Clinical Nurse Specialist Oncology Liaison

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

The Oncology Liaison Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist will work within the following core concepts as follows:

1. Clinical Focus
2. Patient/Client Advocate
3. Education and Training
4. Audit and Research
5. Consultant

Clinical Focus

Clinical Nurse Specialist/Clinical Nurse Manager 2 will have a strong patient focus whereby the specialty defines itself as Nursing and subscribes to the overall purpose, functions and ethical standards of nursing. The clinical practice role may be divided into direct and indirect care. Direct care comprises the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to the patient, family and/or carer. Indirect care relates to activities that influence and support the provision of direct care.

• Work with the oncology team to ensure that patients have access to specialist care, knowledge and expertise.
• Ensure that oncology patients have an understanding of their disease, treatment options and support services available.
• Co-ordinate patient treatment schedules in collaboration with the day ward and inpatient CNM2s.
• Act as liaison with the Radiation service to co-ordinate and support patients requiring radiotherapy as a primary and/or adjuvent treatment.
• Provide support to the family/ significant other, though listening, problem solving and education.
• Provide outreach support for the patient at home in collaboration with the Acute Oncology CNS.
• Assess patients regarding their need for referral to specialist services. Use agreed protocols in relation to patient referrals and enquiries with regard to oncology patients
• Report such patients promptly to the consultant/ clinical leader and discuss referral.
• Co-ordinate relevant services in preparation for patient’s treatment.
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Participate in ongoing patient education in relation to management of disease and treatment related side effects.
• Ensure patient information is relevant, up to date and reviewed on a regular basis.
• Foster good working relationships with all members of the clinical and multidisciplinary team, which are both professional and supportive.
• Facilitate effective communication between the multidisciplinary team, the patients and their families/carers.
• Maintain accurate clinical records complying with legislation and best practice including general data protection regulation.
• Adhere to hospital policies, procedures and guidelines in the delivery of patient care.
• Be actively involved in the preparation and implementation of policies and nursing guidelines in relation to the management of care to oncology patients.
• Demonstrate leadership ability and good communication skills.
• Mentoring of students undertaking post graduate diploma in oncology nursing.
• Achieve and maintain clinical competencies relevant to this service eg. Venepuncture, cannulation and phlebotomy

Patient Advocate

• Provide an efficient, effective and high quality service, respecting the needs of each patient.
• Act as a resource/ contact person for oncology patients attending other departments within the hospital or outside the hospital for treatment.
• Provide patients and family/ significant others with contact details for oncology nurse specialist and advise for out of hours contact.
• Be aware of existing resources/ services, which help patients and their family/ significant others, eg. social services, support groups, entitlements.
• Participate in team discussions regarding treatment for oncology patients.
• Facilitate development of information leaflets for patients and families.
• Review and assess referred, patients taking into account the patients opinions, and guide in their decision making. Communicate, negotiate and represent the plan of care for the patient, with medical and nursing staff.

Education and training
• Play an active role in teaching all grades of nursing staff and other disciplines as required.
• Use relevant educational opportunities to maintain the highest standards and up to date care offered to the patients.
• Achieve and maintain clinical competencies pertinent to this service and in line with NMBI guidelines.
• To participate in the development of educational programmes for nursing staff and patients in relation to the Haematology/Oncology service within the Beaumont Hospital
• Be involved in the development of nursing research Beaumont Hospital, avail of opportunities to initiate and undertake relevant nursing research projects

Audit and Research

• Ensure that his/her own practice is compliant and up to date with “best practice”, which is reflected in research and development.
• Participates in the regular audit of his/her own clinical practice.
• Collect and maintain data in relation to the oncology liaison nurse service and the impact of the service within the oncology department.
• Ensure the development and maintenance of a quality assurance programme which is patient centered utilising up to date research findings.
• Use such research findings to influence care within the specialty.
• Set objectives and develop policies, procedures and standards for the oncology nursing services based on current nursing research and relevant research from other disciplines.
• Identify areas within the specialty relevant to nursing practice, which would benefit from research.
• Promote an awareness of research-based practice amongst staff.
• Participate in departmental research related to the specialty.
• Develop strategies and service goals in line with Directorate, Corporate and National KPI’s.
• Actively lead on quality initiatives resulting in improved patient care and outcomes.
• Keep records and provide reports on activity and other relevant data for audit purpose.
• Continually monitor the service ensuring it reflects current needs and implement change where required in order to achieve best patient outcomes.

Consultancy

• Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for oncology practice.
• Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines, having regard to national and international advancements in oncology nursing.
• Establish collegial partnerships and in the context of oncology, contribute to the professional development of students, peers, colleagues and others through consultation, education, leadership, mentorship and coaching.
• Work with, support, advise and help build up knowledge of expertise of the primary care team in providing an appropriate system of care to meet the needs of the patient and their family/carers.
• Develop and maintain good collaborative working relationships and communication with all members of the speciality’s MDT and other health care professionals within and outside the service.
• Participate in the implementation of the national clinical care programmes and their agreed models of care for patients and their families as they relate to the role.
• Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance general nursing practice.

Personal and Professional Development
• Maintain, update and develop knowledge on relevant professional development and on all speciality current trends, including attendance at conferences and seminars as appropriate.
• Continue to update and develop own clinical theoretical knowledge by undertaking appropriate study days/courses and by utilising research based practice.
• Develop and maintain nursing competencies in line with NMBI guidelines.
• Ensure required mandatory training is completed and maintained.

Health & Safety:

These duties must be performed in accordance with local organisational and the HSE 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 the NCCP/HSE 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 Health Service Executive (HSE) Complaints Policy.
• 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

Specific Responsibility for Best Practice in Hygiene

Hygiene is defined as: “The practice that serves to keep people and environments clean and prevent infection. It involves the study of preserving one’s health, preventing the spread of disease, and recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards. In the healthcare setting it incorporates the following key areas: environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, management of laundry, waste and sharps, and equipment” (HIQA, 2008; P2). It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure compliance with local organisational hygiene standards, guidelines and practices.

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 fora as required.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records and data on all matters pertaining to the planning, management, delivery and evaluation of care and ensure that this service is in line with NCCP/HSE requirements.
• Contribute to the service planning process as appropriate and as directed.
• 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.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

This 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 Directorate Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing or Senior Education Coordinator from time to time.