Vascular Access Practitioner/Nurse - #1801497

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Job Overview

North Bristol NHS Trust is the largest hospital trust in the South West of England, providing hospital and community healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. We are a specialist regional centre for a number of services and we are also the Major Trauma Centre for the South West Region.

We are looking to appoint a Band 6 Vascular Access Practitioner to the Vascular Access Team to insert Midlines and Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) using NICE endorsed new technology that confirms PICC tip placement in patients requiring long-term intravenous access.

Main duties of the job

The role requires autonomous practice, assessing suitability of referrals, inserting lines, following the lines up, audit of the service and teaching HCPs on the wards/within the team. Service development is an important component of this job to ensure optimal benefits for North Bristol NHS Trust and our patients are realised. This would necessitate working closely with Discharge Planners, Microbiology, Infection Control Nurses, Respiratory Hot Clinic and the Medical Admission Unit.

To be eligible to apply for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Nurse/ ODP/Radiographer with current NMC/HCPC registration
• Eligibility to work in the UK
• Minimum of 2 years experience within an acute hospital/critical care setting at Band 5
• Evidence of competence (or a willingness to undertake training) in peripheral intravenous cannulation is essential and experience of inserting other vascular access devices is desirable
• A recognised mentor qualification and experience of supporting learners would be desirable.
  
  

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.

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. If you prefer country, village or smaller town living, our Trust is also easily commutable from a range of attractive locations in North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and South Wales (such as Portishead or Chepstow).

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

To insert Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) using ultrasound and (in the case of PICCs) NICE endorsed new technology that confirms line tip placement in patients requiring long-term intravenous access.

The role requires autonomous practice, assessing suitability of referrals, inserting lines, following the lines up, audit of the service and teaching nurses on the wards/within the team.

The work will be mobile, occurring at patient’s bedsides and in procedure rooms about the hospital. The team will be led by a Band 7 nurse.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Utilise clinical knowledge and advanced skills to assess suitability of referrals for central vascular access
• Communicate with the patient’s Doctor/Surgeon your decision regarding line suitability; if not suitable you can make suggestions of alternatives. Liaise with Anaesthetic Consultant on call if another form of central access is more appropriate i.e. central vascular catheter/tunnelled line
• Be able to assess capacity for consent and gain informed consent. If capacity is lacking liaise with the team to determine what is in the patient’s best interests
• Insert PICC/Midlines on the wards (in the single occupancy rooms or if the patient is in a 4 bedded bay using a procedure room) using ultrasound and a sterile technique (and Sherlock 3CG in the case of PICCs to confirm tip placement)
• Administering subcutaneous local anaesthetic during line insertion to ensure patient comfort.
• If the patient is not in sinus rhythm and requires a PICC it will be necessary to organise a chest X-ray to confirm tip placement and organise review of the chest X-ray before the line can be used.
• Document insertion and aftercare in the patients notes
• Assist with audit of number of lines inserted, locations, referring Directorates, premature line failure (including investigation and cause rectified where possible) and liaising with infection control for MSSA/MRSA rates along with auditing the number of bed days saved via prevented preventable admissions and early discharge for completion of care in the community.
• Developments in services across the Trust which are supported by this function will require the post holder to be trained and undertake additional duties as required
• To be able to assist in the management of the time of the Band 3 on the vascular access team to assist with line insertion, data collection/entry, dressing changes and bung changes on the wards.
• To be aware of emergency procedures and always act in a way following Trust procedures, protocols and guidelines.
  
