Purpose of the Post The Pre-Assessment Clinic operates in accordance with evidence-based policies and protocols, including guidelines on anticoagulation bridging, consent, safe site surgery, and preoperative assessment.
Additionally, it adheres to all relevant hospital policies that support best practices.
The CNM 2 in Pre-Assessment provides both clinical and managerial leadership within the unit, working in close collaboration with visiting and in-house consultants, the anaesthesia department, the Day Surgery Unit, and outpatient departments.
This multidisciplinary approach ensures the optimal utilization of day care facilities and enhances patient care.
In this role, the CNM 2 is responsible for conducting comprehensive pre-operative nursing assessments for patients undergoing a range of surgical procedures.
This includes performing detailed evaluations, obtaining baseline outcome measurements, and ensuring all necessary investigations and results are reviewed before admission to determine the patient's suitability for general anaesthesia or sedation.
The CNM 2 in Pre-Assessment collaborates closely with Anaesthesiologists and Surgeons to address any medical concerns related to anaesthesia and surgical procedures.
They also liaise with General Practitioners (GPs) and other healthcare professionals to facilitate appropriate referrals, ensuring the patient's pre-operative health is fully optimized.
Additionally, the Pre-Assessment Nurse oversees the seamless coordination of care both before and during the patient's admission, enhancing patient safety and surgical outcomes.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities 1) Professional / Clinical • Manage patient care to ensure the highest professional standards using an evidence based, care planning approach.
• Provide a high level of professional and clinical leadership.
• Be responsible for the co-ordination, assessment, planning, delivery and review of service user care by all staff in the Day Surgery Unit and OPD
• Provide safe, comprehensive nursing care to service users within the guidelines laid out by An Bord Altranais.
• Practice nursing according to:
• Professional Clinical Guidelines
• National and Area Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines.
• Local policies, protocols and guidelines
• Current legislation
• Manage own caseload in accordance with the needs of the post.
• Participate in teams / meetings / committees as appropriate, communicating and working in co-operation with other team members.
• Facilitate co-ordination, co-operation and liaison across healthcare teams and programmes.
• Collaborate with service users, family, carers and other staff in treatment / care planning and in the provision of support and advice.
• Assist with the development of assessment and referral protocols and guidelines with the anaesthetic, surgical, medical and nursing staff.
• Perform and document nursing pre-operative assessment in the relevant pre-assessment proforma.
This includes patient history, health screening and carrying out a nursing assessment.
He/she will give pre-operative advice and support and initiate appropriate referral to other members of the multi-disciplinary team, as part of the patient's surgical pathway
• Organise relevant pre-operative investigations as per protocol e.g.
blood tests, ECG, x-rays and pulmonary function tests and communicate abnormalities to the relevant clinicians.
• Exercise clinical judgement and decision making about patients' needs in terms of suitability for surgery, consulting Clinicians as necessary.
• Liaise and/or refer to GP's and Clinicians to ensure pre-operative health is optimised.
• Promote lifestyle changes to patients, as indicated, e.g.
weight loss, smoking cessation.
• Communicate verbally and / or in writing results of assessments, treatment / care programmes and recommendations to the team and relevant others in accordance with service policy.
• Plan discharge or transition of the service user between services as appropriate.
• Ensure that service users and others are treated with dignity and respect.
• Maintain nursing records in accordance with local service and professional standards.
• Adhere to and contribute to the development and maintenance of nursing standards, protocols and guidelines consistent with the highest standards of patient care.
• Evaluate and manage the implementation of best practice policy and procedures e.g.
admission and discharge procedures, control and usage of stocks and equipment, grievance and disciplinary procedures.
• Maintain professional standards in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation.
• In consultation with Senior Nurse Management and other disciplines, implement and assess quality management programmes.
• Collect data relevant to National pre-assessment KPI's and present same at the user group meetings.
• Participate in clinical audit as required.
• Initiate and participate in research studies as appropriate.
• Devise and implement Health Promotion Programmes for service users as relevant to the post.
• Operate within the scope of practice - seek advice and assistance from his / her manager with any cases or issues that prove to be beyond the scope of his / her professional competence in line with principles of best practice and clinical governance.
2) Risk Management, Quality, Health & Safety · Adequately identifies, assesses, manages and monitors risk within their area of responsibility.
· Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
3) Education & Training The CNM2 Pre-assessment will:
· Maintain accurate records of patient referrals, treatment and outcome for purposes of audit and presentation of service outcomes.
· Work with service users and other stakeholders to evaluate the impact of pre-operative assessment service on practice and patient focused outcomes.
· Initiate and participate in appropriate research and audit as required and implement findings into service.
· Demonstrate initiatives in the development of new knowledge and clinical skills aiming to ensure practice is evidence based.
· Work closely with Line Manager and to ensure that the provision of relevant statistical information is co-ordinated and the potential for duplication is reduced.
· Engage in continuing professional development by keeping up to date with nursing literature, recent nursing research and new developments in nursing management, education and practice and to attend staff study days as considered appropriate.
· Be familiar with the curriculum training programme for student nurses and be aware of the clinical experience required to meet the needs of the programme.
