Position overview
The North Canberra Hospital Division of Surgery is responsible for delivering inpatient and outpatient surgical services. The division includes surgical bookings, Preadmission clinic, anaesthesia, Pain Management, Perioperative unit, Endoscopy and specialist surgical ward areas. The North Canberra Hospital campus has two Endoscopy procedural rooms and provides the following endoscopic services for both inpatients and outpatients including gastroscopy, colonoscopy and bronchoscopy.
The Clinical Development Nurse is seen by the organisation as a source of expert nursing knowledge, skills and attributes. The Clinical Development Nurse must demonstrate a higher level of skill and the ability to perform a more demanding role covering the domains: clinical care, leadership, education, quality improvement, safety and communication.
The Clinical Development nurse provides direct clinical support, teaching, ongoing evaluation and feedback for graduate nurses, staff and students within the clinical setting for Canberra Health Services. The Clinical Development Nurse is expected to have demonstrated competence in advanced nursing practice, provide guidance to less experienced nursing staff and provide direct nursing care as required. This role works collaboratively with and takes direction on clinical and educational priorities from the Perioperative Educator and the Clinical Nurse Consultant
Key responsibilities
Promote evidence based best practice by facilitating the education of colleagues, new and / or less experienced staff by:
- Orientating and precepting of new staff/students.
- Undertaking competency assessments as required with colleagues and new staff.
- Providing one on one supervision of clinical practice as required.
- Disseminating knowledge gained through attendance at educational forums via feedback at staff meetings and / or written reports.
- Supporting senior staff in the delivery of education programs / packages.
- Fulfil the obligations of the professional role by functioning within legal and organisational requirements and acting as a role model in the provision of high-quality holistic care.
- Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team setting and have in depth knowledge of legislation affecting clinical practice within CHS.
- Initiate and assist with development and revision of clinical policy and practice manuals, nursing practice review and clinical research activities associated with the Endoscopy Suite.
- Educate and actively participate in risk assessment and incident reporting, lead and support peers in continuous quality improvement activities, participate in program-based research and accreditation with the aim of improving the level of service to patients and the department.
- Communicate effectively with patients and colleagues utilising well developed verbal, written and technological skills. Utilise departmental computer programs and databases to assist in communication and to collect information for the generation of reports and statistics.
- Monitor and keep records of new graduate nurses participating in Foundation Programs together with existing nursing staff within the Endoscopy Suite to ensure all essential skills are credentialed annually.
- Maintain professional standards, current policies and procedures and facilitate and participate in the credentialing processes as required by the department.
- Maintain clinical and other skills that are required for this position through accessing appropriate education and staff development opportunities and enhance own professional competence through ongoing self-initiated research.
- Actively participate in Performance Management Agreement activities to optimise own professional learning and development. Promote reflective practice for nurses within the Endoscopy Suite and facilitate or arrange debriefing sessions, providing advice and support as required.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.
Competencies
- Advanced clinical and problem-solving skills
- Designing, delivering and evaluating education programs
- Facilitate ongoing professional development and mandatory training
- Promoting a culture of continuous improvement and learning
- Effective verbal and written communication skills
- Providing clear and constructive feedback to staff
- Promoting adherence to evidence-based practices, policies and procedures
- Supporting staff through change process
- Conducting assessment of clinical performance and competency
- Supporting inclusive approach to education and care that respect diversity.
Qualifications
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.
Essential
- Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Desirable
- Holds or working towards a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.
Experience
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
Essential
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in a surgical and/or Endoscopy nursing role.
Desirable
- Prior experience in the CDN role will be highly desirable.
- Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.
Prior to commencement
- Pre-employment National Police Check.
- Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
Important information
All employees are required to:
- Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
- Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
- Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
- Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work as required.
CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.
Key selection criteria
These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.
- Proven understanding of adult learning principles and the ability to assist nurses across all Endoscopy nurse roles in the assessment of their own learning needs, assimilation of skills and knowledge, and evaluation of outcomes.
- Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills and leadership with the ability to communicate and liaise effectively and appropriately with staff, patients and other key stakeholders in a diverse range of situations including negotiation, delegation and conflict resolution using consistent and transparent processes and ensuring confidentiality.
- Demonstrated ability to assess the competence of nurses utilising evidence informed practice and incorporating a risk assessment approach while working within professional legislation and existing policies and procedures.
- Demonstrated knowledge of, commitment to, and participation in nursing practice review, educational research, quality improvement and reflective practice, and a commitment to personal ongoing learning and development.
- Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.
Work environment description
The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.
| Administrative | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Telephone use | Frequently |
| General computer use | Frequently |
| Extensive keying/data entry | Frequently |
| Graphical/analytical based | Frequently |
| Sitting at a desk | Occasionally |
| Standing for long periods | Occasionally |
| Psychosocial demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations | Frequently |
| Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness | Occasionally |
| Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries | Occasionally |
| Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers | Occasionally |
| Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide | Occasionally |
| Physical demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit) | Frequently |
| Working outdoors | Never |
| Manual handling | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Lifting 0 - 9kg | Frequently |
| Lifting 10 - 15kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 16kg+ | Never |
| Climbing | Never |
| Running | Occasionally |
| Reaching | Occasionally |
| Kneeling | Never |
| Foot and leg movement | Frequently |
| Hand, arm and grasping movements | Frequently |
| Bending/squatting | Occasionally |
| Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting | Occasionally |
| Push/pull | Occasionally |
| Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time | Occasionally |
| Travel | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frequent travel – multiple work sites | Never |
| Frequent travel – driving | Never |
| Specific hazards | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Working at heights | Never |
| Exposure to extreme temperatures | Never |
| Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift | Never |
| Confined spaces | Occasionally |
| Excessive noise | Occasionally |
| Low lighting | Occasionally |
| Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological. | Occasionally |
| Slippery or uneven surfaces | Occasionally |
Directorate: CHS
Division: Surgery
Business Unit: Endoscopy
Position number: 603875
Position title: Clinical Development Nurse - Endoscopy
Classification: Registered Nurse Level 2
Location: North Canberra Hospital, Bruce
Reporting relationships: Direct Manager: CNC Endoscopy and Day Procedure Unit Manager +1: ADON Surgical Services