The Rheumatology Department at Canberra Hospital has a strong focus on clinical service delivery, supporting rheumatology patients within the ACT and surrounding regional areas. We provide leadership in musculoskeletal medicine; promote evidence-based practice and undertake clinical research to improve rheumatology patient outcomes.

The Rheumatology Registered Nurse (RN) Level 2 will play a key role in providing day to day care and support to rheumatology patients and their families living with arthritis and autoimmune disease, ensuring appropriate referrals and timely access to care. In collaboration with the Rheumatology Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) and rheumatology medical team, the Rheumatology RN2 coordinates investigations, appointments, clinical care, and education for rheumatology patients, including patients undergoing biologic Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (bDMARD) therapy for inflammatory arthritis.

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

• Provide a patient-centred approach for patients and their families living with arthritis and autoimmune diseases that incorporates individualised care coordination across health settings, including coordination between diagnostic tests, outpatient treatments, inpatient visits, community care and other resources as required to achieve access to timely and appropriate referrals and appointments.
• Consult with a Rheumatologist, the patient’s General Practitioner (GP), Advanced Practice Nurse, key stakeholder and other members of the multi-disciplinary team develop, implement, and evaluate individual patient management plans.
• Provide clinical assessment and education to ensure that the patient and their family have access to support and information regarding arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Similarly, provide education and clinical support for nursing staff working with these patients in the ward environment and assistance with the medication management.
• Assume responsibility for organising and co-ordinating specialist treatments for patients. This will involve organising appointments, pre-treatment tests, liaising with other hospital departments, and organising follow-up investigations, as appropriate.
• Undertake personal professional development to stay abreast of national and international trends regarding arthritis and autoimmune diseases.
• Assume responsibility for maintenance of the patient database. This will involve the input of patient information on a case-by-case basis along with ensuring that the accuracy of the database is maintained.
• As required, participate in departmental research projects and/or quality improvement activities, as directed, within the approved scope of clinical practice.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following.

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.
• An ability to work respectfully in partnership with a range of stakeholders, while concurrently demonstrating leadership.
• Advanced clinical and problem-solving skills.
• Expert planning and coordination skills in the clinical management of patients with chronic and complex disease.
• Lead the management and coordination of comprehensive care for individual recipients of healthcare.

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

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification or related qualification in Nursing
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Holds or is working towards a post graduate qualification in Rheumatology and/or Musculoskeletal Nursing
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

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

Essential

• Four years’ fulltime equivalent work experience in a similar role and or hospital setting.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• Prior experience in in clinical care of patients with arthritis and autoimmune diseases will be highly desirable

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

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
• 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. Demonstrated knowledge in clinical care of patients with arthritis and autoimmune diseases, including an understanding of the issues confronting individuals (patients and carers’) with a chronic disease
2. Well-developed interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and a proven ability to provide strong leadership to and work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve the coordination of complex care for patients and their families in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings
3. Demonstrated ability to educate staff, patients and their families, utilising different methods, skills and tools as required
4. Articulate and demonstrate capability to initiate, implement, embed, and evaluate quality improvement, accreditation and research projects which contribute to improved knowledge, practice, and care relevant to patients living with arthritis and autoimmune chronic disease
5. 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.

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	Occasionally
Sitting at a desk	Frequently
Standing for long periods	Frequently

Travel	Frequency
Frequent travel – multiple work sites	Occasionally
Frequent travel – driving	Occasionally

Physical demands	Frequency
Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit)	Frequently
Working outdoors	Occasionally

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	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	Occasionally
Low lighting	Occasionally
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Occasionally
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Occasionally

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 – 9kg	Frequently
Lifting 10 – 15kg	Occasionally
Lifting 16kg+	Occasionally
Climbing	Never
Running	Occasionally
Reaching	Frequently
Kneeling	Frequently
Foot and leg movement	Frequently
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