Clinical Nurse Specialist - Urology

About the Hermitage Clinic

Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic is a private hospital providing a full range of medical and surgical care across a broad spectrum of specialities. Each Ward provides a range of services and this role is important in making a significant contribution, developing and maintaining best practice in nursing services at clinical areas. 

The Hermitage Clinic is now part of Blackrock Health private hospital group along with the Blackrock Clinic, Galway Clinic, and Limerick Clinic, some of the most advanced hospitals in Irish private healthcare. As a JCI accredited hospital, The Hermitage Clinic is a progressive and pioneering hospital in which care for the patient is central to everything we do. 

A career in Hermitage Clinic will ensure you are joining a diverse, dynamic and enthusiastic team of professionals, passionate about developing services to ensure we provide the best care in the most modern of facilities.

Role Summary

As a key member of the Nursing team, the post holder will demonstrate excellent clinical skills, quality patient care initiatives and facilitate effective interpersonal communication with colleagues in the unit(s) and hospital. The role will provide comprehensive nursing care to patients using evidence-based practice and adjusting resources to ensure continuity of care, will act as a role model for excellence in patient care.

The CNS will communicate and collaborate with the medical/nursing staff teams in the delivery of quality continuing care for the patient, including liaison with Consultants, and GP's. The position requires a strategic approach to the development of services and structures, embracing continuous quality improvement and the management of changes necessary to achieve organisational objectives. he management of patients with Urological conditions demands a broad range of professional skills and knowledge as well as skills in communication, leadership, teaching, education, research and counselling all in keeping with 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.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Focus

The CNS will have a strong patient focus whereby the speciality defines itself as nursing and subscribes to the overall purpose, functions and ethical standards of nursing. The clinical practice role may be divided into direct and indirect care. Direct care comprises the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to the patient, family and/or carer. Indirect care relates to activities that influence and support the provision of direct care.

Direct Care

The Urology CNS will:

Provide a specialist nursing service for patients with urological diseases who require support and treatment through the continuum of care.

Undertake comprehensive patient assessment to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care using best evidence based practice in urological diseases.

Use the outcomes of patient assessment to develop and implement plans of care/case management in conjunction with the consultant and the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.

Monitor and evaluate the patient's response to treatment and amend the plan of care accordingly in conjunction with the Consultant and patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.

Make alterations in the management of patient's condition in collaboration with the Consultant and the patient in line with agreed pathways and policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPG's).

Accept appropriate referrals from Consultant colleagues.

Co-ordinate investigations, treatment therapies and patient follow-up.

Communicate with patients, family and /or carer as appropriate, to assess patient's needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling as required.

Where appropriate work collaboratively with MDT colleagues across Primary and Secondary Care to provide a seamless service delivery to the patient, family and/or carer as appropriate.

Participate in medication reconciliation taking cognisance of poly-pharmacy and support medical and pharmacy staff with medication reviews and medication management.

Identify and promote specific symptom management strategies as well as the identification of triggers which may cause exacerbation of symptoms. Provide patients with appropriate self-management strategies and escalation pathways.

Manage nurse led urology clinics with MDT input.

Identify health promotion priorities for the patient, family and/or carer and support patient self-care in line with best evidence. This will include the provision of educational and health promotion material which is comprehensive, easy to understand and meets patient's needs.

Indirect Care

Identify and agree appropriate referral pathways for patients with urological diseases.

Participate in case review with MDT colleagues.

Use a case management approach to patients with complex needs in 3 collaboration with MDT in both Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.

Take a proactive role in the formulation and provision of evidence based PPPGs relating to urological diseases and their appropriate care plan.

Take a lead role in ensuring the service for patients with urological disease is in line with international best practice guidelines

Patient / Client Advocate

The Urology CNS will:

• Communicate, negotiate and represent patient's family and/or carer values and decisions in relation to their condition in collaboration with colleagues
• Develop and support the concept of advocacy, particularly in relation to patient participation in decision making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options. 
• Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient, family and/or carer. 
• Establish, maintain and improve procedures for collaboration and cooperation between Acute Services, Primary Care and Voluntary Organisations as appropriate. 
• Proactively challenge any interaction which fails to deliver a quality service to patients. 

Essential Criteria

Be registered in the general division of the Register of Nurses maintained by NMBI

Have at least five years recent relevant post-registration nursing experience (full-time or equivalent hours part-time) in an acute hospital setting and a minimum of two years nursing experience in the specialist area of urology cancer/disease.

• Have acquired a level 8 post registration Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic award relevant to the specialist area - Urology Nursing (or similar) or be willing to complete within one year of taking up post.

The Hermitage Clinic are passionate about our people and believe in their development and growth. As a member of the Hermitage Medical Clinic team you can benefit from: 

• Competitive salary
• An Education Support Programme
• Development opportunities
• Opportunities for career progression
• Access to a Pension Scheme
• Subsidised Restaurant
• Free staff car parking
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance

Please Note:

Job descriptions are a reflection of the present service requirements and may be subject to review and amendments to meet the changing needs of the service. Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.

Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic is an Equal Opportunities employer, and we are committed to creating an environment that promotes equality and dignity at work.

Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic is committed to providing reasonable accommodation when needed. Please advise if you have particular requirements, so that we can look into arranging reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. You can contact us at View email address on api.occupop.com

It is essential that you have valid work permission for the Republic of Ireland to take up employment for this position.