Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist

This Clinical Nurse Specialist post is an advanced breast practice role within the Breast Services team at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The postholder assesses, investigates and manages patients across breast diagnostic, treatment and follow-up pathways, working with surgeons, radiologists, oncologists and breast care nurses. It is a senior, autonomous clinical post, separate from the traditional breast care nurse role, with direct responsibility for clinical decisions.

Applicants need substantial existing breast clinical experience, as the role is not a development post for nurses moving into advanced practice.

• Assess, investigate and manage patients across breast diagnostic, treatment and follow-up pathways
• Take direct responsibility for clinical assessment, diagnostic investigation and clinical decision-making
• Work alongside consultant breast surgeons, breast radiologists, oncologists, breast care nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team
• Undertake the role's clinical responsibilities from appointment, subject to Trust governance and competency requirements

• BSc in Nursing
• ENB 998 or equivalent teaching course
• Post-basic specialist education plus Masters level (or working towards) or formal training in advanced breast clinical assessment and examination
• Non-medical prescribing, or willingness to undertake it

• NMC Level One registered nurse

• Significant post-registration experience at band 7 in breast clinical practice, including breast symptoms, breast sepsis and suspected or confirmed breast cancer
• Experience of autonomous clinical decision-making
• Experience of primary endocrine treatment for breast cancer
• Experience of nurse-led and community-based specialist clinics
• Experience of leadership roles, change management, and audit and service improvement Skills & knowledge
  • Specialist knowledge of breast benign conditions and breast cancer
  • Advanced history-taking, breast and axillary examination, and ability to request and interpret investigations, formulate management plans and escalated suspected malignancy
  • Excellent communication and listening, interpersonal and organisational skills, good computer skills, and team working
  • Experience of teaching and assessing healthcare professionals
  Other
  • Membership of a special interest and professional group
  • Flexible approach to working, able to work unsupervised and travel between sites
  Nice to have
  • Research awareness and audit methodologies
  • Motivational interviewing, counselling course or training
  • Multidisciplinary team working and caseload management
  • Demonstrable experience of teaching or training healthcare professionals
  • Clinical leadership within a breast cancer service
  • Experience contributing to workforce planning, role development or skill-mix transformation
  • Experience developing clinical guidelines, protocols or competency frameworks
  • Leadership or management qualification, or equivalent experience