Senior ECMO Specialist Leicester, England
Job description
The purpose of the post is to manage and provide expert specialist clinical nursing care to neonatal, paediatric & adult ECMO patients.
The Senior ECMO Specialist acts as a keyworker for the patient.
The Senior ECMO Specialist will lead in the use of evidence-based clinical practice in line with current research, guidelines and other available evidence.
They will ensure that patients and their families are fully informed about their journey through the service.
The Senior ECMO Specialist will liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team when required to ensure delivery of reliable high quality care.
Provide high quality patient care and to be visible, accessible and responsive to the needs of patients and the public.
Develop specialised programmes of care / care packages for patients within the specialism and to give highly specialised advice to specific patient groups and other members of a multi-disciplinary team, relatives / carers.
Responsibility within the Women’s & Children’s / ITAPS Clinical Management Groups (CMG) for the development and direction of the clinical aspects of ECMO, as well as an advanced practice role.
It is envisaged that the Senior ECMO Specialist will expand his / her role in accordance with departmental requirements and his / her own scope of practice.
To act as a source of expertise on the management of ECMO patients to other health care professionals.
We are looking for an extremely enthusiastic, flexible, well motivated & experienced intensive care nurse to join our dynamic senior ECMO team.
You will be part of a 24 hour Duty ECMO Co-ordinator on-call service and you should be able to display a strong commitment to patient care and demonstrate continuous professional development.
The successful candidate will provide expert patient care and continuous surveillance & management of the extra-corporeal life support system during clinical operations on our adult intensive care unit & paediatric intensive care unit.
(Applicants need to be in possession of critical care modules, CVVH competent, ECMO Specialist Training Course, transport experience and a desire to work for both AICU / CPICU services).
“We are actively promoting flexible working options, helping you to manage a work / life balance”.
We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals. We have our very own Children’s Hospital and run one of the country’s leading heart centres.
Our team is made up of more than 17,000 staff providing a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
We work with partners at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University providing world-class teaching to nurture and develop the next generation of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, many of whom go on to spend their working lives with us.
Our purpose is to provide ‘Caring at its best’ and our staff have helped us create a set of values that embody who we are and what we’re here to do. They are:
- We focus on what matters most
- We treat others how we would like to be treated
- We are passionate and creative in our work
- We do what we say we are going to do
- We are one team and we are best when we work together
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: (leicestershospitals.nhs.uk)
To be a visible, accessible and assertive figure to whom patients, relatives and staff can turn for assistance, advice and support.
In the absence of the ECMO Co-ordinator, lead the unit team and build successful links between nursing and other professions to support and promote effective multi-disciplinary team working.
To lead and support the unit team through process of change, demonstrating tenacity, drive, professional integrity, balance and perspective.
To develop the role of other team members, supporting them in gaining the appropriate competencies to achieve the required standards of care.
To motivate all team members and lead innovation and expertise in clinical practice by example.
Through effective communication, disseminate information across the health care teams.
To resolve conflict and ensure feedback and planning for the future occurs.
Is responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for the ECMO patient. Ensures that the care is consistent with UHL and department protocols and standards.
Is responsible for the monitoring of all components of the ECMO circuit during clinical operation with consistently high levels of proficiency as per ECMO protocol.
Will maintain an organised, clean and safe environment around the ECMO patient and circuit.
Notifies the ECMO Co-ordinator and medical teams of problems encountered in maintaining the ordered parameter level or any dysfunction in the ECMO circuit.
Documents all data relative to the integrity and function of the ECMO system and the patient’s response.
Initiates emergency procedures relative to the ECMO circuit whilst summoning assistance.
Will be able to prioritise time and tasks accordingly to patient, service and organisational needs. Act in a supportive and advisory role to other ECMO Specialists in their time management and organisational priorities.
Demonstrates specialist theoretical knowledge and clinical expertise in those activities which fall within the scope of practice of the ECMO Specialist.
To be responsible for ensuring own professional development, so that the necessary skills required meeting patient’s needs are obtained and developed. Will identify own developmental needs and ensure PREP requirements are met.
To be realistic in expectations of objective setting whilst balancing with the service needs.
To be able to critically analyse patient’s clinical condition and ensure appropriate actions and interventions.
Provide psychological support, advice and information to patients, relatives and colleagues.
Facilitate in the education of staff, students and visitors. Providing instruction and supervision in relation to the care of the patient.
Acts as mentor / preceptor for ECMO Specialist Training Course students.
To assist in the development of standards of care and assist in the development of ECMO practice founded on up to date information and research.
Assist and participate in audit, research and quality assurance projects.
Regularly participates in skills performance evaluation sessions bi-annually.
Facilitate positive working relationships and maintain effective communication across all disciplines of staff, patients and relatives within UHL.
To work effectively, co-operatively and creatively to develop, support and promote the ethos of the team.
Be proactive in promoting the service / units locally, nationally and internationally.
Operates within the clinical governance framework.
Maintain the confidentiality of information that is received by them during the course of their work in relation to both patients and staff. Ensures that confidential information held is out of the reach of unauthorised persons.
Participates in bi-monthly scheduled ECMO update meetings.
Participates in study days and relevant conferences.
