Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities
Clinical
 Assess the health status of adult elective surgical patients obtaining a comprehensive history involving carers/relatives as appropriate.
 Undertake clinical interventions, such as phlebotomy and ECG recording, in accordance with Trust policies when necessary
 Develop and maintain competence to perform an assessment of the patients’ physical health status in preparation for anaesthetic and surgery. Be able to analyse findings to guide patient care. Make autonomous decisions regarding suitability to proceed to surgery.
 Request and perform investigations as per guidelines/protocols and with reference to multidisciplinary team.
 Demonstrate sound analytical and judgemental skills using a range of information and facts to establish the rationale for investigation and plan of care.
 Discuss plans for discharge with patient and carer with particular reference to setting patient expectations for day case surgery.
 Discuss the implications of surgery involving the risks and benefits helping the patient to make an informed choice regarding consent to treatment/surgery and provide accurate and concise information.
 Have an understanding of and share responsibility for developing protocols and guidelines within POA.
 Review and evaluate results of investigation/care promptly to ensure patient’s condition and safety is optimised preoperatively to avoid inappropriate admissions and delays in surgery being performed.
 Directly refer patients to health care professionals to ensure appropriate assessment and evaluation prior to admission in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
 Maintain up to date standard documentation in accordance with the NMC Standards for Records and Record Keeping.
 Act in accordance to the NMC Code of Professional conduct and guide others to do the same.
 Practice in accordance with the core PROUD values of the Trust.
 Contribute to improving patient care via inter-disciplinary decision making.
Communication
 Demonstrate skills in dealing with conflict and assist the Lead POA nurse in resolving issues.
 Assess the knowledge base of the patient and family/carer and provide appropriate information regarding condition, surgery, pre and post-operative care, recovery and return to daily life.
 Review and develop patient literature and information to reflect current practice, risks and benefits, seeking knowledge from established information sources.
 Act as a primary contact prior to admission ensuring patient has point of contact details.
 Communicate with patients and relatives in a sensitive manner appropriate to the situation providing information and reassurance.
 Demonstrate competence in negotiation skills both verbal and written.
 Act as chair for meetings and act as a recorder for meetings when requested to do so.
Management of People/Time/Resources
 In the absence of the Lead POA nurse take responsibility for the management of the POA clinic.
 Demonstrate effective leadership and promote positive team working to ensure a high level of patient care is delivered utilising members of the multidisciplinary team.
 Have an understanding of the wider surgical patient pathway and the role of POA within it.
 Understand basic budgetary matters and contribute to cost effective and efficient use of resources under the direction of the lead POA nurse.
 Act as an authorised signatory for the hire of temporary staff, in the absence of the lead POA nurse.
 Participate in the recruitment and retention of staff and be competent in carrying out the Trust interviewing/recruitment policy.
 Have an understanding of the staff appraisal system and carry out appraisal on junior staff.
 Take shared responsibility for the health and safety aspects in the clinical area to ensure a safe working and patient environment.
 Make judgements regarding patient’s condition and suitability for admission. Where appropriate suspend/defer patients to optimise preoperative status. Communicate such decisions promptly to the wider multidisciplinary team.
 Participate in change management and service improvement plans.
 Manage a case load of patients whilst supporting/advising junior colleagues.
 Contribute, participate and where appropriate act as a lead on groups, meetings and working parties to facilitate the integration of POA within the tryst and to ensure collaborative working practices are adhered to.
Quality Improvement/Clinical Governance
 Share responsibility for implementing evidence based practice; participate in auditing clinical outcomes and standard setting.
 Identify adverse incidents/situations and discuss/investigate with the Preoperative Assessment nurse manager and initiate a plan of action to minimise/eliminate risk.
 Take all action within the scope of responsibility to ensure minimal patient cancellations on admissions.
 Participate in auditing of clinical outcomes and standard setting to improve quality of service.
 In conjunction with the preoperative assessment nurse manager assist in the accurate and immediate investigation of all incidents and accidents to patients and/or staff, and instigate appropriate action.
 Investigate patient complaints in accordance with the Trust complaints procedure.
 Appreciate other methods of service delivery and participate in their implementation. Assist in the implementation of statutory guidelines e.g. NICE guidelines, National Service Frameworks.
 Assist or participate in departmental and Trust initiatives or audits, related to service improvement/clinical governance.
 Perform risk assessments regarding working practice and the environment and adhere to safe systems of work.
 Demonstrate awareness and follow principles of the Clinical Governance Framework.
Education and Training
 Share responsibility for and participate in organisation of preceptorship/mentorship/supervision and assessment of student nurses in clinical area.
 In collaboration with Preoperative Assessment Nurse Manager coordinate the evaluation of education initiatives in the clinical area.
 Act as a clinical role model for junior team members.
 Assist with the development and implementation of an education and training programme for junior/new staff.
 Develop competence in clinical supervision and the ability to act as a clinical supervisor.
 Consolidate POA skills using personal development planning/KSF tools to progress.
 Facilitate others to develop informal teaching skills.
Physical, Mental and Emotional Effort
This post operates within a team structure. Potholders are expected to deliver pre-operative assessment care autonomously with regards to surgery and anaesthetic risk. More complex cases are dealt with independently initially with reference to anaesthetic colleagues as required. The role cares for patients at a vulnerable stage in the patient journey. This requires considerable decision making skills and an advanced level of mental and emotional maturity. The organisation of the clinics can be very busy and challenging.