CNS Penile, Bladder and Renal Cancer

Confined Competition - Internal Applicants Only

Position Summary:

The Transplant Urology and Nephrology (TUN) directorate at Beaumont Hospital is the largest referral centre in Ireland for the specialities of Nephrology, Urology & Dialysis and the National Kidney Transplant Service (NKTS) is coordinated through Beaumont Hospital. In 2023, Beaumont Hospital was appointed the National Referral Centre in Ireland for penile cancer.

The post holder for Clinical Nurse Specialist in Penile, Bladder & Renal Cancer will be:

• Responsible for developing, leading and delivering a high quality service for patients with penile, bladder & renal cancers by acting as a specialist resource and point of care providing advice, support and education through evidence based clinical practice.

• The specialist nurse will carry out assessment of care needs and through expertise identify and agree appropriate referral pathways for patients requiring surgical, oncology and/or radiation oncology care.

• The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will be proficient in post-op surgical care including dressings/wound drains and stoma care where applicable, and will provide post-surgery/treatment surveillance. They will provide a nurse-led high quality service in conjunction with the urology surgeon.

• The post will demand excellent leadership, communication skills and professional relationships within all areas of the urology/oncology and radiology oncology care and associated clinical and administrative areas within Beaumont Hospital and with other urology units nationally and internationally if required.

• The CNS will work within the multidisciplinary team to advise and educate nursing and medical staff in the area of penile, bladder & renal cancer care, including penis reconstruction and be an advocate for patients in all areas of their care including psych-oncology nursing care.

• While being autonomous in the role they must be aware of his/her own scope of practice and the need to refer patients to specialist services. The penile, bladder & renal cancer nurse specialist is responsible for his/her own professional development to ensure provision of the highest standards of care.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Direct Patient Care:
The CNS will:

• Formulate and utilise health promotion tools in preventing penile, bladder and renal cancers through focusing on early detection.

• Receive and aid the triaging of referrals.

• Provide a specialist nursing service for patients with a diagnosis of penile, bladder and renal cancers who require support and treatment through the continuum of care

• Accept appropriate referrals and queries from MDT colleagues.

• Undertake comprehensive patient assessment to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care using best evidence based practice.

• Use the outcomes of the patient assessment to develop and implement plans of care in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.

• Co-ordinate investigations, treatment therapies and patient follow up.

• Make alterations in the management of patient’s condition in collaboration with the MDT and the patient in line with agreed pathways and policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPG’s).

• Provide specialist wound care to penile and bladder cancer patients and refer to tissue viability services when appropriate.

• Identify health promotion priorities for the patient, family and/or carer and support patient self-care in line with best evidence. This will include the provision of educational and health promotion material which is comprehensive, easy to understand and meets patients’ needs

• Communicate with patients, family and /or carer as appropriate, to assess patient’s needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling as required.

• Identify and promote specific symptom management strategies. Provide patients with appropriate self-management strategies and escalation pathways.

• The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will be proficient in post-op surgical care including dressings/wound drains and stoma care where applicable, and will provide post-surgery/treatment surveillance. They will provide a nurse-led high quality service in conjunction with the urology surgeon.
• Coordinate the Enhanced Recovery Programme (ERAS) for cystectomy patients.
• Coordinate the penile cancer patient support group.

Indirect Patient Care:
The CNS will:

• Develop referral pathways for patients requiring surgical, oncology and radiotherapy care, and compile a database of this cohort.
• Act as a contact person for patient/families and other health agencies.
• Maintain an accurate and comprehensive database.
• Ensure patient follow up is arranged
• Establish and maintain links with community health providers to support patients in their community (GP/PHN).
• Take a proactive role in the formulation and provision of evidence based PPPGs relating to nursing care.

• Maintain accurate clinical records complying with current legislation and best practice.

• Take a lead role in ensuring the service for patients with a cancer diagnosis are in line with best practice guidelines and the Safer Better Healthcare Standards (HIQA, 2012).

• Attend multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings. Create proformas for patients to be discussed at MDT meetings. Follow up on MDT outcomes.

• Attend the urology/oncology planning meeting as required.

• Attend urological out-patient clinics.

• Manage a specific cohort of patients with urological conditions.

• Work with the healthcare team contributing to meeting health service quality/patient safety and resource needs at local and national level and within a patient-centred philosophy.

• Provide education and presentations to staff.

Patient Advocate:

• Develop and support the concept of advocacy, particularly in relation to patient participation in decision making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.

• Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient, family and/or carer.

• Provide an efficient, effective and high quality service, respecting the needs of each individual patient.
• Promote patient/family participation in care, identifying and meeting the learning needs of patients and their family and promote existing resources/services which support patients and their families’ e.g. social services, support groups and entitlements.
• Ensure the provision of psychological support by nursing staff to patient and families and encourage patients who have ongoing psychological needs to seek support through identified agencies.
• Ensure adequate liaison by nursing staff with patient/family with regard to patient's occupational and social needs.
• Proactively challenge any interaction which fails to deliver a quality service to patients

Education and Training:

• Maintain clinical competence in patient management within urological/oncology nursing, keeping up-to-date with relevant research to ensure the implementation of evidence based practice.

• Provide education to patients and their families/significant others on their illness and treatment options based on up to date evidence based best practice. Ensure the availability of appropriate information/educational resources.
• Contribute to the design, development and implementation of education programmes and resources for the patient, family and/or carer thus empowering them to self manages their condition.

