In Patient Unit Nurse

Qualifications: B.Sc/SRN/ Nursing

Accountable to: In patient unit coordinator

Aims

To provide and coordinate palliative care to patients under Hospice care and to support their families.

To participate in and contribute to the growth and development of the interdisciplinary team.

To promote within the team and in the wider community, the understanding of difficulties arising from incurable illness, death and bereavement from his/her professional nursing prospective.

To maintain high standards of care in accordance with the mission, values, policies, objectives, budgets and care quality standards of The Malta Hospice Movement.

Accountability for Practice

The Nurse has a professional responsibility for his/her own knowledge and competence and for ensuring that he/she is appropriately trained to practice his/her profession in a competent and safe manner.

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes

To have basic nursing skills.

To have good communication skills.

To be able to carry out an assessment which addresses the physical, psycho-social and spiritual needs of patients and their families thus ensuring high standards of care.

Education

To attain a sound knowledge in palliative care.

To keep abreast of ongoing developments in palliative care and the implications which they may have for clinical practice.

To contribute to the professional development of self and others.

To assist in any ongoing research programme and identify possible areas of research.

Duties

To participate in and contribute to any team meetings.

To assess patients, discuss, implement and regularly review their care plans.

To maintain records of assessments.

To liaise with other professionals or agencies and to refer as necessary.

To make efficient and effective use of resources, while ensuring high quality care.

To be responsible for stock control of consumables and medical equipment within the in patient unit.

General Responsibilities

To abide by the policies and procedures of Hospice Malta .

To promote awareness of palliative care and be a worthy representative of Hospice Malta .

To inform the In patient coordinator of any potential or actual problems or complaints.

To uphold the rights of patients at all times, maintain their dignity and respect their confidentiality and that of their families and of the organization.

To undertake any other activities and responsibilities, commensurate with the position, as directed by the management.