· Participate in the identification, development and delivery of induction, education, training and development programmes for nursing and non-nursing staff.
· Supervise and assess student nurses and foster a clinical learning environment.
· Engage in performance review processes including personal development planning as appropriate.
· Engage in the HSE performance achievement process in conjunction with your Line Manager and staff as appropriate.
4) Management · Exercise authority for the smooth operation of pre-assessment in the Day Surgery Unit and the OPD.
· Provide the necessary supervision, co-ordination and deployment of nursing and support staff to ensure the optimum delivery of care in the Day Surgery Unit and the OPD.
· Manage communication at ward and departmental level and facilitate team building.
· Provide staff leadership and motivation which is conducive to good working relations and work performance.
· Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
· Formulate, implement and evaluate service plans and budgets in co-operation with the wider healthcare team.
· Manage all resources efficiently and effectively within agreed budget.
· Lead on practice development within the clinical area.
· Lead and implement change.
· Promote, facilitate and participate in the development of nursing policies and procedures.
Monitor as appropriate and lead on proactive improvement.
· Contribute to the formulation, development and implementation of policies and procedures at area and hospital level.
· Ensure compliance with legal requirements, policies and procedures affecting service users, staff and other hospital matters.
· Network with Pre-Assessment CNM's in various hospitals and participate in external meetings relevant to pre-assessment.
· Actively participate in the Nursing Management structure by 'acting up' when required.
· Maintain all necessary clinical and administrative records and reporting arrangements.
· Engage in IT developments as they apply to service user and service administration.
The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. Eligibility Criteria Qualifications and/ or experience Each candidate must, at the latest date for receipt of completed applications for the post: 1.
Professional Qualifications & Experience · Be registered in the General Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) or be entitled to be so registered
AND · Have at least 5 years post registration experience of which 2 must be in the Pre-assessment, Theatre /Endoscopy and/or Anaesthetic or Day Surgery area.
AND · Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role
AND · Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development at the appropriate level, with background clinical experience in Endoscopy, Theatre OR Day Surgery.
Please note that appointment to and continuation in posts that require statutory registration is dependent upon the post holder maintaining annual registration in the relevant division of the register maintained by: An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing Midwifery Board Ireland)
Health A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Character Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
Post Specific Requirements Demonstrate extensive experience and expertise in delivering pre-assessment services within an acute hospital setting, ensuring high standards of patient evaluation and perioperative care relevant to the role.
Other requirements specific to the post A flexible approach to working hours is required and the successful candidate may be required to provide out of hours cover to Nursing Management if necessary.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge Candidates must:
• Demonstrate the ability to work on own initiative
• Demonstrate the ability to lead on clinical practice and service quality.
• Demonstrate promotion of evidence-based decision-making.
• Demonstrate practitioner competence and professionalism.
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and organise effectively.
• Demonstrate the ability to build, lead and manage a team.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build and maintain
relationships.
• Demonstrate strong communication and influencing skills.
• Demonstrate initiative and innovation in the delivery of service.
• Demonstrate resilience and composure.
• Demonstrate openness to change.
• Demonstrate integrity and ethical stance.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development.
• Demonstrate the ability to relate nursing research to nursing practice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of quality assurance practices and their application to
nursing procedures.
• Demonstrate an awareness of Clinical Programmes / Initiatives relevant to Pre- assessment / Pre-admission services, the National Clinical Programme for Anaesthesia - Model of Care for Pre-admission
• Demonstrate an awareness of HR policies and procedures including disciplinary procedures, managing attendance etc.
• Demonstrate an awareness of relevant legislation and policy e.g.
legislation relevant to the service area, health and safety, infection control etc.
• Demonstrate an awareness of current and emerging nursing strategies and policies in relation to the clinical / designated area.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the Health Service Transformation Programme.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the HSE Model of Care for Elective Surgery
• Demonstrate a willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role.
• Flexibility to move to various areas to maintain continuity of patient care.
Campaign Specific Selection Process Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form.
The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification.
Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not progressing to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process, (where applied,) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in 'bands' depending on the service needs of the organisation.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion The HSE is an equal opportunities employer.
Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation.
The HSE believes passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to its success – we aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives.
Ultimately this will result in improved service user and employee experience.
The HSE is committed to creating a positive working environment whereby all employees inclusive of age, civil status, disability, ethnicity and race, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, religion and sexual orientation are respected, valued and can reach their full potential.
The HSE aims to achieve this through development of an organisational culture where injustice, bias and discrimination are not tolerated.
The HSE welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and offers a range of supports and resources to staff, such as those who require a reasonable accommodation at work because of a disability or long- term health condition.
Read more about the HSE's commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Code of Practice The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA).
The CPSA is responsible for establishing the principles to be followed when making an appointment.
These are set out in the CPSA Code of Practice.
The Code outlines the standards to be adhered to at each stage of the selection process and sets out the review and appeal mechanisms open to candidates should they be unhappy with a selection process.
Read the CPSA Code of Practice.
The reform programme outlined for the health services may impact on this role, and as structures change the Job Specification may be reviewed.
This Job Specification is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder.
It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
CVs will not be accepted for this position, please complete and upload the appllication form attached to the job advert