Clinical Nurse Specialist, Candidate, Paediatric Haematology Oncology, University Hospital

Details of Service

Cork University Hospital (CUH) has approximately 800 beds and this will increase further to 1,000 beds on completion of the transfer of additional services to the CUH campus. CUH currently employs approximately 4,571 (WTE) staff of multiple professions and is the primary teaching hospital for the Faculty of Health and Science in University College Cork (UCC). UCC is the Academic partner of the South/South West Hospital Group. CUH has very strong relationships with each of the six schools within the Science Faculty of UCC and this is a key area for future development to maximise the opportunities for both the service and academia.

CUH is one of only two Major Trauma Centres in the Republic of Ireland due to the wide range of specialties delivered by the hospital – including Neurosciences, Cardiac Services, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Renal, Internal Medicine, Vascular, Ophthalmology, Urology, Plastic Surgery, Maxillary-Facial, Paediatrics, Intensive Care, Oncology, Haematology, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology and Emergency Medicine. CUH is JAG accredited and is a Magnet4Europe Hospital.

CUH is the tertiary referral centre for the HSE Southern area, and the supra regional area of Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny. CUH therefore acts as a regional centre for secondary and tertiary care for the catchment population of approx. 550,000 served by the HSE Southern area and a supra-regional centre for a total a population of 1.2 million.

Paediatric Haematology Oncology Service in CUH

The Safari Unit in the CUH is one of seventeen paediatric haematology/oncology shared care centers in Ireland, with the unit providing comprehensive multidisciplinary care to this patient cohort, including the delivery of Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT). The Safari Unit is a dedicated purpose built unit, delivering day-patient and unscheduled care, along with inpatient care in single occupancy, en-suite, protective isolation rooms.

The physical and psychological effects of the trajectory of illness can be overwhelming for some patients and caregivers. The CNS role is central to facilitate trust and confidence during the child’s treatment journey, address patient expectations and promote wellness, leading to improvements in patient outcomes, adherence with treatment and satisfaction with care.

The CNS has a pivotal role in meeting the psychological, emotional, clinical nursing and informational needs of patients and their families referred by the tertiary centre at CHIC. The CNS will be assigned a specific clinical case load as determined by the clinical services provided. The CNS will liaise with members of the MDT involved in patient care within the hospital and externally at the tertiary referral centre, and other health care agencies such as Public Health Nursing, Social Workers, G.P’s, local pharmacies, Early Intervention teams.

The caseload will involve acting as a point of contact for parents/guardians of patients living with cancer providing symptom management, advice and support, coordination of care, health promotion, education and advocacy.

Purpose of the Post

As outlined in this job description, the cCNS pathway will facilitate the post holder to be supported to professionally and clinically develop the skills and knowledge required to achieve the competencies of the CNS role.

The cCNS post holder will be enabled to deliver care in line with the five core concepts of the role set out in the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialist Posts, 4th edition, National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM) 2008.

Caseload

The cCNS will focus initially on the following service user groups: Paediatric patients aged 0–16 years of age (15 years 364 days specifically).

The cCNS clinical role is based on the core concepts and associated competencies for the CNS (adapted from NCNM 4th edition 2008)

The concepts are:

· Clinical Focus (Direct and Indirect Care)

· Service user/Service User Advocacy

· Education and Training

· Audit and Research

· Consultancy (including leadership in clinical practice)

Informal Enquiries

Diarmuid Nolan, Assistant Director of Nursing

Mobile: 087 3653102

Email: Diarmuid.Nolan@hse.ie