An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic nurse to join the Respiratory Team which encompasses the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Bronchiectasis and Interstitial Lung Disease community service at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust as a Band 6 developing into Band 7 CNS. This role is to support face to face home visit
and clinic activity by running nurse-led clinics, develop specialist skills and knowledge to improve patient care, and supported discharge of respiratory patients.
The role is based at Pinfold Health Centre, working alongside nurse specialists and consultant respiratory physicians. The successful applicant will be supported through a robust 18-month training programme to gain specialist knowledge and specific skills in order to carry out the role as a band 7 Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist upon completion. The training will include time with a Respiratory Consultant as your allocated educational supervisor, supported clinic exposure and specialist skills such as chest x-ray interpretation supported by our team of Consultant Radiographers. Once deemed competent, the post holder will be committed to the development of COPD, Bronchiectasis or ILD services and the provision of nurse-led clinics and attendance at regional MDTs. You will be required to provide expert care and treatments for patients with specific respiratory conditions, including in-reach and supported discharge from emergency and acute care pathways.
The successful applicant will have a broad range of respiratory knowledge and skills to be able to support patients throughout their care pathway from diagnosis through to end-of-life care. The ability to liaise confidently and establish good networks across specialities and care settings is essential. You will be involved in training and education for Trust staff and external disciplines i.e. medical, nursing and support staff as well as educating patients and carers about their condition and management. You will, in all aspects, be supported by the consultant body as well as the wider MDT team to ensure that the service complies with local and national standards.
The post holder will be working across a variety of community settings. This is envisioned to also include supporting the Acute Respiratory Virtual Ward, titrating medications or prescribing once qualified as an independent prescriber. The role will also include managing the patient support group and supporting pulmonary rehabilitation with education sessions. Some of the specialist aspects of the role will include Point of care CRP testing, CBG sampling, venous blood sampling, monitoring bloods, spirometry testing and requesting radiological tests to act upon results. The post-holder will be expected to support the band 7 clinical nurse specialists at MDT’s and support with post discharge reviews.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.
- The post holder will train to become a competent CNS within the Respiratory Service with a focus on COPD, Bronchiectasis or ILD, working alongside the community band 7 CNS team, respiratory consultants and allied healthcare professionals to provide clinical management and professional leadership in the delivery and development of respiratory services.
- The post holder will work collaboratively with all members of the multidisciplinary team to promote, develop, and evaluate the clinical respiratory service within Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust community thus ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care.
- The post holder will be working across a variety of community settings including community nurse-led respiratory clinics. Supporting the new Acute Respiratory Virtual Ward within their scope as a trainee clinical nurse specialist.
- Assist in nurse-led clinics and, once a qualified independent prescriber, start and titrate medications, monitor bloods, including phlebotomy, and act on results.
- To utilise top to toe assessment skills to holistically manage patients
- Learn to manage telephone enquiries and respond to any respiratory-related enquiries as well as exploring patient needs holistically.
- Support the consultant team at MDT and to support patients out in community.
- Engage with the patient support group, supporting pulmonary rehabilitation with education sessions.
