NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

 Assess patients suitability and fitness for surgery and anaesthesia using 
agreed protocols
To take a targeted history of the patient including airway assessment.
 Conduct assessment of both the medical and psychological status of 
elective surgical patients, including carrying out physical assessment of 
the patient as required.
 To order and perform diagnostic tests within set protocols and working to V3.0 (Nov 09) agreed actions where abnormalities are discovered To ensure all test results are available for day of surgery
To take informed consent from patients taking part in relevant research and tissue donation
 To recognize the significance of any observation made and use them to 
highlight situations which may be detrimental to the health and well being of the patient.
 Refer patients who fall outside the agreed criteria to an anaesthetist, who may then make further referrals.
 Refer patient back to primary care or another healthcare professional to 
optimize the patients’ medical condition, according to local guidelines.
 To provide information about the pre-operative, intra-operative and postoperative process, ensuring the patient has an understanding of the proposed procedure and any specific preoperative instructions
 To identify any special requirements needed to facilitate prompt discharge
 Contact all patients failing to attend pre-operative assessment to identify the reason. Act on the reason, following Trust protocols for the management of DNA’s in pre-operative assessment.
 To communicate effectively and liaise with all members of the 
multidisciplinary team and primary care team as appropriate.
To comply at all times with the NMC code of conduct.
 Work autonomously and as part of a team.
 Support the Lead Nurse to maximise the best use of clinical resources, 
implementing best practice in patient flow, admission and discharge planning.
To participate in the recruitment and retention of staff.
 Liaise with the booking office staff, to co-ordinate the booking of pre-operative assessment clinics and to ensure that notes and relevant documentation are ready for the patients pre-operative assessment and subsequent admission.
 To implement changes to improve the service where necessary following 
complaints or incidents, ensuring systems are in place to learn from mistakes, manage risk and regulate professional practice.
 To supervise allocated staff, assist in their training and development and 
operate performance and development review.
 To arrange working patterns to reflect the needs of the service, ensuring that the service is accessible and convenient for all patients.
 To ensure that all equipment and supplies used within the department are effectively and resourcefully stocked and maintained.
 To attend and participate in departmental and clinical governance meetings as appropriate and provide feedback to team members as appropriate.
 Keep the Lead Nurse informed of changes in circumstances that may affect the delivery of care including the Pre-operative Assessment Sister in the absence of the Lead Nurse.
 To evaluate and continuously monitor standards within the pre-operative assessment clinic and refer to Lead Nurse as appropriate.

Clinical Governance / Quality
 Maintain a working environment that enhances and promotes the health and safety of patients staff and visitors
 Working with the Lead Nurse ensure risk assessments are relevant and 
appropriate V3.0 (Nov 09)
 Be responsible for maintaining a high quality service to patients. This will be achieved by continual professional development, adherence to National Service Frameworks and NICE and clinical guidance.
Act as the patients advocate within the pre-operative setting.
Assist in the integration of research into practice to promote evidence based care.
 Respond to patients and relatives concerns at clinic level and refer onto Lead Nurse as appropriate
 Assist in trusts agenda for patient and public involvement.
To assist with regular audits of the service, ensuring actions identified are used to enhance and promote the service.

 Act as a link nurse for the department, maintaining a learning resource for colleagues and provide training to staff as required.
Education and training development
 To act as a knowledge resource, clinical supervisor and mentor for junior 
nursing staff and student nurses.
 To advise patients on the promotion of health and the prevention of illness and ill health.
 To maintain own personal & professional development, keeping personal professional portfolio up to date.