Clinical Nurse Specialist Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin deficency 0.5 WTE

Post Title:

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency

Post Status:

Specified Purpose

Department:

Medical Directorate, Beaumont Hospital

Location:

Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland

Reports to:

CNM 3 / Directorate Nurse Manager

Salary:

Appointment will be made on CNM 2 salary scale at a point in line with Government pay policy (€61,463 - €77,666)

Hours of work: 

18.75  Hours Per Week – 0.5 WTE

Closing Date:

12 Noon on Friday 8^th August, 2025

Position Summary:

The Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Nurse Specialist will have a pivotal role in meeting the psychological, emotional and informational needs of people with Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency and their families/ significant others. He/she will be a key member of the inter-disciplinary clinical team responsible for the care of Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency patients.

The Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Nurse Specialist should liase closely with all clinicians involved in the diagnosis, management and ongoing care of all patients attending Beaumont Hospital with Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency. He/ she will liase with other health care professionals involved in patient care within the hospital, with other health care agencies as appropriate and with community services.

While being autonomous the Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Nurse Specialist should be aware of his/her own scope of practice and the need to refer patients to specialist services. The post holder will have an important educational role within the inter-disciplinary team and will play a role in the development of quality initiatives.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

The five core concepts are:

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

Clinical Focus –

The Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Nurse Specialist will -

·        Help meet the psychological, emotional and informational need for people with Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency at the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment.

·        Provide support to the family/ significant other, though listening, problem solving and education.

·        Provide outreach support for the patient at home

·        Attend Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Outpatient Clinic and co-ordinate 3 monthly visits for each patient.

·        Assess patients regarding their need for referral to specialist services.

·        Report such patients promptly to the consultant/ clinical leader and discuss referral.

·        Foster good working relationships with all members of the clinical team, which are both professional and supportive

·        Maintain accurate clinical records complying with legislation and best practice.

·        Establish referral pathways from consultant, non-consultant doctors, nurses and other health care professional within the hospital.

·        He/ she should ensure that all patients with Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency are seen by the Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Nurse Specialist.

·        Demonstrate specialist knowledge of and clinical expertise in the delivery of patient care.

·        Be aware of all hospital policies and procedures and collaborate  with other health care professionals to ensure that these are observed

·        Be actively involved in the preparation and implementation of policies and nursing guidelines in relation to the management of care to Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency patients.

·        Demonstrate leadership ability and good communication skills.

·        Work Closely with other nurse specialists within the respiratory service i.e. Respiratory nurse specialist.

Patient Advocate

The Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Nurse Specialist will –

·        Provide and efficient, effective and high quality service, respecting the needs of each patient.

·        Act as a resource/ contact person for Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency patients attending other departments within the hospital or outside the hospital for treatment.

·        Provide patients and family/ significant others with contact details for Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency nurse specialist and inpatient ward 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.

·        Acts as an advocate for patients undergoing clinical trials, providing information as appropriate and communicating with research staff.

·        Participate in team discussions regarding treatment for Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency patients.

·        Facilitate development of information leaflets for patients and families.

Education and training

The Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Nurse Specialist will –

·          Provide support to respiratory nursing staff by means of regular group meetings to discuss particular patient cases, which have been found to be stressful

·          Assist in the development and delivery of training programmes for nursing staff

·          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 with Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency.

Audit and Research

The Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Nurse Specialist will –

•  Ensure that his/her own practice is compliant and up to date with “best practice”, which is reflected in research and development in Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency
• Participates in the regular audit of his/her own clinical practice
• 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 Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency 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.

Consultancy

·          Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency practice

·          Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines, having regard to national and international advancements in Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency nursing

·          Establish collegial partnerships and in the context of Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency, 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.

·          Maintain a network of contacts and communications links with other professionals and or organisations in

·          the Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency field and attend conferences applicable to the area.

·          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 generalist nursing practice

The job description indicates the main function 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:

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 AND

(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.

OR

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.

AND

(iii)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

AND

(iv) Have a minimum of 1 years’ experience or an aggregate of 1 years’ full time experience in specialist area of Insert Name Care

OR

If the applicant does not possess the relevant specialist experience, they will be supported to attain one year’s clinical specialist experience

AND

(v) 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 (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above) that is relevant to the specialist area of care 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 (60 ECTS or above), relevant to the specialist area of care and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed (2008). Insert Name of care prior to application* (See **Note below).

(vi) Be required to demonstrate that they have continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area or will be supported to obtain the required CPD.

AND

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

And

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

Further Information for Candidates:

Supplementary information:

The Hospital

www.beaumont.ie

Management Unit:

www.beaumont.ie/hr

Other (Please specify):

Informal Enquiries ONLY to:

Name:

Yvonne Whelan

Title:

Directorate Nurse Manager Medical 1

Email address:

yvonnewhelan@beaumont.ie

Telephone:

01 852 8197