Pre-Assessment Nurse Band 6 inEdmonton inEdmonton PUBLISHED WED 30 OCT 2024

The Post holder should be able to carry an assessment on patients who are undergoing Day Cases and Inpatient Elective Surgery in accordance with our Pre-Assessment Unit Guidelines. They should be able to manage the clinic with support and guidance of the senior nurses in the department and would be expected to do competently eventually.

They are expected to have significant clinical experience in both medical and surgical background, to ensure the seamless transition of patients through

Pre-Assessment to the day of Surgery. The post holder would be responsible for assessing patient's fitness, working closer with the waiting list co-ordinators in admission and liaising with other relevant members of the multi-disciplinary team as appropriate.

The post holder would be expected to be engaged and willing to learn at a fast pace to maintain and manage their own caseload of paints and overseeing the junior staff in the department by providing advice and support.

They will work within the Pre-Assessment Unit alongside to Main Theatre and Day Surgery to promote a good close working environment.

The post holder acts in accordance with the NMC code of Professional Conduct and with local hospital and statutory guidelines and policies.

They should be a role model for expert clinical knowledge, provide sound clinical expertise to their team and coordinate and deliver high standard of care to their patients.

The Pre-Assessment Unit consists of a small team of nurses working closely together with the Admission Team, Day Surgery Unit and Theatres, to promote a good working environment servicing the needs of the local community. The Pre-Assessment Service is fully supported by our Anaesthetic Department and our Surgical Consultant.

The POA workload covers the following specialties Urology, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Breast Surgery, Gynaecology Surgery and Ophthalmology cases undergoing General Anaesthetist.

All staff in the department work as a cohesive team to respect the privacy and dignity of all patients and ensure a high quality of holistic care.

About us

Clinical Responsibilities:

• Ensure patients are pre-assessed prior to undergoing elective surgery within the Surgical Directorate.
• Take detailed present and past medical history including social history.
• Taking vital signs, height and weight.
• MRSA / MSSA screening as per pre-assessment protocol.
• Recall patient for treatment if found to be MRSA positive. Recall for re-screening to monitor MRSA status.
• Provide support and information to patients and relatives on all aspects of surgery prior to admission, which includes Health Education.
• Work to agreed protocols and guidelines supported by and in conjunction with the Modernisation Agency.
• Assess the suitability for patients requiring a surgical procedure or operation by providing appropriate routine testing and assessment.
• Arrange other specialist tests i.e. Echocardiogram, pulmonary function test if needed.
• Identify clinical abnormalities that will impair on the surgical journey and act to resolve them
• Liaise with Anaesthetic and Senior Medical Staff to ensure patients fit for surgery.
• Arrange patients to be reviewed prior to operation by anaesthetists if appropriate.
• Arrange referrals to other medical specialists i.e. Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine.
• Arrange alternative management as necessary including referring patients back to their GP or specialists in other professions as necessary.
• Maintain accurate records including pre-operative testing and care interventions to form the basis of total patient records.
• Initiate discharge planning using agreed formats and working closely with members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team.
• Ensure patient is on the most appropriate route for surgical intervention.
• Carry out all relevant forms of care of designated patients and be able to supervise learner nurses and Health Care Support Workers.
• Responsible for the monitoring and audit of the pre-operative assessment service against the service objectives. Assesses the effectiveness of patients outcomes and maximises theatre utilisation.
• Working within the Trusts pre-assessment policies and guidelines.
• Ensuring all forms of communication are used effectively in the interests of patients care.
• Reporting to Manager or Senior Divisional Nurse in the absence of the former, any untoward incidents occurring.
• Ability to complete relevant paperwork regarding untoward incidents.
• Ensure work with the Trust/unit and ward policies in order to maintain professional, clinical and patient safety.
• The maintenance of an acceptable environment for patients, reporting and taking appropriate action in emergency situations and for personally attending the compulsory update sessions.
• Have knowledge and monitor good hand hygiene and environmental cleaning practices.
• Ensure a working knowledge of all information technology systems in use within the Trust i.e. Careflow, e-mail and intranet in line with Trust policies and procedures on real time data collection and confidentiality.
• Ensure a full working knowledge of all equipment in use in clinical area.

Managerial:

• To be responsible for the day-to-day management requirements of the pre-operative assessment service while manager is away.
• To produce the off-duty rota and sickness monitor forms on a monthly basis in the absence of or under instruction of the unit manager.
• Ensure sickness and absence/time keeping policies are adhered to by all staff.
• Ensure that the Trusts induction policy is adhered to for all new members of staff.
• Ensure that the staffs are capable to undertaking the duties delegated to them.
• Ensure that all staff is aware of the Health & Safety, Fire and Cardiac Arrest Policies.
• Liase with the domestic administration to ensure unit is cleaned.
• Ensure that all staff adheres to the guidelines for infection control as laid down in the infection control manual and to liase regularly with the senior infection control nurse.
• Work toward achieving personal objectives and assist junior staff in achieving team objectives.
• To assist medical staff by reporting on patients condition from the pre-op assessment and make suggestions in order to optimise patient for surgery.
• To receive and contribute information at departmental meeting and audit.
• To liase with other heads of departments for their co-operation and support to ensure the smooth running of the unit.
• To ensure that confidentiality of patient identifiable information is maintained at all times.
• Ensuring the safe custody and usage of drugs in accordance with established procedures, policies and laws.
• Preparing and supervising the preparation of statements and contributing information to the Unit manager on untoward and unexpected situations relating to any legal responsibilities e.g. accidents to staff/patients/visitors, complaints or losses.
• Innovate change when appropriate.
• Implement the Trusts Corporate Governance Strategy with regard to meeting the necessary standards of accountability, financial control, patient and public involvement and the delivery of clinical outcomes.

Communication:

• Participate in the multi-disciplinary decision-making process regarding changes in patient care and order of operating lists.
• Communicate work priorities for a given period to junior colleagues.
• Demonstrate awareness of others emotional, physical, and psychological situation and respond sensitively.
• Report to Team Leader or Team Manager accidents, incidents, and complaints.
• Communicates effectively with patients and colleagues and facilitate a question-andanswer dialogue with patients and relatives.
• Communicate nursing interventions to relatives and carers with rationale and be able to demonstrate listening skills and the use of non-verbal cues.
• Evaluate written information and documentation.
• Actively contribute to team discussions.
• Participate in the multi-disciplinary decision-making process regarding changes in patient care and order of operating lists.
• Ensure patient care is documented appropriately and that all electronic records are maintained and accurate.

Governance:

• Ensure a high standard of clinical care to patients.
• Keep patients involved in their treatment by providing information to patients.
• Identify any risks elements involved in the provision of health care.
• Update clinical skills to maintain professional development.