Download POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION DESCRIPTION
March 2010
This Position Description is a guide and will vary from time to time and
between services and/or units to meet changing service needs
The Canterbury District Health Board is committed to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
and the overarching objectives of the New Zealand health and disability strategies.
Organisational Vision
The CDHB’s vision is to improve the health and well being of the people living in Canterbury.
Organisational Values
 Care & respect for others
 Integrity in all we do
 Responsibility for outcomes
POSITION TITLE:
CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST
REPORTS TO (Title):
Charge Nurse Manager/Clinical Manager/Nurse
Consultant
REPORTS ON A DAILY BASIS TO:
Charge Nurse Manager/Clinical Manager
PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES
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To provide mental health nursing leadership that is committed to the maintenance and
development of high quality nursing practice
To facilitate continuity and consistency of nursing care within multi-disciplinary teams.
To provide nursing leadership within multi-disciplinary teams.
To provide nursing input to service development
To provide nursing leadership in the establishment of best practice initiatives
Provide expert nursing knowledge and clinical leadership through regular involvement in
direct consumer care delivery.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Nursing Staff
1
Student Nurses
2
Care givers
3
FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
()
INTERNALLY:
1 Nursing Staff
2 Mental Health Nursing Directorate
3 Te Korowai Atawhai
4 Medical staff
Allied Health Staff
5 Consumer/Family Advisors
HR/3131.doc
EXTERNALLY:
1 Relevant health and other sector/community organisations
2 Nursing Education Providers
3 Nursing Students
KEY PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:
Task
1.
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Expected Result
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TO FACILITATE HIGH QUALITY NURSING PRACTICE
Actively promote nurses to work in partnership with consumers in
carrying out safe, effective nursing assessment, planning,
implementation and evaluation for all consumers under care.
Rolemodel direct care delivery and support nursing staff in the
management of defined area of speciality practice.
Co-ordinate nursing team members (where appropriate) in the
provision of continuity of consumer care
Guide nursing staff to complete accurate, relevant and timely
consumer information documentation
Work with the Charge Nurse Manager/Clinical Manager and Nurse
Consultant on the maintenance and ongoing development of quality
nursing care standards by supporting and monitoring clinical
performance of nursing staff.
Promote awareness and implementation of appropriate procedures
and clinical processes as per all relevant standards and policies.
Ensure nursing staff practice is consistent with the principles of the
Treaty of Waitangi and recognises the needs of the consumer,
family/whanau/ caregivers.
Identify and discuss with the Charge Nurse Manager/Clinical
Manager and Nurse Consultant clinical practice and performance
concerns, professional development and nursing-related issues
Participate in the development and evaluation of clinical practice
guidelines.
Deliver and promote care based on theory and research.
 Nurses are familiar with and utilise relevant policies and procedures.
 Nursing documentation is completed appropriately.
 Nursing practice issues are highlighted and addressed in partnership
with the Charge Nurse Manager/Clinical Manager and in consultation
with the Nurse Consultant
 Nursing issues regarding consumer care are identified and
discussed with the Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT)
 The Charge Nurse Manager/Clinical Manager and Nurse Consultant
are kept informed of any clinical practice and performance concerns,
and nurses’ professional requirements.
 Consumers receive contemporary evidenced based clinical nursing
care.
 Auditing of caseloads/documentation is timely and ongoing
 Relevant mental health nursing and other standards are used to
evaluate Mental Health Nursing practice.
Task
2.
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TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF THE
MDT
Actively participate in meetings with all members of the MDT.
Promote communication between other MDT members and nursing
staff and consumers, whanau and significant others.
Bring a nursing perspective to the management of consumer care
within the MDT.
Promote nursing leadership within the MDT
Follow up on clinical nursing related issues identified by the MDT as
needing CNS input.
Expected Result
 Nursing input at all MDT meetings.
 Effective communication between other MDT members and nurses.
 Consumer treatment plans reflect nursing input.
Task
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Expected Result
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HR/3131.doc
TO SUPPORT NURSES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Assess competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) of nursing
staff.
Contribute to meeting professional development needs of nursing
staff.
Encourage and support nurses to meet their identified professional
development goals.
Provide clinical guidance and mentoring.
Participate in monitoring the orientation and preceptorship of new
nurses.
Maintain an oversight of student nurses’ clinical placements.
In consultation with the Charge Nurse Manager/Clinical Manager
and Nurse Consultant develop strategies and work with nurses to
address clinical practice and performance issues
Work with the Charge Nurse Manager/Clinical Manager to ensure
orientation systems are in place and that monitoring of these
systems occurs
Nursing professional development needs are addressed as per
stated goals from performance appraisals /professional
development plans
New nurses receive CNS input.
Participation in nurses Performance Appraisals.
Orientations systems are in place with changes made in response to
ongoing monitoring and evaluations.
