Job/Role Summary

Working as a team leader for rapid response from 7pm-12mn. Delivering acute care to patients in own home requiring IV antibiotics, subcutaneous fluids, palliative care, end of life care and responding to GP out of hours calls and hospital referrals as necessary. Also arranging off-duty for night staff and act as expert advice to team.

 

Specific qualifications and experience required

• Registered nurse part 1 NMC
• 3 years post registration experience in general nursing in past 5 years, 1 of which should be in community nursing

 

Career Milestones

I was a nurse initailly based in a large Belfast hospital. Gained position as a practice nurse within a GP practice and developed skills to be a health assessor, nurse practitioner and nurse prescriber. Also interest in palliative care has enabled me to offer expert advice.

 

What attracted you to this job?

Practice nurse post part time. Team leader post, although night hours 7-11pm suited. Also enabled me to work directly with patients in their own homes and develop the staff on twilight shifts

 

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

• Personal contact with critically ill and end of life patients and their families
• Making a real difference during crisis situations
• Keeping patients out of hospital
• Supervising and developing staff

 

Important success factors

• Managing a highly skilled, highly motivated team of nurses who are willing to expand their roles
• Offering expert advice in end of life scenarios
• Being able to respond to emergencies that would otherwise require hospitalisation

 

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

• Be prepared to meet the unexpected when arriving at patient's home
• Be prepared to be creative and adapt to each situation as it arrives
• The colleague would need to have a understanding of staffing issues within a team of staff who work during unsocial hours
• Very rewarding

 

Key skills that can be gained within this job/role?

• Managing staff and covering sick leave to ensure safe cover of service over last 9 years
• Palliative care and managing relatives in a crisis situation
• As prescriber, understanding medicines most appropriate
• Close liaison with local out of hours GPs