Band 8A ERAS Lead Nurse - Liver & Digestive Health

The purpose of this role is to provide strategic nursing leadership to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway development, implementation and evaluation across our division, Liver and Digestive Health (L&DH). Assisting with the harmonisation of policy and practice across all sites of Royal Free London including NMUH.

ERAS is the development and use of patient centred, evidence based, multidisciplinary developed pathways to reduce a patient's surgical stress response, optimise their physiologic function and facilitate recovery.

The post holder will work across three services within the division to develop, implement and evaluate pathways which encompass the principles of Enhanced Recovery. ERAS pathways developed will be in line with local and nationally agreed policies and guidelines and provide the highest quality of care. The candidate will work both collaboratively and independently, integrating into existing clinical structures to support nursing and medical teams, while creating and sustaining key relationships with the MDT. A multi-format education program will be developed, updated and delivered to staff and service users. Undertaking and presenting clinical audit is central to this role., In the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) service you will work with a part time ERAS HPB Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) who delivers the clinical service. You will offer practical supportive leadership and you will have a central and active role within the Clinical Practice Group (CPG) evaluating and adjusting an ERAS pathway that has been in place for three years and is accessed by on average 20 patients a month.

In the Liver Transplant (LT) team you will be responsible for the implementation of an ERAS service that is in its pilot phase. This exciting development will see the Royal Free as one of the first LT units in Europe with an established ERAS pathway. The majority of clinical work will be carried out by a team of Liver Transplant CNS while you will focus on the strategic overview of the pathway, developing tools such as an electronic pathway, undertaking audit and evaluation, delivering education to a multi-disciplinary staff group and encouraging culture change.

In the Colorectal team you will be responsible for the ERAS programme from finalisation of the pathway to its digitalisation, implementation and evaluation. You will work with the CPG team to establish a group and take an active roll in moving forward the pathway. You will identify and educate interested individuals who will deliver the service with your leadership.

Post holders will work closely with the CNS and ward nursing teams across Liver and Digestive Health. Clinical guidance and support will be available from the lead CNS, Ward Managers, Matrons, CPG leads and Medical Service Line Lead in each team (HPB, Colorectal and Liver Transplant).