The Surgical Liaison Nurse (SLN) utilises clinical expertise to triage and co-ordinate a safe and efficient pre-operative journey for patients requiring both day only and inpatient elective procedures at NCH.

The SLN works both autonomously and in collaboration with the Endoscopy department, Surgical Bookings team, Pre-Admission Clinic, Anaesthetic and Surgical teams to assist in the management and scheduling of patients on the Elective Surgery Waiting List in accordance with the ACT Elective Surgery Access Policy.

The Surgical Liaison Nurse will demonstrate an advanced level of clinical knowledge in the acute care setting and will provide professional leadership in the planning, coordination and operational management of the service.

The position will utilise technical, clinical, research and education knowledge to assist decision making processes and change management initiatives. They may be required to run Pre-Admission Clinics with an Anaesthetist to complete pre-procedure assessment and patient education.

1. Provide leadership and excellence in the delivery of patient centred care utilising the nursing process which reflects the CHS values.
2. Promote collaboration between the multi-disciplinary team, families, and other members of the care delivery team.
3. The ability to think critically and utilise problem solving and negotiation skills.
4. Communicate effectively and appropriately (orally, non-verbally and in writing) in a diverse range of situations, using consistent and transparent processes.
5. Comply with and contribute to operational reporting requirements including data entry when required.
6. Develop and be accountable for the completion of a performance development plan with the ADON.
7. Undertake audits, participate in quality improvement and policy and procedure development.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• Good leadership skills with the ability to work independently to agreed outcomes.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet consumer’s needs.

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

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

Essential

• 5 years’ experience in an acute care surgical setting.

Desirable

• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.

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.

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.

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Proven expert knowledge and practice in surgical nursing specialties and proven ability to utilise advanced critical thinking and risk management strategies.
2. Demonstrated high level of interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to delegate, develop and provide direction to staff within a dynamic and innovative organisation.
3. Proven ability to work under minimal supervision and ability to use initiative to think strategically and problem solve as required. Demonstrated ability to liaise with multi-disciplinary team and use quality management principles to ensure ongoing review and development of high standards of patient care.
4. Demonstrated ability to provide and lead high quality, safe, evidence based clinical care, including the ability to assess acutely unwell patients accurately, safely and efficiently.
5. Demonstrates a commitment to work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience and displays behaviour consistent with Canberra Health Services/ Clare Holland House values of Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind.

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	Occasionally
Graphical/analytical based	Occasionally
Sitting at a desk	Occasionally
Standing for long periods	Frequently

Psychosocial demands	Frequency
Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations	Occasionally
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	Never
Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide	Never

Physical demands	Frequency
Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit)	Occasionally
Working outdoors	Never

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 - 9kg	Occasionally
Lifting 10 - 15kg	Occasionally
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
Reaching	Occasionally
Kneeling	Occasionally
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	Never
Excessive noise	Occasionally
Low lighting	Never
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Occasionally
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Never