordance with the NMC code of conduct. There is an expectation for post holders: o To promote a safe clinical environment for all patients, visitors and staff o To participate in Trust initiatives around infection control and care quality indicators o To assist with any local or trust initiatives to ensure the continuous improvement of the quality of services and safeguarding of high standards of care 5. To help foster a supportive working environment and maintain staff morale

The Senior Staff Nurse is responsible for assisting the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse in the management of the clinical environment and for the management of shifts. At Senior Staff Nurse level, the post holder is required to take responsibility for the management and development of a team of employees under the supervision of the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse.

Main duties of the job
To complete the first level assessment of patients with cancer and their families to gain an understanding of their physiological, psycho-social, spiritual and cultural needs and to develop a positive, realistic and supportive attitude to ensure that these needs are met. This will include: Counterchecking patients' vital signs, blood results, patient body surface area, chemotherapy prescription and consent before administration of treatment. Educating patients on their treatment such as indications and side effects. Ensuring necessary medication and follow up appointments are obtained.To plan, document, deliver and evaluate care plans from admission through to discharge / transfer discussing this with the patient, their family and multi-disciplinary teams and to alert the Sister/Charge Nurse of any changes. To set goals for each of the identified nursing issues and encourage / teach other nursing staff to do the same. To help the patient achieve set goals through care planning. As a specialist cancer nurse, to assess the educational and informational needs of the patient and family. This includes producing and using appropriate materials to ensure optimum understanding of nursing care and the likely outcome.

About us
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

Job responsibilities
To provide skilled care and expertise in venepuncture and/or cannulation. To assess patients for a suitable central venous access device. To provide education to patients on the care and management of central venous access devices and to adopt a problem solving approach to managing complications with all vascular access devices. To be knowledgeable of any treatment in progress in the specialty they are working in, and to adopt a problem solving approach to symptom management and minimizing adverse reactions.Once suitably trained and dependent on the clinical area, administer check cytotoxic drugs, intravenous antibiotics, novel therapies, trial drugs and supportive therapies, including all necessary blood products. To look after all patients in protective and contact isolation as necessary with strict infection control measures, while educating and giving psychosocial support to them, their families and more junior members of staff. To assist research nurses in the care of patients undergoing clinical trials and adhere to the principle of informed consent and advocacy. Administer medicines as prescribed with adherence to Guidelines for Medicines Administration (NMC2002) and The Royal Marsden Medicines Management Policy. This will exclude administration by the intravenous route or through subcutaneous syringe driver until you have passed the written drug administration test and have been assessed as competent.

Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse with active NMC registration
• First level degree in related subject or prepared to work towards this
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Be willing to undertake Trust CNS role development programme or be able to demonstrate equivalent competencies
• Experience of working in Urology

Desirable

• Research qualification
• Level 2 psychological skills training as per recognised course or working towards
• Advanced Communications Skills Training or working towards
• Post-basic qualification in cancer/palliative care or relevant subject

Experience
Essential

• Relevant post registration experience, at Band 5 or above, in urology, cancer or palliative care
• Experience of multi-professional working
• Experience of Audit

Desirable

• Experience of teaching
• Experience of research
• Leadership and management experience
• Evidence of advanced communications skills

Skills Abilities/knowledge
Essential

• IT literate
• Organisation and negotiation skills
• Effective communication
• Ability to motivate self and others
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Flexible attitude to working
• Fully understands the safeguarding of vulnerable populations
• Venepuncture/IV cannulation

Desirable

• Project leadership /management experience Teaching/assessment and presentation skills
• Leadership and motivational skills

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