Please note that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. So if you are interested, please apply for this vacancy as soon as you can.

Job overview

Band 5 Staff Nurse – South Bristol Dialysis Unit

So, you’re eager to learn more about Registered Nursing opportunities within our Renal department at North Bristol NHS Trust. Here are some of the reasons we’re unique… 

• The South Bristol Dialysis Unit is located at the Knowle West Health Park, Knowle, Bristol, BS4 1WH. This unit is run by the part of the Richard Bright Renal Unit, a regional renal transplant centre with five Haemodialysis Satellite Units across the South West area. The renal unit also has an acute haemodialysis unit, an inpatient renal dialysis and renal transplant ward based in the Brunel Building, Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

• As a nurse working in our service, you will be supported to learn the skills required to manage patients requiring renal replacement, both haemodialysis/haemodiafiltration and peritoneal dialysis, as well as gaining experience looking after those patients who have undergone a kidney transplant. 
• Development opportunities- you will develop expert skills in Haemodialysis and renal specialist care and have access to educational opportunities to attend renal specialist courses.

 We currently have opportunities available for: 

• Experienced Registered Nurses with current NMC Registration 
• Newly Qualified and Newly Qualifying Nurses 

Main duties of the job

The Role: As a Staff Nurse within our department, key duties will include:

• Providing specialist nursing care for a group of patients with multiple complex needs with end-stage renal failure that requires haemodialysis, therefore requiring the use of haemodialysis technology

• Assessment and observation of patients and administering medication

• Opportunity to take charge of the ward with a Band 6 colleague to develop co-ordination and leadership skills

Patients attending haemodialysis undergo treatment to remove waste products from the blood stream using a dialysis machine. As kidney failure is a long term condition, patients and staff develop long term professional relationships. Patient treatment can take them through transfers to other treatment modes for example transplantation or peritoneal dialysis and supportive care for those patients nearing the end of their lives.

We support our patients to work jointly with staff in decision making on their treatment and active involvement in the treatment procedure through shared and self-care programmes.

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead.  We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Bristol is consistently voted the best place to live in the UK, with vibrant local music, arts and gastronomic scenes, a wide range of modern and state of the art shopping, recreation and leisure facilities, a wealth of great local family days out, fantastic transport links for local, national and internal holidays, and it has a rich history. 

For band 5 Registered Nurses and ODPs, relocation support may be available. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF 

Knowledge, Training Experience and Skills Required

• Registered nurse, Current NMC Registration
• Post registration experience in an acute setting.
• Haemodialysis experience, with the ability to problem solve without direct supervision.
• Completion of all haemodialysis competencies
• Completion of renal drug competencies.
• Current intravenous certificate and evidence of drug and blood administration during haemodialysis treatment.
• Renal Course or equivalent.
• Evidence of taking charge and patient management and decision making within a haemodialysis unit.
• Undertake appropriate education and training programme Facilitated Learning and Assessment in Practice (FLAP) or equivalent
• Evidence of regular participation in learning activities within the clinical setting
• Evidence of teaching, assessing and mentorship of new nurses to the unit, students including nurses undertaking post basic education & NVQ
• NVQ Assessor course
• Experience in using relevant patient administration systems & trust computer systems such as requesting diagnostics, accessing results and email.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a nursing & multi-professional team.
• Be able to demonstrate the ability to prioritise & delegate work appropriately adjust & alter work patterns & priorities to meet changes in patient condition or treatment alterations, medical, technical or nursing.
• Ability to carry out complex haemodialysis procedures when required to ensure patients treatment is safely managed.
• Accountable for own actions and of the actions of HCAs and new staff under your supervision.
• Ability to deal with emergency situations in relation to changes in patient condition whilst on haemodialysis and take prompt and appropriate action, directing other staff members and ensuring all other patients in the unit are supported.
• Good communication skills with both patients and nursing colleagues within the unit,
• Establish and maintain relationships with all members of the multi-disciplinary team communicating effectively both verbally and in writing to those who contribute to patient care and work at a distance in the main unit.
• Ability to negotiate treatment plans with patients demonstrating an understanding of the long term implications in relation to chronic illness
• Contribute to the provision of a safe and therapeutic environment.
• Develop own clinical skills relevant to the total care needs of named patients.
• Participate in ward unit and multi-disciplinary meetings, link nurse meeting attending the main unit as required and providing feedback to colleagues within the satellite unit.
• Ability to carry out high quality nursing care.
• Ability to teach and demonstrate nursing skills and supervise new staff, learner nurses and Healthcare Assistants promoting high standards of nursing care and haemodialysis competence.
• Take responsibility for the education of Healthcare Assistants and act as an assessor as necessary.
• Ability to undertake the physical skills required providing holistic direct nursing care to patients within a ward environment.