• Maintain and update knowledge of relevant professional development and all current trends in the speciality of renal nursing, and an awareness of future trends.
• Attend relevant conferences and committees, and actively participate in lecturing and dissemination of knowledge.
• Provide mentorship and preceptorship for nursing colleagues as appropriate. Identify training and development needs of staff assigned to the Unit and set objectives for such learning.

• Create exchange of learning opportunities within the MDT in relation to penile, bladder and renal cancers using evidence based care delivery through journal clubs, conferences etc.

• Be responsible for addressing own continuing professional development needs

Audit and Research:
• Identify, initiate and conduct nursing and MDT audit and research projects relevant to the area of penile, bladder and renal cancers and use the outcomes of audits to improve service provision.

• Identify, critically analyse, disseminate and integrate best evidence relating to care into practice.

• Contribute to nursing/midwifery research on all aspects of penile, bladder and renal cancer care.

• Monitor, access, utilise and disseminate current relevant research to advise and ensure the provision of informed evidence based practice

• Develop and maintain audit systems for evaluating the service being provided.
• Ensure evidence based practice using research based current literature and electronic sources.
• Perform research relevant to the service to highlight potential improvements in quality.
• Participate in the collection and collation of statistical and clinical data and prepare an annual report for the service.
• Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through use of audit data and specialist knowledge.

• Participate in hospital and directorate audits as required by DNM/CNM III.

Consultancy:
• Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model.
• Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines and support implementation.

• Develop collaborative working relationships with local and national Urology CNS/ Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner/MDT colleagues as appropriate, developing person centred care pathways to promote the integrated model of care delivery.

• Where appropriate develop and maintain relationships with specialist services in voluntary organisations which support patients in the community
• Liaise with other health service providers in the development and on-going delivery of the National Clinical Programme model of care.

Health and Safety:

These duties must be performed in accordance with local organisational health and safety polices. In carrying out these duties the employee must ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply with the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act (2005). Staff must carry out their duties in a safe and responsible manner in line with the local policy documents and as set out in the local safety statement, which must be read and understood.

Quality, Risk and Safety Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of all staff to:

• Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to quality, risk and safety.

• Participate and cooperate with local quality, risk and safety initiatives as required.

• Participate and cooperate with internal and external evaluations of the organisation’s structures, services and processes as required, including but not limited to, The National Hygiene Audit, National Decontamination Audit, Health and Safety Audits and other audits specified by Beaumont Hospital or other regulatory authorities.

• Initiate, support and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with local organisational quality, risk and safety requirements.
• Contribute to the development of PPPGs and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

• Comply with Beaumont Hospital Complaints Policy and liaise with PALS as required.

• Ensure completion of incident/near miss forms and clinical risk reporting.
• Adhere to department policies in relation to the care and safety of any equipment supplied and used to carry out the responsibilities of the role of CNS.

Management/Administration:

Provide an efficient, effective and high quality service, respecting the needs of each patient, family and/or carer

• Effectively manage time and caseload in order to meet changing and developing service needs

• Continually monitor the service to ensure it reflects current needs

• Implement and manage identified changes

• Ensure that confidentiality in relation to patient records is maintained

• Represent the specialist service at local, national and international level as required

• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records and data on all matters pertaining to the planning, management, delivery and evaluation of care.

The job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment. Other specific work not covered in this job description may also be assigned by the Director of Nursing from time to time.

Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc
(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
(i) Be a registered nurse/midwife on the active Register of Nurses and Midwives
held by An Bord Altranais and Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and
Midwifery Board of Ireland) or be eligible to be so registered.

(ii) Be registered in the division(s) of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
(Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) Register for which the
application is being made or be entitled to be so registered.

(iii) In exceptional circumstances, which will be assessed on a case by case basis
be registered in another Division of the register of Nurses and Midwives.

(iv) Have a minimum of 1 years’ post registration full time experience or an
aggregate of 1 years’ full time experience in the division of the register in which
the application is being made (taking into account (ii) (iii) if relevant)

(v) Have a minimum of 1 years’ experience or an aggregate of 1 years’ full time
experience in specialist area of Urology/Oncology Care.

(vi) Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study, as
certified by the education provider which verifies that the applicant has achieved
a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), National Framework of Qualifications
(NFQ) major academic Level 9 or higher award that is relevant to the specialist
area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), and in line with the requirements
for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and
Midwifery 4th ed (2008).

Alternatively provide written evidence from the Higher Education Institute that
they have achieved the number of ECTS credits equivalent to a Level 9 or higher
standard, relevant to the specialist area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or
above), and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the
National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed (2008). Urology/Oncology of
care prior to application* (See **Note 1 below).

(vii) Be required to demonstrate that they have continuing professional development
(CPD) relevant to the specialist area.

(viii) Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional
responsibility within his/her scope of practice

**Note 1: For Nurses/Midwives who express an interest in CNS/CMS roles and who
currently hold a level 8 educational qualification in the specialist area
(equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), this qualification will be recognised up to
September 2026.

(b) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of
suitability and clinical, leadership, managerial and administrative capacity for the proper
discharge of the duties of the office.

2. Annual registration
(i) Practitioners must maintain live annual registration on the appropriate/relevant Division
of the register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board
of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) for the role.

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the
annual Service user Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. Health
Candidates 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.

4. Character
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Desirable

• Have evidence of continuing professional development

If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/ Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee’s re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012.

Please note: In applying for this position you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/ Office/ Body will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position