Straight to Test - Colorectal Nurse

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated nurse to join the Colorectal Team at Ipswich Hospital as a Straight to Test - Colorectal Nurse. You will play a key role in the early colorectal cancer pathway, supporting the delivery of a safe, effective and timely Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) service. The role will involve clinical triage of referrals, telephone assessment, assessing fitness and suitability for investigation, identifying appropriate diagnostic tests & coordinating patients through the diagnostic pathway.

We are seeking a nurse with a good clinical background & an understanding of colorectal disease, comorbidities, anticoagulation, frailty, functional status & overall fitness for investigation. Knowledge of the colorectal FDS pathway, suspected cancer referral criteria, clinical triage & the ability to apply guidelines & protocols is desirable. You will use electronic systems to assess referrals, request investigations & communicate with, The STT Colorectal Nurse will play a key role in the early assessment & management of patients referred through the colorectal suspected cancer pathway.

Key responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and clinically triaging referrals in line with the colorectal
  
  Faster Diagnosis Standard pathway, referral criteria, local protocols and national guidance.
• Assessing clinical information and undertaking telephone assessment where required to establish relevant history, comorbidities, medication, anticoagulation, frailty, functional status and fitness for investigation.
• Identifying the most appropriate diagnostic investigation and arranging or requesting this through electronic systems in a timely manner.
• Recognising patients requiring further assessment or senior clinical review and escalating appropriately.
• Applying clinical guidelines, protocols and agreed pathways while working within professional competence and scope of practice
• Maintaining accurate electronic records & monitoring patients through the diagnostic pathway, identifying and escalating potential delays.
• Liaising effectively with patients, GPs, colorectal consultants, CNSs, Endoscopy, Radiology, Cancer Hub, booking teams and other members of the MDT.
• Providing clear, sensitive information to patients regarding investigations, preparation and next steps, including OBCS as required.
• Working collaboratively with the colorectal nursing team and contributing to the development of STT and direct-access diagnostic pathways.
  the multidisciplinary team, including colorectal consultants, CNSs, Endoscopy, Radiology, Cancer Hub and GP practices. Excellent communication skills are essential, with the ability to explain investigations clearly to patients, provide appropriate advice & recognise when senior clinical support is required. The role requires good organisation, independent working within agreed competencies & accurate documentation. Full training, competency development & clinical supervision will be provided.

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts.

Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

• We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
• Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts.
• Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients. We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR)…