 Main Duties and Responsibilities 

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual patient’s care. Carry out haemodialysis treatment for a defined caseload of patients.
• Take responsibility for the care of named patients in a defined clinical area and act as a named nurse in line with the recommendations in the NHS Constitution 2015
• Take charge regularly of a ward in the absence of the person who has continuing responsibility, planning and adjusting the ongoing treatment regimens of patient’s dependant of the patient’s condition.
• Be able to prioritise allocation of work and patient care within the dialysis unit depending on complexity of patient care and experience of junior staff within the team.
• Review patient biochemistry monthly, adjusting dialysis treatment regimes accordingly in line with local protocol.
• Provide accurate clinical assessments of patient’s general medical condition and potential haemodialysis complications for any patient who attends for treatment with signs of altered well-being.
• Carry out routine assessments of all named patients relating to their ongoing haemodialysis treatment regimes, communicating actions and areas requiring medical review at both routine outpatient appointments and monthly consultant visits.
• Ensure all patient assessments and care plans are updated following any alteration to treatment regimes, changes in condition or admissions to hospital.
• Provide verbal and written reports on the condition of patients in line with North Bristol NHS Trust Policies and Procedures & the NMC Code
• By phone, email and renal proton computer system to ensure colleagues have up to date information, dietician, transplant co-ordinator and specialist nurse
• Inform Medical staff of situations where your clinical assessment of the patient requires immediate transfer of patients to the main unit for further medical assessment or treatment.
• Liaise with the Admission/Discharge Nurses or Clinical Site Team to arrange admission/transfer of patients where necessary into the acute ward area or within the Trust as appropriate.
• Liaise with GP’s and community services where appropriate to ensure continuity of care, including updating them on changes to patient treatments.
• Work with the renal bed manager to ensure patients are transferred from the main unit to the satellite unit in a timely manner, assessing initial dialysis needs based on all information available at that time.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times, whilst ensuring sensitive information is handled with respect and in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Contribute to the development and stability of the nursing team.
• Ensure all Trust Policies and Procedures are known and followed.
• Ensure staffs follows all specialist renal policies/procedures relating to haemodialysis treatment. E.G Blood Borne Virus Protocol.
• Act as a preceptor for new staff to the unit.
• Act in the role of mentor for staff.
• Recommend and contribute to the implementation of acceptably economic practices for the optimum promotion of effective and efficient nursing service.
• Order stores, check stock on arrival to the unit contacting specialist suppliers, NHS supplies or Southmead Pharmacy if evidence of any discrepancies, arrange appropriate change or further delivery as necessary.
• Check the readiness for use of specialised equipment carry out routine testing and problem solving actions in line with local procedures.
• Monitor use of equipment and remove from the clinical area where faults are suspected. Inform the renal technicians and complete appropriate paperwork.
• Ensure the safe custody of patient’s valuables and property in line with Trust Policies and Procedures.
• Ensure the safe keeping of medicines in compliance with Trust Policies and Procedures.
• Will contribute to unit wide clinical governance initiatives including participate in multi- professional research or audit programmes and use evidence and research to support clinical practice.
• Report all accidents and incidents involving staff, patients, visitors, self or any other person within the clinical area to the nurse in charge or the Head of Nursing, as soon as practicable according to required procedures.
• Promote and participate in Health Education both personally and with all patients and relatives as appropriate.
• Contribute to the assessment process of nurses undertaking post-registration education.
• Act as a link nurse contributing to patient education as and if appropriate as agreed with Ward Manager.
• Contribute to developmental initiatives both within the Renal Unit and the Trust.
• Contribute to own Individual Performance Reviews.
• Such other reasonable duties, appropriate to the grade including working on other wards in the Renal Unit at the request of the Head of Nursing, deputy or Renal Bleep holder according to the needs of the service

 Working Conditions/Effort 

• The post holder will be required to care for patients with all levels of mobility/immobility using both manual and electronic aids as necessary for patient safety and comply with manual handling procedures and assessments.
• The post holder will be required to assist in the moving/pushing of specialist equipment required for patient care, including beds and dialysis machines on a regular basis.
• Undertake routine haemodialysis treatment within the timescales for the unit.
• Ability to adapt to changing workload at different times in the shift to ensure patients are safely managed throughout their treatment.
• Will be required to stand or sit in positions that cannot be easily changed when carrying out difficult needling procedures.
• Ability to work in an area where wards take direct admissions from the community and other regional hospitals, meeting the patient requirements where patients’ conditions is not clearly predictable and will require emergency lifesaving treatment.
• Provide emotional support to patients and their carers/relatives in both emotional and distressing situations.
• The post holder will be required to carry out invasive procedures on a routine basis with a varying degree of complexity requiring periods of concentration.
• Will be required to follow universal precautions and infection control policies at all times when dealing with blood and body fluids which is an integral part of treatment process.
• This post has the potential for interaction with patients/relatives who display aggressive behaviour. This may be a one off incident or tendency for aggressive behaviour, which is displayed on a routine basis. Report such incidents through E-AIMS as the nurse in charge of the unit, may be required to diffuse situations or seek advice from the Clinical Matron, Head of Nursing or Clinical Site Team as appropriate. Follow all specialist care plans relating to such behaviour patterns and report changes to the senior nurse on the unit.

Person specification Qualification Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse
• Completion of specialist renal competencies.

Desirable criteria

• Teaching and asessing qualification FLAP

Experience Essential criteria

• Previous experience in a healthcare environment
• Post registration experience in an acute hospital setting.

Desirable criteria

• Recent renal haemodialysis experience

If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from this Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

Please note that this Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.

This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.

Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post. Please refer to the ‘Information for Prospective Employees’ attachment for information relating to DBS charges.

To find out more or to apply for this role please click on the APPLY button.