Rheumatology Nurse Specialist​/Rheumatology Specialist Practitioner

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Rheumatology Department at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital site for an enthusiastic, highly motivated nurse/practitioner to join an evolving team for a 6 month secondment opportunity. As a registered nurse/practitioner, the applicant will be responsible for supporting the lead nurse in ensuring that our service users' needs are met through the delivery of high‑quality care.

The successful applicant will demonstrate high standards of work at all times, be self‑motivated and efficient, and demonstrate the ability to work independently in all aspects of patient care. The role requires working within the outpatients clinic setting with patients on disease modifying drugs, biologic therapies and osteoporosis medication under the care of the Rheumatology Department. Individuals should be willing to develop further any specialised skills and knowledge relating to the specialist area.

• Independently run nurse‑led clinics initiating and following up patients on rheumatology treatment
• Supporting patients to understand their diagnosis and treatment options and promoting self‑management
• Analysing and interpreting investigations to ensure patient safety on initiation of treatments and on‑going management
• Supporting medical and nursing rheumatology colleagues to monitor and manage disease, drugs and blood monitoring
• Support ongoing management of patient care via a daily telephone advice line available to patients under the care of the rheumatology department
• Participate in prescription management to enable patients to receive their treatment in a timely manner
• Have excellent communication skills
• Have excellent time‑management skills
• Team working with doctors, nursing and admin staff is essential to ensure an excellent patient experience of rheumatology
• Contribute to the delivery of the rheumatology nursing service including being involved in service development and audit

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led maternity and paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff.

As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high‑quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience – we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust’s core values. We achieve this by using values‑based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

• Provide specialist advice, education and support to patients and their relatives attending the nurse‑led rheumatology clinics, including counselling patients for new therapies and review of patients on existing therapies.
• Work with patients and provide follow‑up to support compliance and adherence with prescribed treatment.
• Assess patients’ physical, psychological and social needs.
• Plan, implement and evaluate patient care, recommending the most appropriate course of action.
• Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles and apply principles of self‑care.
• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
• Help develop and work within protocols for the management of patients with rheumatology conditions including osteoporosis.
• For patients on disease‑modifying drugs, biologic and bone therapies: use recognised outcome measures, assessment tools and clinical skills to evaluate patient progress; request appropriate investigations for…