Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist

The Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist will act as the clinical expert and professional resource to the multi-professional team, patients and carers within their specialist service. The post holder will have a responsibility to develop this specialist area of practice. This will include the management of a caseload of patients, as appropriate supported by the Band 7 Arrhythmia nurse and clinicians. The post holder will have an important role with patients, their families and other clinicians in raising awareness of cardiac arrhythmias, the possible diagnostic and treatment options.

His or her own working practice should be developed to a level whereby the nurse specialist can directly or indirectly influence all aspects of care and management of patients Cardiac Arrhythmias within the acute setting. They will alongside the Band 7 and arrhythmia Consultant's to deliver a five day service to patients referred into the service.

• Co-ordinate the care of patients referred to Arrhythmia service throughout the care pathway with the multidisciplinary team and clinical services to ensure the effective management of this group of patients.
• Accountable for own actions in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct.
• Will contribute to corporate objectives, acting within local, Trust and statutory guidelines and policies at all times.
• Highly developed communication skills enabling maintenance of a high quality service within a complex and challenging environment with often, conflicting priorities.
• Assist the clinical and nursing teams, at all levels in the assessment and prioritisation of Cardiac arrhythmia patients.
• Work collaboratively with the Band 7 arrhythmia nurse and Medical team to manage patients presenting to the Service with undifferentiated diagnosis to ensure that optimum physical and psychological care needs are met.
• Initiate where appropriate with the support of the team relevant investigations as per the Arrhythmia NISE Guidelines to enable timely diagnosis and facilitate early decision making, within scope of practice., Review where appropriate with the support of the team medication, appropriate to patient needs in the context of acute illness, taking into account any treatment given previously for pre-existing medical conditions, providing information and advice to patients on prescribed medication regimens, side-effects and interactions, and work collaboratively with prescribers to ensure management of this sub-group of patients.
• Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting to the Service.
• Seek expert help from the wider MDT to ensure patient safety is maintained.
• Document clearly all aspects of assessment, diagnosis and management plan and refer to the MDT as required.
• Use the SBAR tool to communicate clinical concerns to the senior medical staff in the event that a patient is found to be critically unwell or deteriorating clinically.
• Communicate complex information effectively to patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.
• Ensure that all patients have a holistic needs assessment completed throughout the pathway.
• Maintain effective communication with the multidisciplinary team both within respiratory and with other departments.
• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues.
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (eg PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

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