Job overview

We are looking to recruit a dynamic nurse with excellent clinical nursing skills, to deliver a high quality service to patients attending the pre-operative assessment unit. We are looking for a nurse who has vision and passion to work within our nursing team to provide the best possible care for our patients. The successful applicant will be a motivated and enthusiastic individual with significant post-registration clinical experience within the area of pre-operative assessment or equivalent general adult surgical experience. Applicants will need to have a clear understanding of nursing quality and be able to assure excellence in clinical care. Applicants must have the relevant experience and knowledge of care delivery appropriate to this patient group, be creative, enthusiastic, motivated and have excellent communication skills. The post holder will be expected to act as a role model and contribute to the development and training needs of staff within the department. The ability to work collaboratively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team is essential, together with excellent communication skills.

Main duties of the job

Assess patients suitability and fitness for surgery and anaesthesia using agreed protocols

To take a targeted history of the patient including airway assessment.

Conduct assessment of both the medical and psychological status of elective surgical patients.

To order and perform diagnostic tests within set protocols and working to agreed actions where abnormalities are discovered.

To ensure all test results are available for day of surgery

To recognise the significance of any observation made and use them to highlight situations which may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the patient.

Refer patients who fall outside the agreed criteria to an anaesthetist, who may then make further referrals

Refer patient back to primary care or another healthcare professional to optimise the patients' medical condition, according to local guidelines.

To provide information about the pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative process, ensuring the patient has an understanding of the proposed procedure and any specific preoperative instructions

To identify any special requirements needed to facilitate prompt discharge

To communicate effectively and liaise with all members of the multidisciplinary team and primary care team as appropriate.

To comply at all times with the NMC code of conduct.

Working for our organisation

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only NHS trust to hold dual accreditation for the Investors in People. We invest in people and we invest in wellbeing standards and have been awarded Gold status for both. The Walton Centre is a leader in the treatment and care of neurology and neurosurgery, placing the patient and their family at the heart of everything we do. As the only specialist hospital trust in the UK dedicated to providing comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services we are proud to be rated as an Outstanding Trust by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and champion change throughout the field of neuroscience. Originally formed in 1992, the Trust received Foundation Trust status in 2009.

With around 1,450 staff, The Walton Centre treats more than 127,000 outpatients and 18,000 inpatients each year. We have leading specialists and incredibly dedicated staff delivering excellent clinical outcomes for brain, spinal and neurological care nationally and internationally. Teams across our site in Fazakerley, Liverpool, offer a world-class service in diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves and muscles, and in supporting people suffering from a wide range of long-term neurological conditions.