Critical Care Post Graduate Diploma Co-Ordinator (CNM 2)

The PG Diploma Coordinator is a key member of the Nursing Management Team within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The role of PG Diploma Coordinator centres on the identification, support and provision of learning opportunities in clinical nursing practice. The post holder is primarily responsible for the effective implementation, evaluation and ongoing development of the Postgraduate Diploma Nursing (Critical Care) in Beaumont Hospital, in liaison with Beaumont Hospital’s Senior Education Coordinator and in partnership with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The PG Diploma Coordinator will work closely with the Senior Education Coordinator, Clinical Nurse Managers and the Practice Support Nurses in the ICU, and the other Education / PG Diploma Coordinators to facilitate nurses in the speciality to develop professional clinical competencies. The successful candidate must have a keen interest in postgraduate nurse education, experience of caring for patients in an intensive care environment, and a high level of interpersonal communication / people management skills necessary to execute the role effectively.

Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.

The post holder will be responsible for:

•Participating in the recruitment and selection of nurses wishing to undertake the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Critical Care) and its variants (including stand-alone modules, postgraduate certificate and non-specialist postgraduate diploma).

•Coordinating the programmes in conjunction with the Senior Education Coordinator, Centre of Education, CNMs, other Education / Course Coordinators and third level institute.  This will include but is not limited to arranging, preparing and delivering lectures and tutorials to course students on both the critical care and other programmes as required.

•Planning and implementing educational and development programmes for all nursing staff in consultation with the Senior Education Coordinator, Practice Development Coordinator, Clinical Practice Support Nurses, Education / Course Coordinators and Nursing Management.  This may include but is not limited to conferences, bespoke study days, and short educational sessions.

•Work alongside the student providing clinical supervision to facilitate their professional development and attainment of clinical competence.

•Identifying supports & learning opportunities, and encourage and facilitate course students to achieve their learning outcomes.

•Carrying out summative and formative assessments of course students in collaboration with the Senior Education Coordinator and CNMs.

•Setting, correcting and moderating such assignments and examinations as may be determined by the Senior Education Coordinator.

•Liaising with the Clinical Practice Support Nurse to meet the needs of the students undertaking the critical care course.

•Establishing networking links with other clinical Educators for ICU / critical care across RCSI Hospital group.

•Maintaining appropriate records of student progress.

•Demonstrates clinical and professional leadership within the nursing team and acts as a role model for all staff.

•Provides effective leadership in promoting, reviewing and developing evidence based nursing practice.

•Facilitates the integration of theory to practice, and disseminates current literature and research articles relevant to the critical care environment which would promote best practice.

•Encourages staff to utilize critical reflection to evaluate their nursing practice.

•Ensures clinical competence of staff in performing clinical activities.

• Provides clinical supervision to postgraduate students, working alongside students & supporting them in clinical placements.

•Participates in the development of an orientation programme for new staff members, and assists with the implementation and evaluation of such programmes.

•Works in partnership with the ICU CNM 3 in identifying learning needs for new nursing roles and nursing support roles in the ICU / critical care environment, and developing a process for same.

•Ensures that verbal and written nursing reporting systems are accurate and adequate and comply with Beaumont Hospital Guidelines for documenting Nursing care.

•Introduces ongoing learning strategies to the unit such as clinical case presentations, tutorials, journal clubs etc.

•Supports students undertaking postgraduate education by:

o   Encouraging learner to apply theory to practice.

o   Ensuring the competence of all postgraduate students.

o   Giving support and direction with academic course work.

·         Carries out development and performance review interviews and career pathway development with individual nursing staff in collaboration with the Clinical Nurse Manager 3.

•Provide professional and specialist advice on the provision of a nursing service within the department.

•Ensures that the requirements of NMBI for the practice of professional nursing are met and upheld.

•Establish and maintain a high standard of nursing practice within the ICU / critical care environment.

•Ensure that nursing care is delivered according to local or national policy, procedure, protocol or guidelines

•In collaboration with Clinical Practice Support Nurse, assesses and identify training and development needs for nursing staff within the unit; participate in setting objectives for such learning and contribute to the development of training programmes where appropriate, in discussion with CNM3 and Senior Education Coordinator.

•Support and assist individual staff nurses to achieve their professional development objectives by providing teaching and learning opportunities in the clinical setting, demonstrating skilled nursing care, encouraging staff nurses to analyse information, interpret the patient’s condition and develop clinical decision making skills.

•Keep individual staff nurses informed of their progress and encourage feedback regarding strengths, weaknesses, potential and need for further clinical training and experience.

•Deal effectively with poor performance.

•Collaborates with Clinical Practice Support Nurse in staff education and development, including orientation and adaptation of new staff.

•Support and encourage staff to participate in nurse education programmes, and to use all opportunities available for learning, both in the unit and outside the unit.

•In conjunction with the CNM3 facilitate the completion of mandatory study days for staff nurses.

•Establish arrangements with relevant nursing and multi-disciplinary staff to participate in ongoing training programmes.

•Ensures the agreed hospital and clinical policies and procedures are known to and understood by the staff, and are implemented.

·         Works with other post-graduate diploma coordinators to develop Level 9 portfolios.

·         Participates in the Hospital’s Clinical Simulation Programme & OSCE assessments.

•Develops and maintains good communications within the unit and within the multidisciplinary team.

•Promotes, nurtures and maintains a high level of staff morale thereby promoting team spirit and job satisfaction among nursing, and other staff within the unit.

•Supports the management of change in line with evidence based practice.

•Participates in the interviewing and selection of nursing staff for the Unit.

•Maintains personal clinical skills in performing direct nursing care, working clinically for a number of shifts as agreed with the Critical Care CNM 3 & DNM

•Adopt a flexible approach in organising personal duty roster, and assist with staffing requirements when clinical activity increases.

•Keep clinically abreast with changes and advances and new treatments in critical care nursing.

•Engages in ongoing education and professional development.

•Identify and act upon potential hazards to patients and to staff.

•Ensures compliance with HIQA hygiene standards within the unit.

•Participates in developing quality initiatives and subsequently evaluating their effectiveness and auditing outcomes of quality programmes.

•Is actively involved in development of critical care metrics.

 The job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment. Other specific work not covered in this job description may also be assigned by the Senior Education Coordinator, Directorate Nurse Manager or Director of Nursing from time to time.         

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

• Be registered in the relevant division of the Register of Nurses kept by The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. • Have at least 5 years post registration experience of which 3 must be in the speciality or related area. • Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.• Hold a Level 9 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications.• Hold a Postgraduate qualification in ICU / critical care nursing.• Hold or be willing to undertake a Postgraduate diploma / Masters programme in Clinical Health Science Education, or equivalent.

•A Registered Nurse Tutor qualification is desirable. • A management course is desirable.

Name: Niamh Shields Title: DNM CC & AEmail address: niamhshields@beaumont.ie Telephone: 018528338

If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/ Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee’s re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012.Please note: In applying for this position you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/ Office/ Body will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position.