Nursery Nurses

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for Nursery Nurses to join the team in our brand new purpose built building. The post holder will be responsible for implementation of effective quality neonatal care to infants requiring Transitional Care, Special Care and Post-natal ward, under the supervision of the registered nurse/midwife, following a holistic family centred model of practice.

Responsibilities include carrying out assigned tasks involving direct care in support of a Registered Nurse to ensure care of babies and children within the unit, aiming to promote their health and development and contribute to the effective and efficient day to day running of the unit. The post holder will complete nursery nurse competencies to gain neonatal-specific knowledge and skills.

Where applicable, undertake care under the supervision of a trained nurse as allocated by the nurse in charge.

• Undertake the following procedures/activities for babies and families requiring Transitional Care/Post-natal and/or special care: implement and evaluate the agreed plan of care, review and update plan accordingly.
• Demonstrate understanding of, assess, and evaluate care in relation to infant hygiene, nutritional care, thermoregulatory care, monitoring, and undertake associated practical aspects within the sphere of responsibility.
• Carry out daily checks and cleaning of specialised equipment; prepare babies’ feeds accurately and monitor/record their feeding, including management of naso/oro-gastric tube feeding.
• Support and assist mothers in cares; check temperatures and cleanliness of milk fridges/freezers.
• Care for stable infants receiving low flow oxygen, including monitoring, recording of observations and correct use of equipment.
• Care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
• Assist in meeting the care and development needs of the babies and children; report changes in the infant’s condition to relevant personnel and implement changes as directed.
• Participate in ward rounds and ensure nurseries are adequately stocked.
• Act as an advocate, liaise, report and document any relevant nursing or social issues to the registered nurse; work effectively and efficiently alongside midwives in Transitional Care.
• Demonstrate basic understanding and practice of Child Protection; engage with carers to involve them in planning and delivering care; facilitate complete transfer of care.
• Teach parent craft education in preparation for families’ discharge to home; undertake parent IBLS training.
• Maintain accurate patient records and charts up to date; undertake transfer of infants’ care to other wards, the Neonatal Outreach team and discharge to the community.
• Accept guidance and supervision of the Senior Nursing staff to learn and develop; ensure a high degree of safety at all times.

• Demonstrate responsibility for professional development by completing Transitional Care training programme; maintain Personal Development Review Plan; apply knowledge practically; share knowledge, skills and attitudes; keep up to date with changing practices; participate in in-house and formal training opportunities; contribute to the learning environment.
• Participate in research as requested by a registered nurse within own sphere of competency; contribute to the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based care.
• Attend all required mandatory updates.

• Liaise and negotiate effectively with all professional disciplines and ancillary departments concerned with the care of children and babies; attend and contribute to staff meetings; provide concise verbal accounts of child’s care to the nurse in charge.

• Maintain confidentiality at all times; be familiar with unit/hospital emergency procedures; keep the nurse in charge aware of any difficulties arising from patient treatment or accident to child, relative or staff; assist in filling out relevant forms.
• Be aware of local policies and keep updated on:
  Children Act/Child protection, Health and safety, Data protection and access to health records, Disciplinary and Grievance procedures, Complaints by parents/children, Uniform,…