Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To assess, deliver and evaluate nursing care to patients with a suspected Stroke immediately following arrival within the trust.

To assess deliver and evaluate nursing care to patients referred to the TIA pathway.

To be a point of initial contact for patients accessing the specialist stroke and TIA service.

To support other clinical areas to develop systems to ensure people with strokes and TIAs are identified early within the patient pathway and are supported to access appropriate services promptly, including thrombolysis and urgent carotid surgery.

To identify patients for recruitment into clinical trials supported by the Yorkshire Stroke Research Network

Contribute to the education and development of other members of the stroke specialist team and other clinical teams as appropriate.

Raise awareness of the needs of stroke patients with other clinical teams

Liaise with external agencies in Calderdale and Huddersfield e.g. primary care, YAS and with other clinical colleagues within Calderdale and Huddersfield to develop and promote evidence based quality care.

To support the development and collection of robust data to inform patient care and service development.

Respond immediately to calls from YAS / A&E triage when an acute stroke or TIA patient is identified.

In the case of suspected stroke:-

Confirm the triage diagnosis / identify stroke mimics (15% - 30% cases)

Identify presence of inclusion / exclusion criteria for hyper-acute interventions e.g. thrombolysis,

Arrange immediate pathology investigations

Arrange urgent cranial CT scan

When appropriate mobilise acute stroke medical team

Rapidly identify appropriate bed on HASU/ASU

Provide or coordinate nursing input for interventions e.g. thrombolysis

Provide 1:1 care / observation as needed

Have responsibility for transfer from A&E to HASU

Lead and support the delivery of patient care within the hyper-acute stoke unit.

Support care delivery within the stoke unit and through to discharge home.

In the case of suspected TIA

Confirm triage diagnosis / identify TIA mimics

Assess using a structured ABCD approach.

To contribute to stroke specialist nursing care throughout the stroke and TIA pathway.

To achieve engagement of all providers across the health and social care communities in order to promote a fully integrated stroke pathway.

To identify patients who might be suitable for inclusion in clinical trials supported by the Yorkshire Stroke Research Network.

To contribute to the patient discharge planning process.

To maintain professional registration and up to date skills and knowledge in stroke and TIA nursing care.

To work within the NMC code of conduct and relevant local, regional and national guidance and policy.

The post-holder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback. This post holder will also be expected to contribute to the development and implementation audits and investigations and their action plans to improve patient care.