Task
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TO PROVIDE CLINICAL LEADERSHIP
Provide a senior nursing leadership role as part of best practice
initiatives/service development.
Actively promote nurse’s involvement in best practice initiatives.
Provide input into policy and procedure development.
Actively promote nursing input into policy and procedure
development.
Participate in nursing staff selection processes in conjunction with
the Charge Nurse Manager/ Clinical Manager.
Provide leadership in supporting a culture of evaluation and the
ongoing quality improvement of nursing practice.
Provide leadership in working with consumers with a range of high
and complex mental health needs
Provide senior nursing leadership into the unit and wider service
and, as appropriate, consultation to a broad range of health welfare
and other community organisations.
Initiate/participate in and evaluation activities as appropriate.
Expected Result
 Nurses contribute to service development activities.
 Contributes to a range of clinical teaching activities
 Nurses are involved in clinical governance eg quality improvement
and evaluation activities
 Actively contributes to the care of consumers with high and complex
mental health needs.
 Participates in consultation and liaison with a broad range of health,
welfare and other community organisations.
 Active involvement in service issues and their resolution at unit/team
and wider service levels
 Participates in staff selection.
Task
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Expected Result
HR/3131.doc
TO
PARTICIPATE
DEVELOPMENT.
IN
ONGOING
PROFESSIONAL
Maintain a high level of professional competence in job performance
by participating in clinical supervision and ongoing professional
education/training as per annual professional development plan
(Performance Appraisal process)
Maintain clinical competence required for CNS role.
 Annual Performance Appraisal
 Maintains clinical supervision.
 Engaged in ongoing education/training.
HEALTH & SAFETY:
Implement or lead and implement emergency procedures and maintain a safe and secure
work environment by following relevant Canterbury DHB and Divisional policies, protocols
and standards. This includes but is not limited to:
 Practice safe work habits and ensure the health and safety of yourself and others
 Make unsafe work situations safe or, inform a supervisor or manager
 Is knowledgeable about hazards in the work area ant the procedures in place to identify
and control hazards
 Use Personal Protective Equipment correctly and when required
 Report hazards, incidents, accidents, and near misses promptly and accurately
 Seek advice from manager is unsure of work practices
 Complete mandatory training as required
 Is knowledgeable of emergency procedures and evacuation plans
 Assists in maintenance of equipment as required, and reports faulty equipment promptly
 Actively practice clinical standard precautions
 Maintain knowledge of and promote H&S policies to staff
 Report to the General Manager on H&S issues, meetings, programmes and initiatives
 Ensure H&S programmes are sustained and adequately resourced
 Ensure appropriate system is in place to identify, assess and control workplace hazards
 Ensure accidents and injuries are reported and investigated, ensure relevant
documentation is completed and forwarded to H&S Advisor
 Ensure all employees are provided with information about hazards and controls in the
workplace
 Ensure all staff are induced in H&S policies and procedures relevant to their position and
workplace
 Ensure regular audits to monitor hazard identification and control
QUALITY:
Every staff member within CDHB is responsible for ensuring a quality service is provided in
their area of expertise. All staff are to be involved in quality activities and should identify
areas of improvement. All staff are to be familiar with and apply the appropriate
organisational and divisional policies and procedures.
HR/3131.doc
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
Essential
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Current registered nurse practising certificate.
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Completed minimum 3-5 years nursing practice within mental health services, with
preferably three years experience in the relevant speciality,
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Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people from diverse
social/cultural groups.
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Display a commitment to ongoing professional development.
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Demonstrate required level of mental health nursing skills (comparable to senior
nurse performance appraisal or expert level PDRP.
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Demonstrated ability to work in partnership with consumers/tangata whaiora, with
their family whanau and with other team members.
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Demonstrated understanding and application in practice of principles of the Treaty of
Waitangi, biculturalism, and cultural safety.
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Demonstrated ability as a clinical educator and mentor with nursing students and
nursing staff.
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Ability to effectively advocate a nursing perspective within multi-disciplinary teams.
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Commenced/completed relevant mental health related post graduate study (or
equivalent)
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Attending formal individual supervision.
Desirable
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Recognised by peers in terms of skill level and ability to work as a team member.
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Demonstrated skills in nursing leadership.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:
Display a high degree of confidence, assertiveness and motivation.
Ability to act as a clinical role model for nurses, diplaying a passion and enthusiasm for
mental health nursing
Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills
Well developed personal organisational skills.
Resilience.
MANDATORY
Key Behaviours:
 Ability to “work together” in a truthful and helpful manner.
 Ability to “work smarter” by being innovative and proactive.
 Accepts responsibility for actions.
 Ability to provide inspirational and motivational leadership
The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of the major
duties and responsibilities performed by staff in this job classification. Staff members may
be requested to perform job related tasks other than those specified.
HR/3131.doc