  

Health, Safety and Security

• Act in an expert way that is consistent with current legislation, trust policy and procedures for maintaining own and others safety and security
• Take a lead role in maintaining their place of work in a tidy and safe condition, thereby minimising risk to self and others
• Participate in delivering the North Bristol NHS Trusts corporate nursing agenda, taking a lead role for specific activities and projects as required.
• Identify how health, safety and security can be improved and co-ordinate action
• Adhere to infection control guidance and policy to ensure patient and staff safety
  
  

Service Improvement/Quality/Communication

• To synthesise coherently and effectively, knowledge and expertise related to the specific area of practice to provide professional leadership within the speciality and organisation
• To be proactive, expert and dynamic clinical leader, with excellent communication skills with and across professional groups
• Be involved in planning and implementing standards of care, practice guidelines and where appropriate Integrated Care Pathways, and to continually evaluate the quality of patient care
• Lead the development of nurse-led initiatives for the benefit of the client group in relevant care settings, in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrate and disseminate clinical practice developments, utilising research in the specialist area of practice to develop and deliver evidence-based care.
• Be proactive in managing and facilitating change to support practice development and service improvement and modernisation activities, in accordance with local and national service policy or guidance. Contribute appropriately to clinical governance activities that relate to own area of practice and patient/client group
• Contribute to the management of the service in collaboration with the MDT and relevant care group management teams as needed, in support of the Trust and care group objectives. Ensuring cost effective use of resources, adherence to personnel policies and the achievement of service targets.
• Participate in delivering the Trust corporate nursing agenda, taking a lead role for specific activities and projects as required.
  
  

Working across professional and organisational boundaries

• Challenge professional and organisational boundaries in the interests of patients and clients and to improve health outcomes
• Develop and sustain appropriate collaborative relationships, partnerships and networks to influence and improve health outcomes and healthcare delivery systems
• To develop protocols, initiatives, documentation systems, standards, policies and clinical guidelines for others to use in practice through interpreting and synthesising complex information from a variety of sources.
• To work in collaboration with health and social care colleagues within the Trust and external primary and acute care providers to develop patient-centred pathways of care for smooth and timely referral, minimising delays and supporting shared care.
  
  

Learning and Development

• Cultivate and contribute to new ideas and innovations and to develop enhanced roles within scope of professional practice
• Act as a resource for other staff and learners on the ward and to facilitate an environment conducive to learning for all staff and learners
• Initiate and assist in evaluating the service and patient care, including patient satisfaction, using methods that are appropriate to needs and context.
• Critically appraise and synthesise the outcomes of relevant research, evaluations and audits in collaboration with colleagues to continually develop the service.
• To continue to update and reassess policies and procedures related to patient care in line with best evidence based practice.
• Identify gaps in evidence and/ or practice knowledge that require resolution through research, and initiate, undertake or assist in research activities as appropriate
• To manage, audit and monitor own workload to meet service requirements and identify future developments
  
  

Personal and People Development

• Provide education/training opportunities for nursing and other learners at pre and post qualification levels through teaching in clinical areas and lectures as necessary
• Assess training and development needs of colleagues and use appropriate strategies/opportunities to share knowledge and build on the practice of others
• Be proactive in developing and improving own knowledge, skills and attitudes in structured ways, including accessing clinical supervision and participating in Trust Individual Performance Review
• Share good practice through creating positive opportunities to network locally, regionally and nationally, and contribute to the wider development of their area of practice through publication and dissemination
  
  

Professional

• Act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council /Health Care Professional Council Code of Conduct and the Trusts personal responsibilities framework at all times
• Contribute and participate in the clinical supervision initiative within the Trust
• Utilise personal objective settings for individuals and team members in keeping with the Trust standards
• Participate in the Trust staff appraisal, staff development and clinical updates
  
  

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Practitioner (Nurse / ODP / Radiographer / AHP)
• Evidence of peripheral IV cannulation experience and competence
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Teaching and mentoring qualification or equivalent experience
  
  

Work Experience

Essential criteria

• 2 years relevant post registration experience in an acute care setting at Band 5 or above
• Experience of autonomous practice
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience of teaching in practice or formal lecturing
• Evidence of experience and competence in inserting other vascular access devices
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to cannulate
• Ability to manage own case/workload
• Computer literacy
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Clinical history/assessment taking
• Able to scrub for procedures
• Understanding of principles of change management
• Ability to critically analyse research
  
  

Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances

Essential criteria

• Able to work as a team member
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic
• Takes responsibility for own professional development
• Up to date personal profile
• Smart professional appearance
  
  

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

Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151.

North Bristol NHS Trust are 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.

At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.

Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.