ROLE PROFILE

ROLE TITLE: Registered Nurse REPORTING TO: Cath Lab Sister

DIRECTORATE: Cardiology ACCOUNTABLE Cath Lab Sister / Manager

TO:
SECTION/DEPT: Cath Labs

BAND: Band 5 APPRAISED BY Cath Lab Sister

PART A: JOB DESCRIPTION

 To assist in cardiology/radiology procedures following policy,

Overall Purpose of Role guidelines, and legislation, whilst supporting and monitoring the
(Summary) patient.
 To work with team members in the deliverance of evidenced based
care in a busy and diverse clinical area.
 To have responsibility/contribute to the smooth running of the lab into
which you are assigned.
 Ability to work shift patterns to meet the demands of the
cardiology/radiology service.

Key Activities / Key Areas of Work

1. Communication/Customer Service and Team working

 Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times in accordance with hospital policy and legislation.
 Work collaboratively with relevant wards and departments to ensure optimal care is planned and
provided.
 Establish and maintain clear verbal and written communication with the multidisciplinary team to
promote patient focused care.
 Ensure appropriate information is communicated in terminology suited to patients, carers, managers
and professionals
 Manage barriers to communication, modifying own style when necessary taking into account age,
physical and learning disability, culture, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, socio-economic status and
political beliefs.
 Identify anxiety and stress in patients, their relatives and staff and recognise the potential impact on
effective two-way communication.
 Whenever necessary assert professional viewpoint acting as the patient’s advocate in line with the
NMC Code of Conduct.
 Check details of all documentation before, during and after procedure to ensure documentation is
completed accurately and clearly, maintaining patient safety and staffs legal requirements.
 Provide formal written feedback/presentation of learning gained from a study day or visit which would
 benefit the whole team.
 Perform comprehensive handover to Radiology Department Assistants or ward staff post procedure
to maintain safe patient care on the wards. When a patient remains medically unstable you and/or a
Doctor must accompany the patient back to the ward safely and quickly.

2. Personal and people development

 Take responsibility for own educational and development needs in line with Knowledge and Skills
Framework.
 Maintain personal/professional profile and identify learning needs to mentor or Sister enabling the
opportunity for discussion and planning of career pathways.
 Actively participate in teaching and clinical practice development mentoring new nurses, students or
visitors to the department.
 Attend all mandatory training as facilitated by Sister in accordance with the Trust-wide Mandatory
Training Procedure Document DN302.

3. Health, safety and security

 To have knowledge of all Trust legislation, policies and procedures and ensure these are adhered to
within cardiology/radiology.
 Have a working knowledge of the Radiation Protection Policy and local rules ensuring these are
followed for the protection of patients, visitors and staff.
 Identify risks in the department and take immediate action to rectify them maintaining a safe
environment for all. Report faulty equipment promptly to the nurse-in-charge and/or the Estates Dept.
 Safeguard confidential information in accordance with legislation, hospital policies and procedures.
 Understand the need to adapt and change practice/working patterns to meet growing demands of the
cardiology/radiology service to meet National policy and objectives.
 Apply standard precautions for infection control, using a series of interventions that minimise or
prevent cross infection including effective hand washing/cleansing when appropriate, particularly on
entering and leaving clinical areas and between each patient.
 Use of personal protective clothing and additional protective equipment when appropriate. Strict
adherence to Trust guidelines on collecting and handling of clinical specimens.

4. Service Development

 To have an understanding of the research processes keeping up to date with new advances in
technology and NICE Guidelines that directly affect clinical practice and care delivery in radiology.
 Participate in data collection for local audit and research projects ensuring consistency of information
and documentation.
 Be objective during the change process, taking an active part in determining its method of
implementation and evaluation.
 Support the Sister and colleagues during times of change and know when to ask for clarification of
new guidelines and how they should be implemented.

5. Quality

 Maintain a professional and responsible image of self and team at all times.
  Justify public trust and confidence by upholding the professional standing of the post.
 Maintain patient’s privacy and dignity throughout procedures respecting their individual needs.
 Maintain accurate and concise documentation in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional
Conduct.
 Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team in promoting and managing change, contributing
ideas to enhance patient care workload efficiency.
 Assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care ensuring hospital policies and procedures are
adhered to.
 Can identify the importance of incident reporting and its effect on the quality of patient care.
 Know how to report issues that compromise quality of care and which personnel to report them to.

6. Equality, diversity and rights

 Acts in a manner that respects customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients and leads by example
as a professional and accountable member of the cardiology/radiology team.
 To have knowledge of hospital policy relating to equality and diversity.
 Be aware of factors affecting a multicultural team and take action to rectify that which compromises
individuals or the team.

7. Health and Wellbeing

Assess the physiological and psychological status of patients attending radiology and provide
individualised support and care to meet their needs.
 Establish and maintain a safe environment for clinical practice following departmental and hospital
policies.
 Throughout procedures, especially those involving conscious sedation, monitor the patient’s
condition and respond appropriately to maintain their safety. Inform the doctor of the patient’s status
and record all action taken by the team in the delivery and maintenance of care.
 Recognise and understand coronary artery disease and trauma processes relevant to the clinical
area and apply this knowledge to maintain patient safety during procedures.
8. Health and Wellbeing

 Be able to identify potential complications associated with radiological procedures and know how to
respond to these providing appropriate quick responses to support the team in stabilising the
patient.
 Assist the doctor performing the investigation as a runner or scrub nurse seeking clarity of
instructions wherever necessary.
 To know and be able to prepare patients for specific procedures performed in cardiology/radiology
maintaining their safety and dignity throughout.
 Upon completion of training have attained a sufficiently high level of individual competence in order
to facilitate immediate responses to emergency situations. This will include:
a. The preparation and use of all operating equipment in the role of first assistant to the Consultant
Cardiologist in both elective and emergency procedures.
b. The preparation and delivery of direct emergency support in life threatening situations in the role
of runner nurse.

