The Division of Surgery (DoS) is responsible for delivering services to inpatient surgical wards in the following specialties: General Surgery, Gynae Oncology, Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery, Vascular, Urology, Cardio-thoracic, Orthopaedics, Plastics, Otolaryngology, Maxillofacial, Emergency General Surgery and Trauma Care.

Ward 7C Building 5 is a 30-bed inpatient surgical ward that provides care for patients who are admitted mainly under the Cardiothoracic, and Vascular team. This includes, providing pre-operative and post-operative care of elective and emergency surgery patients, and assessment, treatment and therapeutic interventions for patients who are for both operative and non-operative managements. This unit includes 6 bed cardiac bay allowing close observation and cardiac monitoring of post operative cardiac surgical patients. Ward 7CB5 has a great team of nurses who strive to provide positive outcomes for patients through the utilisation of the Team Nursing model.

The Clinical Development Nurse is expected to have a demonstrated competence in advanced nursing practice and provide guidance to less experienced nursing staff and students. The applicant will have operational responsibility to the Clinical Nurse Consultant. The CDN will be required to demonstrate experience in clinical teaching and a sound knowledge of adult learning principles to support ongoing clinical education, precept new and junior staff, mandatory skills assessment and competency assessment processes within the clinical practice setting of Ward 7CB5.

The applicant should demonstrate a willingness to be part of a vibrant and committed organisation that represents a set of values to allow for the provision of high-quality health care.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

• Facilitate clinical teaching within the workplace utilising adult learning principles and following practice standards and policies.
• Facilitate the development of clinical in-services to nurses considering the local requirements and contemporary evidence-based practices. Roster other Level 2s onto an in-service program to provide presentations for Ward staff.
• Facilitate reflective practice sessions for nurses within clinical area. In collaboration with CNC facilitate or arrange debriefing sessions with nurses and provide advice and support as required.
• Attend to competency-based assessment of all nurses within clinical settings (especially the Transition to Practice Nurse) as outlined in ANC and other specialised competencies where they exist or where they may be developed within the clinical area, record nurse competency assessments and assist the CNC to identify learning needs.
• Ensure nurses within the clinical area who assess mandatory skills are credentialed annually.
• Assist in the support, development and assessment of new preceptors on the clinical area.
• Act as a role model to promote evidence-based practice.
• Undertaking other duties as directed, within the approved scope of clinical practice ensuring the delivery of high-quality person and family centred, safe and high-quality patient care.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply.

Behavioural Capabilities

• Experienced surgical nurse with advanced surgical nursing skills.
• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

Essential

• Be registered or be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Relevant Tertiary Nursing qualifications in nursing

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Post graduate qualification in or working towards a higher degree in Education or Cert IV in Training and Assessment

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

Essential

• A minimum of 4 years full time equivalent post graduate experience in the relevant surgical nursing specialities.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• 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.
• The successful applicant will need to be available to work Monday to Friday on morning shifts with the opportunity to work one evening shift a week.

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. A proven high level of demonstrated clinical knowledge and competence in Cardiothoracic and Vascular nursing, providing direct patient care of varying complexities, utilising evidence informed practice and incorporating a risk assessment approach while working within professional legislation and existing policies and procedures.
2. Incorporating adult learning principles demonstrates an ability to assist individual nurses in the assessment of their own learning needs, assimilation of skills and knowledge and assessing the competence of nurses/midwives within the clinical setting.
3. Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills and ability to communicate and liaise effectively and appropriately with staff, patients and other key stakeholders in a diverse range of situations, including negotiation, consultation and delegation using consistent and transparent processes.
4. Demonstrated commitment to evidence-based practice within the clinical area through participation in policy, procedure and guideline development and continuous professional development of self and others. Demonstrated active participation in promoting and compliance with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behavior consistent with CHS’s 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	Frequently
Graphical/analytical based	Frequently
Sitting at a desk	Frequently
Standing for long periods	Frequently

Travel	Frequency
Frequent travel – multiple work sites	Never
Frequent travel – driving	Never

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

Psychosocial demands	Frequency
Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations	Frequently
Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness	Frequently
Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries	Frequently
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

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	Never
Low lighting	Occasionally
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Frequently
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Occasionally

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 – 9kg	Occasionally
Lifting 10 – 15kg	Never
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
Reaching	Occasionally
Kneeling	Occasionally
Foot and leg movement	Occasionally
Hand, arm and grasping movements	Frequently
Bending/squatting	Frequently
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting	Frequently
Push/pull	Frequently
Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time	Occasionally