Advanced Nurse Practitioner

As an advanced nurse practitioner you will work within the medical team at Nightingale House
Hospice to provide a high standard of care to patients admitted to the inpatient unit for symptom
management, end of life care or respite, as well as patients attending outpatients or the wellbeing
programme. This post offers an opportunity to develop palliative care experience and skills, within a
culture of learning and developing professionally. You will also have the opportunity to participate in
audit, teaching of GP registrars, medical students, nursing staff and disseminating knowledge to the
wider team.

The medical team consists of the medical director/GP, 2 speciality doctors, and another GP. We work
with palliative care consultants from SCUK who remotely review the patients twice a week, at a board
round. You will work alongside the nursing team, pharmacist, patient flow, rehab, family support
team, chaplain and complementary therapist to deliver care to patients with life limiting conditions.
You will deliver individualised, holistic care to patients and their loved ones, with empathy,
compassion and kindness, respecting patient's dignity and with an aim to empower them to live well
with a palliative diagnosis.
Scope of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner Role at Nightingale House

Working as an independent practitioner and non-medical prescriber the ANP is accountable and
responsible for their own actions or omissions in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code
and current guidance on advanced nursing practice. You will always work within the scope of
professional practice and guidance on advanced practice, adhering to all relevant professional, legal
and regulatory guidelines.
You will assume responsibility for own professional development and updates and maintain your own
clinical skills as appropriate with support and guidance from the medical director and director of
clinical and patient services as required for the role. You will work within the boundaries of the role
as it develops within Nightingale House and as agreed by the Medical Director and Director of Clinical
and Patient Services in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer.

There are opportunities for career development and progression to a nurse consultant depending on
interest and experience., Internal
Medical director
Director of clinical and patient services
Palliative care consultants
Hospice doctors (speciality doctors and GPs)
Patient flow team
Ward manager and deputy ward managers
Wellbeing team
Family support team
Pharmacist
Physiotherapists
Occupational therapist
Chaplain
Complementary therapist
Ward Clerk/ clinical administrators
External
General practitioners
District nurses
Secondary care teams at local hospitals
Specialist clinical nurses
Specialist palliative care team,

• Work autonomously to admit patients to the inpatient unit and care for them during their

admission for end of life care, symptom management or respite.

• Along with the rest of the medical team, nursing team and consultants, provide care for

inpatients, outpatients and patients attending wellbeing or rehab appointments if needed,
including initial assessment, daily reviews, planning and management.

• To identify and address the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of patients and

the emotional, spiritual and psychological needs of their families and friends.

• As an independent prescriber, prescribes medicines for patients in accordance with local

policies, national standards and formularies relating to independent prescribing.

• Work closely with and support the nursing team and wider MDT, maintaining positive working

relationships and close team work.

• Communicate compassionately with patients and their families regarding their condition,

treatment, prognosis and advanced care planning.

• Participate in on-call rota (1:4 or 1:8 weekends), being on-site Saturday morning and available

to attend from 9-5 Saturday and Sunday (1 day off in lieu provided following the on-call
weekend).

• Participate in clinical meetings as part of the MDT.


• Maintain clinical records and complete administrative tasks arising from medical work -

discharge summaries, GP letters following outpatient appointments, referral letters etc.

• Identifies and reports issues and incidents that may affect the quality of palliative care services.

Works with the team to ensure the delivery of a safe and effective service.

• Liaise closely with external partners - such as GPs, SPCT, district nurses, specialist clinical nurses

and secondary care.

• Develop and maintain high professional standards within the service and promote

multidisciplinary team working,
• To promote and participate in teaching and educational activity, teaching nurses, medical

students, GP registrars, colleagues, patients and families.

• To participate in clinical governance activities e.g. quality improvement activities and ensure

implementation of best practice guidelines.

• Promote the ethos of audit in the organisation and identify, support and participate in clinical

audits and evaluation of work to improve care and service delivery.

• Ensure that effective governance arrangements are implemented and maintained.


• To maintain personal development through personal development reviews, monthly 1:1

meetings, clinical supervision, training and appropriate courses, which the hospice will support.

• Provide supervision and mentoring to non-medical prescribers and trainee ANPs


• There will be opportunities to develop a special interest or lead on programmes depending on

skills and interests.

• Lead the development of ideas and specialist practice within the scope of the role. Innovates

through exploring ideas with others and takes action, thus contributing to different ways of
working.

• Develop services in conjunction with the service leads, medical and clinical directors and wider

team that will improve services for users and contribute to the advancement of palliative care
at local, regional and national levels.

• Participates in maintaining the profile of Nightingale House Hospice through the presentation

of quality improvement initiatives at local, regional and national conferences as appropriate.

• Work with the senior nursing team to complete personal development reviews of the nursing

team and provide support and mentoring.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Competence
You are responsible for limiting your actions to those that you feel competent to undertake. If you
have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties, you should immediately
speak to your line manager / supervisor.
Risk Management
It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Hospice that they fulfil a
proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment
of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and
hazards. It is a requirement that you adhere to Nightingale House Hospice Policies, Procedures,
Protocols and guidelines at all times.

Health and Safety Requirements of the Hospice
All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of
others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with
management to enable the Hospice to meet its own legal duties including attendance at mandatory
training updates and also to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.

Data Protection and Confidentiality
The post holder must treat all information, whether corporate, staff or patient information, in a
discreet, secure and confidential manner in accordance with the provisions of the current data
protection legislation and organisational policy. Any breach of such confidentiality is considered a
serious disciplinary offence, which is liable to dismissal and / or prosecution under statutory
legislation and the hospice's disciplinary policy. This duty of confidence continues after the post
holder leaves the organisation.

Records Management, As an employee of the hospice, the post holder is legally responsible for all records that they gather,
create or use as part of their work within the organisation (including patient health, staff health or
injury, financial, personal and administrative), whether paper based or on computer. The post holder
should consult the IG Lead if they have any doubt as to the correct management of records with which
they work.

Essential Desirable
Experience
• Clinical leadership in a multi professional service Budget management


• Reasonable palliative experience in relevant Previously worked within a

and related specialties specialist palliative care setting

• Partnership working across sectors


• Evidence of delivering formal and informal

teaching sessions

• Previous experience of working at an advanced

practice level

• Participation in research and audit including

appraisal of evidence
Qualification
• Current NMC registration Leadership/ management course


• Advanced clinical skills qualification relevant to healthcare environment


• Non-medical prescribing qualification and

experience

• Masters level Advanced Clinical Practice course

Skills/Abilities
• Motivational skills for self and others


• Excellent and advanced communication skills,

both multi professional and multi-agency

• Comprehensive physical assessment, history

taking and clinical decision making skills

• IT literacy with experience of a range of

software, databases and spreadsheets
Knowledge
• Knowledge of drugs used within a specialist

palliative care setting

• Understanding of speciality specific advanced

practice development at national and local
levels

• Understanding of legal, ethical and professional

issues of advanced practice
Personal
• Able to liaise and network effectively

qualities
• Committed to equality and equal opportunities


• Ability to work flexibly


Other
• Able to drive and access to a car


• Welsh speaker