9. People Management
  Supervise new and junior staff in the department as a colleague, mentor or link mentor.
 Assist in the management of the room into which you are assigned, using organisation and
interpersonal skills.
 To participate in on-call duties and shift patterns required to meet the demands of the service.
 Following training participate in the development review process of junior colleagues and provide
constructive feedback to enable change and professional development.

General Trust Standards

1. To act in a professional manner.

2. To adhere to the Trust policies and procedures.
3. Treat with complete confidentiality, all patient information you have knowledge of.
4. To report any area of concern to the Sister or Senior Nurse.
5. The job description will be reviewed annually and may be amended after discussion with the post
holder.
6. This job description is intended as a guide to the main responsibilities of the post, and the post
holder will be required to undertake such duties appropriate to the position as may be required by the
Manager to ensure the smooth running of the service.

Health and Safety

Within their own area of responsibility, the post holder will be responsible for assessing the risks to the
health and safety of staff, patients and visitors or to the achievement of the Trust’s objectives. The post
holder must ensure that identified risks are reported so that significant clinical and non-clinical risks are
included in the Hospital’s Risk Register. The post holder will participate, as required, in clinical and non-
clinical audit projects aimed at improving patient care and the effective and efficient delivery of service.

Apply standard precautions for Infection Control using a series of interventions that minimise or prevent
infection including effective hand washing/cleaning when appropriate on entering and leaving clinical areas
and between each patient.

Use personal protective clothing and additional protective equipment when appropriate. Strict
adherence to Trust Guidelines on collecting and handling of clinical specimens.

Infection Control

 Apply standard precautions for infection control, using a series of interventions that
minimize or prevent cross infection, including effective hand washing/cleansing when
appropriate, particularly on entering and leaving clinical areas and between each patient.

 Use of personal protective clothing and additional protective equipment when

appropriate.

 Strict adherence to Trust guidelines on collecting and handling of clinical specimens.

Clinical Governance
 The post holder will be accountable for continuously improving the quality of their
services and safeguarding high standards of care, and contribute to creating an
environment in which clinical excellence will flourish.
  The post holder will attend all mandatory training courses as laid out by the Trust and
attend other meetings and training sessions as arranged by the Sister. Relevant
information gained at these sessions to be fed back to all staff at the monthly meetings.

Dignity at Work

1 Be aware of the Trusts Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policy and conduct themselves
at all times in a professional and appropriate way.
2 Comply with requests to attend training or similar in support of the Policy.
3 As required, comply with requests for information regarding harassment and bullying
in the Trust.
4 Treat all colleagues and customers in a manner, which meets equal opportunities
and good practice.

Structure

Cardiac Manager

Cath Lab Sister/Junior Sister

Senior Staff Nurse

Post Holder(Staff Nurse)

Healthcare Support Worker

Dimensions

 Supervision of junior staff

 To work shift patterns

Work/Business contacts

Internal: Cath Lab Sister, Cardiology Managers, patients, members of multi-disciplinary team, ancillary
staff, ward staff, clinical administration staff, students and visitors.

External: Representatives from clinical equipment companies, external visitors, contractors and staff from
educational centres.

PART B
COMPETENCIES
NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework

Dimension Level KSF Standard

Communication C1 3 Develop and maintain communication with
people about difficult matters and/or in difficult
situations
Personal people development C2 3 Develop oneself and contribute to the
development of others
Health, safety & security C3 2 Monitor and maintain health, safety and security
of self and others
Service development C4 2 Contribute to the improvement of services
Quality C5 3 Contribute to improving quality
Equality, diversity & rights C6 2 Support equality and value diversity

Specific Dimensions Level

Health and Wellbeing HWB6 3 Assess physiological and psychological
functioning and develop, monitor and review
related treatment plans
Health and Wellbeing HWB7 3 Plan, deliver and evaluate interventions and/or
treatments
People Management G6 1/2 Plan, allocate and supervise the work of a team

PART C
Expertise in Role

Essential or How Assessed

Expertise in role required (at selection) Desirable

 NMC Registered General Nurse Essential Application form/

Certificate
 Ability to work within a team Essential Interview/portfolio

 Reliability and regular attendance Essential Application form/interview

 Able to work 37.5 hours working day and late shifts Essential Interview/portfolio
and on-call commitments (moving to night shifts in
the next few months)

 Teaching or mentoring qualification e.g. ENB 998 Desirable Application form/Interview

or Mentorship Preparation Course equivalent
 Essential Interview/portfolio
 Evidence of commitment to post qualification
learning or study
Essential Interview
 Ability to wear a lead apron and undertake manual
handling tasks.

Signatures (for initial post and at time of recruitment)

Approved by: Director/General Manager _________________________________________________

Approved by: Human Resources ________________________________________________________

Signatures

Post holder:_________________________________________________

Line Manager:_______________________________________________

Role Profile last reviewed: ___________________________________